“There
are no two words in the English language as harmful as 'good job',”
a teacher tells his student. 'Good job' means being content with
mediocrity. 'Good job' means just doing what's required instead of
doing all you could. 'Good job' does not describe greatness.
And so
those are two words you won't find me using to describe Whiplash,
which is an exciting, involving, invigorating, absolute lightning
bolt of a film; As keenly observed as the most refined of dramas, and
yet as pulse-raising as the most intense of action movies; An
electrifying combustion of artistic crisis, coming-of-age and jazz
music, announcing the arrival of an extraordinary new talent in
writer-director Damien Chazelle. 'Good job' doesn't come close to
describing this film. It is great.
