When does it snap?

Whiplash 2014

This award winning film again embarks into the question of how harsh the teacher has to be to bring out the best in a student. One has to be stretched to the limit to discover his true hidden potential. Do you think that the greats of talents just had their potentials just ooze out without provision? By not pushing to the threshold, the world would be missing all their good work. Michael Jackson would not be Michael Jackson if not for the long torturous practice sessions and the Hitler-like coaching by his parents. Just like that the world would be deprived of all the good times and good music!

Andrew, a new student at a prestigious music is thrilled to be a jazz drummer. He is recruited by a strict teacher, Fletcher. Slowly Andrew discovers that Fletcher has a horrible temper and it passes beyond the boundaries of abuse. Fletcher feels that his method helps to bring out the best in his students. 

Eager to be the main drummer in his class, Andrew practises till his hands bled and breaks up with his girlfriend to ensure 100% commitment. At this juncture, I thought the movie would another one of those boring success stories where the protagonist would come out tops despite the adversities. Luckily, I was wrong.

Before a particular competition, everything seem to had gone wrong for Andrew. The bus he was travelling had a puncture and he had misplaced his drumsticks. In the frenzy of trying to play in the competition, he is hit by a truck while hurrying to the hall. Andrew still drags himself to perform albeit miserably. A tiff which ensued later got Andrew expelled!

There are no two words in the English language
more harmful than good job.

Hearing about Fletcher's method of teaching and the possibility of a previous student committing suicide, a lawyer approaches Andrew to squeal on his former teacher promising anonymity. He agrees. 

One day, he encounters Fletcher playing in a jazz band after being ousted from the college. One thing led to another and Andrew is persuaded to play drum at one of Fletcher's band that he is coaching.

During the performance, Andrew is humiliated by not being given the musical notes to play. Fletcher knew all the while who had reported about him!

Andrew retaliates by giving a once in lifetime superb presentation that not awed the audience but Fletcher too - all the drilling by Fletcher had obviously paid off!