I'm surprised Hollywood liked Whiplash

K.

I just watched the movie. I am an old band guy and I can really appreciate what the movie was about. Some of the meanest but greatest motivators that I've ever known have been music teachers. To this day, I still look fondly at my music days. Especially my years at LSU school of music.

I think what made this a good movie was its ambivalence. On one hand, Simmons' character is portrayed as a monster, and the point is driven home by the news of the suicide. Then he managed to evoke some sympathy near the end when he explained was he was trying to do. Then he's a monster again when his real motivation for recruiting Teller is revealed. And then in the end, he changes his attitude when he realizes that Teller may be The One. So yeah, to the OP's point, it does ultimately appear to condone Simmons' abusive ways.

This story actually just reminded me of the M Night Shamalamalamalan movie Unbreakable. By some convoluted logic, Sam Jackson's character figured that because he was extra fragile, there must be someone unbreakable, and he did monstrous things to find that person. Likewise, Simmons was willing to destroy everyone else in his quest to find the one young musician who could achieve greatness.