I just watched Whiplash for the first time and holy fuck was that final scene one of the best I’ve even seen. I’m not a music expert by any stretch of imagination and I’m sure the movie has its imperfections when it comes to the jazz part but the direction, acting and tension throughout the movie was amazing.
This happens during a middle portion of the movie as well when Fletcher is testing out the three drummers and when Niemann starts to get it right, he burgers him to keep playing faster. You can feel the tension rising, the strain of having to play for so long so fast and the desperate want of releasing that tension.
We as audience are holding our breaths to the tune (pun intended) of the crescendo to complete and the final note to be drawn in what feels like an eternity of weight being held. You want it to end but at the same time the excitement of being in that moment right before all the tension is loosened is so enthralling to witness.
