10 Most Impactful Movie Scenes From The 2010s

In Chazelle’s first features he delivered a white-knuckle ride through the perfectionist world of aspiring jazz musicians. It presented an excellent analogy of how far one is willing to go to achieve greatness, and held no better name for the film, as it threw the audience around like a rag doll with its anxiety-ridden tension and syrup-thick atmosphere.

In the case of Whiplash, the only way is up, as it ends with a truly mesmerizing scene. Manipulated into performing with his former tutor/nemesis, Andrew is thrown under the bus as Fletcher seizes his revenge, placing the wrong sheet music to embarrass and blacklist Andrew in front of a prestigious audience. Seeing the end of the road, Andrew dives headfirst into a jazzy drum solo, uprooting Fletcher’s band.

The range of emotion from sweat-dripped dread, inspiring anger to complete euphoria all within a near-wordless drum solo proved the strength of Chazelle’s script and concept. Andrew and Fletcher lock eyes knowing they have achieved greatness; Andrew reaching his goal; Fletcher’s unorthodox methods paying off; and many people likely leaving wondering how much a drum kit costs.