Whiplash is an intense and riveting drama that helped launch Damien Chazelle as one of the most interesting new directors working today. The film stars Miles Teller as a young and talented drummer who is pushed to his limits and beyond by his abusive and demanding jazz instructor (J.K. Simmons).
The film is an exploration of obsession and the teach-student relationship. It is also the kind of movie that leaves you sweating from all the tension on display. While it is certainly a unique film, there are others that are similar enough to please fans. Here are some movies to watch if you love Whiplash.
Glengarry Glen Ross
Part of what makes Whiplash such an exciting film is the fast-paced energy and captivating dialogue on in a high-pressure world. In that way, Glengarry Glen Ross is a similar film as it follows the various desperate men working as real estate brokers hungry for a sale.
The film is stacked with talent, with Al Pacino, Ed Harris, Jack Lemmon and more giving wonderful performances. Written by the great David Mamet, it is a funny, tense and thrilling film that is all about people talking to each other.
First Man
While La La Land is another of Damien Chazelle’s films to focus on jazz, Whiplash actually has more in common with his latest film First Man. Ryan Gosling plays Neil Armstrong who, after suffering his own tragedy, dedicates himself completely to his ambitions with going to space, regardless of the risks.
No film has made space exploration look as terrifying as Chazelle does here. It is an endeavor filled with dangerous and a million things that could go wrong. It is also an interesting look at a side of this America hero we don’t often get to see.
Chef
Chef is a much lighter movie than Whiplash and is perhaps the more optimistic way of telling a similar story. Jon Favreau wrote, directed and starred in this film about a renowned Los Angeles chef who loses his job following a breakdown and attempts to reconnect with his love of food by going cross-country in a food truck.
The movie is a light and funny comedy with Favreau leading a great cast including John Leguizamo, Scarlett Johansson, and Robert Downey Jr. It also holds a nice message about embracing your passion however you can.
Birdman
Birdman is another movie about an artist trying to create something great and pushing himself too far to achieve it. Michael Keaton stars as an actor made famous for playing a superhero who tries to regain some credibility by staging an ambitious Broadway play.
Alejandro González Iñárritu directed the film in long takes to make it all appear as one continuous take and help to further resemble a play itself. It makes for a unique cinematic experience with great performances from the cast that also includes Edward Norton and Emma Stone.
The Social Network
The interesting thing about Whiplash is that the more Miles Teller’s character becomes a talented musician, the worse he becomes as a person. This kind of tortured genius approach also helps to make The Social Network such a brilliant film with a fascinating main character.
Jesse Eisenberg stars as Mark Zuckerberg in the riveting exploration of how he built the massive, ground-breaking company Facebook and the relationships that were destroyed along the way. The movie has been hailed as one of the best of the decade with a sharp script, great direction, and a fantastic modern Shakespearean tale.
8 Mile
Jazz drumming and freestyle rapping might not appear to have too much in common, but 8 Mile does feel like a similar story to Whiplash in many ways. The film marks the screen debut of Eminem in the semi-autobiographical story of a young man from Detroit looking to break out in the world of underground rap.
The film is a fascinating look into a kind of music not everyone will be familiar with, yet it hooks you effectively. It is also about someone whose dedication to their craft does not waiver no matter what is thrown in his way.
Amadeus
Though set a couple of hundred years before Whiplash, Amadeus feels like a similar story of obsession over art. The film tells the story of Italian composer Antonio Salieri who developed deep and resentful jealousy towards the more successful and younger Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Though largely fiction, the story is nonetheless compelling as we see the lengths this man will go to rid himself of his supposed rival. It is a beautiful looking, wonderfully acted drama with an epic scope.
Uncut Gems
Despite focusing on the world of jazz, Whiplash is one of the most anxiety-inducing films you’re likely to see. It is the kind of movie that will tie your stomach in a knot yet still entertain you. Uncut Gems also pulls off that special trick with an even more heart-racing story.
Adam Sandler stars as a New York City jeweler who is also a gambling addict. We follow him as he makes deal after deal, barely keeping his head above water as it all threatens to come crashing down on his head. Sandler is astounding in the role and the film is a nonstop rollercoaster of emotion.
Black Swan
Black Swan is another film that takes a look at a unique and stylish art form and explores the sacrifices a character has to make in order to achieve perfection. Natalie Portman stars as a ballet dancer who is given the chance to perform the lead in Swan Lake. As the pressure mounts, she begins to lose touch with reality.
Portman gives a powerhouse performance which earner her a well-deserved Oscar while the film is a dark and mind-bending nightmare from Darren Aronofsky. It is unsettling, beautiful and unforgettable.
Nightcrawler
Like Whiplash, Nightcrawler is an intense film that explores the dark side of ambition. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a man with endless determination to become successful yet is willing to do immoral things to achieve that success. He finds his calling with the seedy world of freelance crime scene videographers.
The movie is a chilling and compelling look at a self-made man who is deeply unsettling to watch. Gyllenhaal gives a haunting performance in this grim and gripping tale of Los Angeles at night.
