Table of Contents
The decade of the 2010s had a lot of great cinema to offer with exciting superhero team ups, advancements in visual effects, revivals of classic franchises, and many new exciting directors coming into the limelight. One of the most promising young talents to succeed in this time was Damien Chazelle, the youngest director to have won the Academy Award for Best Director. While ‘La La Land’ might have been his greatest success and one of the most beloved films of the last decade, it could not have been made if it wasn’t for the triumph of ‘Whiplash’. Chazelle wrote the film as he was struggling to get ‘La La Land’ financed, which ended up enhancing the script as the frustration Chazelle felt at the time worked its way into the character’s own struggle to achieve his own dream of being a great drummer. This goes to prove that truly great films are born out of real life feelings and struggles and is one of many reasons why ‘Whiplash’ is still such a masterpiece ten years after its release.
Things to do:
- Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here.
- Limited Time Offer – FREE Subscription to The Hollywood Insider
- Click here to read more on The Hollywood Insider’s vision, values and mission statement here – Media has the responsibility to better our world – The Hollywood Insider fully focuses on substance and meaningful entertainment, against gossip and scandal, by combining entertainment, education, and philanthropy.
A Perfect Display of Moviemaking, No Abuse Required
While ‘Whiplash’ explores the possibility of perfection being attained through deplorable mistreatment, the film itself achieves that perfect quality of film experience without resorting to Terence Fletcher’s methods. For his sophomore feature, Chazelle masterfully injects the intense energy of the character’s mindset into the various aspects of filmmaking. The musicians might be rushing or dragging, but Tom Cross’ editing keeps the movement of the film in sync where scenes that require a fast pace feel have constant cuts while other sections of a more tame nature are given less. Never do you feel as if the pacing is letting up even in scenes that are detached from the fervent Jazz sessions. A wonderfully diverse range of shots of extreme close ups on playing instruments to grand wide shots of the performance, and handheld shakiness for when the situation is out of hand.
Each is used when necessary and executed with moody lighting. Particular filmmaking choices such as the momentary mute on the sound right before Andrew’s car crash add an extra ingredient to the intense feel of the film and never feel unnecessary or overly artsy. Every element of filmmaking is used to the best advantage whether it is related to cinematography, editing, lighting, or sound design. With all of this talent on a budget of $3.3 million, ‘Whiplash’ can serve as an example to aspiring filmmakers that money is not a determining factor in the quality of a product. It is instead the dedicated work done well by everyone working on the project.
WATCH THE TRAILER of the Film and the Revolution: ‘Can I Go Home Now?’
The Children Around the World Continue to Ask the question
J.K. Simmons as the Antagonistic Ally
The most iconic aspect of ‘Whiplash’ is easily J.K. Simmons as Terence Fletcher whose standout performance earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and where he gave an uplifting speech which is a delightful contrast to his character. Anyone who has watched the film or even a couple of scenes knows how scary and abusive Fletcher can be. A demanding Jazz instructor who wants the best out of his band whatever means necessary. He demands perfection at every note played and will punish harshly, resorting to inhumane physical and verbal abuse. Worse is that Fletcher takes his violently strict attitude a step further by pretending to be a calm uplifting instructor at points only to switch back to the same kind of monster, making him an unpredictable personality throughout the film.
Most curious with Fletcher is that he remains the only character in the film that agrees with the film’s protagonist, Andrew Neiman, performed perfectly to the film’s intensity by Miles Teller. Most villains of a story are in opposition with the protagonist, trying to bring them down while Fletcher is trying to build up Andrew through methods that can nearly be considered inhumane. Everyone else in the film fails to understand Andrew’s desire of becoming the next Buddy Rich and lean more in the direction of leading a simpler yet more fulfilling lifestyle. Fletcher on the other hand understands this longing to be great, but instead of trying to constructively build him up, he exploits Andrew’s feelings to manipulate and torment him while using the promise of turning him into a great musician as his reason. His initial intentions have merit as he describes in his conversation with Neiman towards the end of the movie that he wanted to be responsible for the next great talent in music and cultivate them since the rest of the world is willing to reward mediocrity left and right. Just as the film questions how far an artist should go to achieve his or her goals, it also questions to what measure we should build up such talent. What amount should someone in Fletcher’s position be honest and assertive to where they are still building up the artist?
Related article: – Want GUARANTEED SUCCESS? Remove these ten words from your vocabulary| Transform your life INSTANTLY
Related article: Must Watch: Damien Chazelle Explores How Far Artists Go for Greatness in ‘Whiplash’
Perfection- Is it Actually Attainable?
‘Whiplash’ is one of many films to follow someone who is highly ambitious and whose arc is that he is willing to do anything to achieve his impossible goal of perfection. Andrew desperately tries to be a great drummer without any background in great accomplishments. His dad is not disappointed at all over not leading a life of color without major aspirations. The small glimpse at other people in his family is one of conformity to the expectation of what most of society expects with little interest in Andrew’s ambitions and more in his cousin’s Football career. Nicole, Andrew’s girlfriend has no set direction in life and is in fact homesick for the past, contrasted by Andrew’s desire to continually move forward. Even most of the other band members are more interested in doing a good musical job rather than ‘being one of the greats’ as Andrew says.
Constantly during the film we are questioned if this perfection in drumming that Andrew is striving for is one he can accomplish. He endures bleeding fingers from neverending practice, constant verbal abuse, rivalry with fellow band members, and the cost of his relations with family and friends all for his far off goal of becoming one of the best drummers. It has turned from an innocent childhood dream to a physically and emotionally draining life. Not only does this dynamic make for an engaging watch, but it asks people who have similar aspirations to accomplish something great if it is indeed worth it in the end. Most of us have grown up with dreams of being astronauts or becoming president or making great art which are innocent in youth, but can be challenging to accomplish that imagined greatness, let alone turn into a profitable career to sustain. Even though most scenarios of working towards faroff dreams are as intense as ‘Whiplash’, the question posed by the film is an important one to contemplate for anyone who has big hopes for their future.
Cast: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser
Director of Photography: Sharone Meir | Editor: Tom Cross | Writer: Damien Chazelle | Producers: Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, Michael Livtak, David Lancaster | Director: Damien Chazelle
By Elijah van der Fluit
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.
I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.”
More Interesting Stories From The Hollywood Insider
– Want GUARANTEED SUCCESS? Remove these ten words from your vocabulary| Transform your life INSTANTLY
– A Tribute to Martin Scorsese: A Complete Analysis of the Life and Career of the Man Who Lives and Breathes Cinema
– Do you know the hidden messages in ‘Call Me By Your Name’? Find out behind the scenes facts in the full commentary and In-depth analysis of the cinematic masterpiece
– A Tribute To The Academy Awards: All Best Actor/Actress Speeches From The Beginning Of Oscars 1929-2019 | From Rami Malek, Leonardo DiCaprio To Denzel Washington, Halle Berry & Beyond | From Olivia Colman, Meryl Streep To Bette Davis & Beyond
– In the 32nd Year Of His Career, Keanu Reeves’ Face Continues To Reign After Launching Movies Earning Over $4.3 Billion In Total – “John Wick”, “Toy Story 4”, “Matrix”, And Many More
Author
You might also like…
Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
