Whiplash

Stories of teachers inspiring students have a long history. The relationship usually stars out adversarial and ends up warm an fuzzy. In Whiplash we get the adversarial relationship immediately, but warm and fuzzy never happens. The verbal abuse is at a level of many a physical fight. The battle culminates at a performance. Emotions run high and relationships are established well.  I felt genuinely nervous when Andrew was going on stage at Lincoln Center. This is a strong drama with a powerful ending.