Whiplash
The cost of pursuing greatness. One must be disciplined, often needing a strict schedule to get them through the day and actually make the progress that they want to make. But how strict is too strict? It’s often for someone’s own good, for them to be able to reach his/her goals, but at what cost? Is a deteriorating mental health worth it? Or are we all just soft and sensitive nowadays and need to learn that nothing in life is given? They say life isn’t black or white, it’s a whole lot of grey, and I’d like to think that that’s exactly what <PERSON> is communicating to us here. Okay, this whole thing sounded like a monologue from Batman Begins, but you get my drift. <PERSON>’s an asshole, and the movie goes out of its way to hammer home that point, yet in the most toxic of ways he brought out the best of <PERSON>. <PERSON> and <PERSON> are another level, I can’t decide whose line delivery I prefer, “Fuck off <PERSON>, turn my pages bitch” or essentially any line <PERSON> utters.
I initially gave this and Black Swan four and a half stars. I’m bumping this one up to a full five due to the simple fact that it never ever gets old. 233
I know exactly what’s going to happen next and I’m still on the edge of my seat. Part of it brings me back to the orchestra days of my youth, in addition to theater and basketball tryouts. Putting yourself out there is always terrifying, and that level of rejection can scar you for years to come. <PERSON> bulldozes through all of that, uses it as fuel to kick ass next time around, and it’s that fearlessness that I honestly strive to have. I don’t co-sign with terminating healthy relationships; as friendships solely for business purposes are bound to go sore, bonds are what truly last, but he comes back around. Karma got his ass, as it does everyone eventually, and I can’t get enough of the evolution of his character. The budgets will get bigger for <PERSON> (or perhaps not after no one saw Babylon), but his ability to bring out the most in such a confined space will always be a marvel to watch.
2014 Ranked
<PERSON> Ranked 1009