10 Years Later, 2010's Best Drama With 94% on RT Just Dropped on Netflix

Hollywood loves movies about overcoming. The main character's encounter with an obstacle, the first doubt that he will be able to overcome himself and move on, the preparation for overcoming the obstacle, a victory – these are all parts of almost every movie about success.

Sometimes this line is hidden deep inside, under tons of computer effects or, under the bare nerves of an indie comedy. Sometimes directors even take the simplest route – revealing the "obstacle-overcome-victory" line in a sports movie.

It seems that there is absolutely nothing surprising here, but no, even on this beaten path there are innovators, as in the case of Whiplash. And you can watch it on Netflix now.

What Is Whiplash About?

A young student, Andrew spends days perfecting his drumming skills. His goal is to join the most prestigious, successful and promising jazz orchestra, led by the unbearable leader Terence Fletcher.

When luck finally smiles on the young man and the door to the world of big music opens before him, Andrew is unable to meet all the demands of his new teacher.

The latter's demands turn out to be excessive, exhausting, squeezing out all the juices. But according to Fletcher, this is the only way to make a real star out of a promising artist.

Whiplash Is an Outstanding Exploration of Talent and Success

What is so special about Whiplash that it is praised by everyone who has seen it, and every second person puts it on their list of best movies? Perhaps the most important thing is the denial of everything we are used to believing and thinking about art in general and music in particular.

Will talent always find its way? No, mediocrity and less talented colleagues will devour you, even if you are the Mozart of our time. Will your family always support you and will romantic relationships inspire you? Forget it, your father will never understand your passion for music, and your girlfriend will only steal your time, energy and attention.

Will you get into a prestigious school or orchestra and have the world at your fingertips? No, you will fight for every minute there, but that does not guarantee success, and success does not guarantee that you will not be forgotten the morning after failure.

Whiplash Is Filled With Brilliant Acting

And yet, talents make it, manage to learn, pass selections and competitions, and become stars. Real musicians whose names remain in history, whose path in music is studied by their descendants. Where do they come from? They cross the invisible line of their own abilities and take off.

This is exactly what Fletcher, the character of J. K. Simmons, who played his role phenomenally, is aiming for, this is exactly the line that drummer Andrew, Miles Teller, who showed fantastic nerve, has approached.

This line is almost tangible, soaked in the sweat of rehearsals, the blood of worn fingers. It is very close, at the distance of a four-minute melody, but crossing it may remain only a dream.

Filled with fantastic musical content, the movie is full of such irrepressible energy, it has so much real passion, obsession in the most different senses of the word, that it penetrates the viewer no less than a powerful orchestral concert.

Every minute is a battle, every note a step, every blow of the drumsticks a rush of blood through the veins. It is hard to imagine a more vivid, complex and adrenaline-filled movie in this genre.