5. Whiplash (2014)

"There are no two words in the English language more harmful than 'good job.'" - Terence Fletcher

There are so few artists that reach amazing heights, who attain greatness in their fields and stand out as a paragon of excellence in their profession. Whiplash is about what it takes to reach such staggering heights, the grind and the pressure one can put themselves under to be the best that they can be.

Your mileage may vary on how well an approach like this works. But I think it's inarguable that if you want to be great, it takes a great deal of sweat, toil, and commitment. Few people are born naturally gifted geniuses. What Whiplash concerns, and details, is one man's obsession with discovering the next great musician, and the pupil he pushes to the brink of mental breakdown. For a film simply about drumming, it's one of the most suspenseful films I've ever seen, and one that, upon repeat viewing, maintains its intensity.

The film benefits from the central performance of J.K. Simmons as Terence Fletcher, the music teacher who oscillates between compassionate mentor and screaming drill instructor on a dime. The whole affair coalesces in a final ten minutes that I would submit as the single greatest ten minutes of film this decade, and one of the best in all of film history. It keeps you on the edge of your seat for its duration until in the end you are finally allowed to breathe and the tension of the film is released in a final, sustained, beautiful note. Seeing this film in theaters was one of the most memorable experiences for me, and one I won't ever forget.



3rd Worst: Wish Upon (2017)

Anyone who is a fan of Red Letter Media has probably heard of this film; in a 2017 movie re-cap, one of the hosts, Mike, spoke of this film and how delightfully awful it was. In checking it out, I agree. It's one of those films that are enjoyable to watch, in spite of its terribleness. The plot, in short, is about a young girl who discovers a wishing box, but in classic Horror terms, her wishes come with a price (usually the grisly death of someone she knows, sequences that play out in a demented Final Destination fashion). It's a fun film to watch, but what makes it awful it the annoying lead, and ridiculous plot machinations and contrivances. So basically a strong recommendation.