10 More Movie Endings With Disturbing Implications You Totally Missed
2. Fletcher's Methods Are Validated - Whiplash
J.K. Simmons is nothing short of a treasure of an actor, with one hell of a range. From the likes of Santa Claus to J. Jonah Jameson, Simmons has portrayed characters both loved and hated, but even taking into account the likes of Jameson and Invincible's Omni-Man, there is no one quite like Terence Fletcher.
The antagonist of Whiplash was impossible, manipulative, and both physically and mentally abusive towards his students. He pushed them to the edge and in one case caused such stress and anxiety that the young man took his own life.
In spite of testifying against Fletcher, Andrew still played for his teacher and in the final scene of the movie seemed to earn his respect. All Andrew ever wanted to be was a great drummer with a legacy to leave behind, and the movie's finale suggests that he is on the path to this.
The biggest issue is that, should Andrew Neiman rise to fame in the same way as Charlie Parker did under Fletcher's tutelage, it vindicates the teacher's abusive methods. Andrew reached greatness in the final piece of the film, and he simply would not have reached it without Fletcher, and he knows that. Who knows how many more students he would treat this way in the future?