20 Things You Didn’t Know About Whiplash
2. The Surprising Contrast Between Andrew And His Idol
Throughout the movie’s run, it is clear that Andrew takes his practice seriously and is willing to push himself to a harmful extent to perfect his craft. He is shown practicing day in and day out so that he can become a jazz great in the vein of a legend such as Buddy Rich.
Ironically, Rich was known for two things in addition to his unconventional style and tumultuous life. He did not receive any formal training (instead honing his craft as part of a vaudeville act from an early age), claimed to have never practiced and did not even know how to read music, instead relying on a fellow drummer to play an upcoming chart that he would then memorize it in that moment.
While this highlights the stark differences between skills borne of talent and those developed after years of hard work, it also sadly underscores the absurdity of Andrew’s obsession to be one of the greats.