It's extremely popular these days in the silicon valley to claim , regardless of how much success you have yet to have, that it was the result of 'hard work' and certainly not luck. You know, these TED x talks encouraging your fellow man or woman to put in 19h days in front of the PC every day or be 'a sore loser'. Replace your meals with pre-made smoothies, don't socialize, it will all be worth in the end when you eat caviar at Harrods.

In my opinion, this can only create a society formed of frustrated future millionaires with devastating results on mental health. Whiplash, however, begs to differs.

It initially explores this theme using all sorts of unrealistic plot device to anyone with a basic understanding of music school, but it's ultimately at the 1h20 mark that it delivers a love story to bullying and self-effacement for the glory of 'being signed to blue note' (AKA money, getting rich).

On the plus side, there's something organic about the style of filming in 'Whiplash", and it's undoubtedly a pleasure to watch in that sense.

There's also a great deal of risk being taken here, with a good 2/3 of the movie being just well, jazz (imagine the script "Andrew plays, then plays some more"). So kudos for that, it's courageous no doubt, especially as it pulls off its ending brilliantly.

These courageous decisions sadly do not stop the movie from leaving the audience wondering if they should root for a sadist or for someone so driven by success that he loses his humanity in the process... And offers no subtlety in its conclusion.