@@baldguy3951 Sure it's a fun and enjoyable movie but it's not a filmmaking masterpiece or cinema great. But the thing is it doesn't have to be I like them as what they are
The really eerie thing about this film is that toward the end of production, Damien Chazelle was badly injured in a car accident, but insisted on continuing to work and got the production wrapped in just a few more days. And yes, the scene of Andrew insisting on playing after a car accident was written before this happened.
The final 20 minutes of this movie is one of the most insane, inspiring, intimidating and anxiety ridden pieces of filmmaking ever. Chazelle is incredible.
@@TTM9691 you know that him not playing drums has absolutely no bearing on whether it's a well made film, right? Acting is just that. Acting. Who sits behind a drum set in reality doesn't affect the tension, drama, acting, editing and entertainment behind the scene. In fact, your statement comes off more as being from someone who doesn't watch or understand movies frequently than mine does, as it shows a crystal clear lack of understanding of the craft. But then again I'm sure you'll come back with some chain about how you are an amateur critic or filmmaker but by that time I'll have forgotten you even exist and be happier for it. So save yourself the trouble
@@joshuabarnett88 It's not a well-made film, Joshua. Obviously you don't know that. And the script is ridiculously stupid in this movie, I don't know anybody could fall for such tripe. I'm a musician (who teaches) and who's also done directing, acting and writing, so I feel like I can judge this movie from both sides, thanks, Josh. The movie is for twits, I don't know else to put it. Every musician I know laughs at this movie. I watched this with another music teacher, and we laughed though the whole thing. Sorry, Josh, music teaching ain't Full Metal Jacket. And yes, I know the whole backstory of this silly movie. Simmons gave a great performance, he just a dopey script. "Whiplash" is for people who are afraid to watch actually good movies. If all you know is dopey franchise movies, yeah, "Whiplash" seems like some kind of amazing film. Oh, and one more thing, Josh? If you make a movie about music? Have real musicians actually play because that unto itself is a stunt. The fact you don't know that this silly, dopey movie is just a lot of faking - which teaches the audience absolutely nothing and makes it boring to anyone who actually knows how to play - kinda shows that you're the last person to weigh in with an opinion about it. My advice is to you is to literally go year by year, going back to the early 1900s, and start watching the history of great movies, then get back to me when you have some taste.
@@TTM9691 your feeling of superiority means less than nothing to me. It's fun how you did exactly what I said you would which is come in with some story about working on films. And none of that means a single thing to me. Drama exists not to always be exactly what it mimics in reality but to be a heightened display of a situation. The movie doesn't need to be the exact accurate representation of teaching music and never once did I say that it was attempting to be accurate. I said it was anxiety driven, well acted, edited and shot, and none of those things are widely disputed. Just because you don't agree with the portrayal and because you acted and directed in what I'm sure what the most brilliant student film ever preciously doesn't make you the authority on Cinema. It makes you another person with an opinion. But I'm not the one needlessly starting a conversation with a stranger that had a different opinion by trying to pick a fight and insulting them weeks after their original post. That behavior it narcissistic and pathetic. And it shows that you lack enjoyment and satisfaction in your life. Do you think that if you had succeeded in either acting, directing or teaching music you might have been happier in life and maybe you wouldn't feel the need to lash out at strangers on the internet? Don't worry, sunshine, someone will come along one day and care that you graduated from playing Happy Birthday on a $200 piano and you can tell them how you're nothing like the big, scary man in the movie! Just like all those clowns who have to tell everyone there not like pennywise and it's ok to hire theny for a birthday party!
@@joshuabarnett88 What are you babbling about, Josh? I'm not even going to read this drivel. Are you unhinged? Listen, kid: the movie is for people who don't know anything about music, nor movies, nor acting. And that's just the way it is. End of discussion. What a geek.
Andrew starts the movie wearing a white shirt while practicing, symbolizing his innocence and just pure passion for music. However, after meeting Fletcher we can see his clothing getting darker and darker, until it fully goes black, symbolizing his choice of his desire to be great over his desire to be happy. He leaves his family and girlfriend behind to pursue greatness, but you can see in his dad's eyes in the end that he knows his son will never find happiness.
disagree in the last part about the dad, i think that his dad sees greatness in his son, and the passion he has about it, he realeses the prodigy that his son is, something thathe never saw in the enitre movie, its just stupid to think that his father sees what you think he sees
@@arkham5940 you are wrong in the screen play it is written Jim watches Andrew -- crazed, exhausted, looks like he’s pushing himself past what is safe -- and knows there is no longer anything he can do about it. He has lost.
One of the best details about fletcher is that he is not really sad about his student passing, but he is sad cause his death means he will never be "his" Charlie Parker. He only cares about his ego.
I believe fletchers love of the music was bigger than his ego. He was sad because a great musician passed. In my opinion, he didn't want someone to be "his" Charlie Parker as you mentioned, I believe he wanted a new Charlie Parker for the world. For music's sake. In the end tellers character and fletcher connected because they both wanted the same thing, they wanted to create something new as musicians. Despite their hatred for each other their love of music transcended this. And that final scene where they smile at each other. They both know they've hit a gold mine. The costs of being great in this movie are highlighted with the mc losing an important relationship or fletchers student taking his own life but I think this movie doesn't aim to cast a bad light on greatness but rather show the sacrifices people make to achieve greatness. I think it gets you thinking, seeking greatness and living a normal life can both be just as fulfilling. In living a normal life and giving up on his dream, he loses his chance of exploring his passion and creating something beautiful, while if he continues on his journey for greatness he risks missing out on a normal life, love, a wife, children, stability etc. I believe fletcher was sad with his students death both because he was a good musician but also because he felt his student gave up, he was a lost potential for greatness who could no longer handle that journey. Which unlike Charlie parker came back and rose from the ashes, a phoenix after failing. Tellers character was the Charlie Parker that did not let his failures discourage him and instead came back great to fletchers surprise. It shows that without the sacrifices of great artists we wouldn't have their art. Sure the glory is great, but the music itself has impacted n inspired countless lives. Inspiring many through their art is their service to the world and what all the sacrifices in their personal lives was for, and I think that's what's highlighted more in this film. The lesson I gathered from this film is that endeavoring on the road to greatness must not be done half heartedly or you will suffer, you're either in or out, and when it calls you, you must follow through or forever be haunted by what could have been
I'm 8 months late here and I didn't read that novel above me lol, but another part of it is that that's the student we find out later killed himself partly as a result of Fletcher. So all of that plus I imagine he personally felt some guilt about that (even though he'd probably never admit it).
@@auntiespancakes2528 that’s a lie he tells himself to condone his behaviour. He clearly cares about his ego in my humble opinion. His ego couldn’t handle not being Charlie Parker, & that’s why he’s so obsessed w finding the next one, so he can take credit for it.
@@dominichumlie I really hate Disney haven't thought about adapting the Darth Bane trilogy either in film or as a series. It's such a good story. Agubally the most important period in Sith history.
@@graystark240 you don’t know about respecting someone who puts their goals as their number one priority? Huh? And how exactly is having goals as your number one priority the leading cause for suicide? That’s bullshit.
@@Gino565 I’m talking in terms of raising a family as a parent and the effects of fearing to fail. You raise I good point. I didn’t think about that aspect cause of the previous comments
I love that you guys took on this film. The relationship is co-dependent. Andrew may have started as someone who loves music, but now is he in it to be the best for the sake of being the best? Or does he care more about Fletcher’s approval? When you looks at his room and behavior you know he started from a love of music but ambition and teacher approval has warped him. For fletcher, you know he wanted a slew of Charlie Parkers as students. But I had doubts as it seemed he was too sadistic. But at the end when Andrew’s solo during caravan took off you saw Fletcher’s expression of elation. It’s what he dreamed of and validated his method. They are both doomed unless Andrew can break free.
The ending is pretty sad if you think about it. Now Andrew is completely dependent on Fletcher; you can see in his father’s reaction and the way Fletcher freely controls him by telling him how fast to play at the end
I think in the end after Andrew got dismissed from the Shaffer, he threw away his posters and CDs and contacted Nicole, it shows to me he got over his obsession of Fletcher and thus had a healthier relationship with his ambition comparatively in the beginning where we saw him moved his bed to the front of his posters. When he joined Fletcher’s new band, he didn’t practice excessively. We didn’t even see him practice at all. He opened his closet where he kept his drum kit and thats it. He opened his ambition back but different approach this time. When he performed in the last competition, he defied Fletcher and focus on his music, he was leading himself. And that’s what amazed Fletcher; he was there to perform for himself and not for Fletcher.
If Fletcher's Band played a slow jazz piece, they'd be mostly lost. They can play extremely fast tempos at incredibly efficient speeds, but when it comes to emoting, they'd be too scared to show the slightest emotion.
@@erasmus9511 Not true. Neiman came back in an effort to finally impress Fletcher, outright let himself be controlled by Fletcher as shown in him following his conducting throughout his solo, and even smiled when he finally gained his approval. In the end he cast his passion for music and his entire life aside purely to be the next Charlie Parker. His father's reaction, contrary to what many think, is not a reaction of bewilderment or wonder, but actually one of pure horror at the sight of having lost his son. That much is confirmed by both the script and all those involved in the making of the film. Miles Teller even said in an interview that he felt Andrew Neiman would inevitably end up dead underneath a bridge of a drug overdose in his 30s.
Well, Michael Jackson and his siblings basically had a more abusive version of Fletcher as a father, which is actually worse considering he was their father
@@erikstrasburg6411 thats a fucked up episode and Donald Glover part is crazy i watched with my brother and half part of the episode we both starting asking is this fucking Donald Glover?
(1) You still do not deny Michael Jackson, the artist, which makes your comment quite hollow; and (2) he still forgave his father for what he did, yet you have not -- and he wasn't even your father. This is worth thinking about for like ten years.
@@TheClassicWorld kinda irrelevant buddy. The dude was still abusive to his children, and a shitty guy regardless of whether or not Michael forgave him. If a guy killed someone’s mother, and the mother’s child forgave the killer, does that mean the rest of us should forget what he did as well? Doesn’t work like that.
@callmecatalyst How would Neiman know that the Drummer *needs* visual cues? They don't seem to be buddying up at the band, so that information shouldn't really be privy to him. Fletcher tho, as the guy states it "knows it".
It blows my mind that some people think this has a happy ending, or that this proves Fletcher's point, that he somehow cared all along. Fletcher doesn't care about people. He cares about performance. People, to him, are nothing but candidate vessels for superior genius. Which of course means that anyone failing to meet that standard is trash. And he will not hesitate to throw people into the trash, squeezing them dry, destroying them, in the hopes of getting the one who can "take it." and reach his idea of greatness. This is about someone being broken by an abuser into being his creature. In that last scene, Andrew looks towards a man who traumatised and exploited him to the point of his physical and mental breaking point for his approval. And Fletcher smiles in triumph. He got his wish - all it cost was that kid's sanity, stability, and ultimately quite possibly his life.
Yeah, Fletcher only cares about what his students can ultimately do for his own image/ego/career. He wants a Charlie Parker to prove that his methods work, to prove that he was right, to prove his worth as a music instructor and conductor. He doesn't care what happens to Andrew in the future as long as he gets what he needs from him.
If he only cares about the performance, why would he do something that would make his drummer look like as ass on the stage...that would ruin the performance too .
@@vipuljani8392 Do you not remember his whole Charlie Parker conversation he had with Andrew? Cymbal thrown at Charlie's head because he missed a note. Charlie then doubles down and practices twice as hard, eventually turning him into the legend we know him as today. It's about long-term legacy, not one single performance. Fletcher wants to create his own Charlie Parker so he can cement his legacy as a teacher, so he's willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen--including tormenting these kids and sacrificing some performances to teach them that lesson.
The reason that Fletcher was so upset about his former player dying wasn't that he liked the player. He thought that trumpet player was going to be "his" Charlie Parker. And the ending with the smile he gives Andrew is that he maybe found his next Charlie Parker. It is a great ending though. Another thing that I do like about the ending, is that solo that Andrew plays at the end, is the one that he has been practicing whenever he is in the studio by himself. He was finally able to play it all the way through. The other people had the rest of the music too. Fletcher just didn't tell Andrew about the piece that they opened with, in an effort to screw up his future. He thought Andy was just going to walk off and not finish. Since it was a professional band Fletcher probably thought that even without a drummer they would be able to do the other songs. The writer of this movie doesn't see a good life for Andrew after this movie. He believes that Andrew will probably end up dying of an overdose, just like the trumpet player.
Which who are you to judge is thats a bad thing for andrew. HE made it clear his goal is to be the best and be remembered at any cost (which based on his dinner scene stems from that fact that hes treated as a no one in the family). Who are you to judge that just bc he MIGHT die young means his life was less fulfilling than someone who lived to 100 but never accomplished anything of note?
@@jackbreh2788 you don't need to "accomplish" anything big thing to be happy. Most people live their lives with their family, with a simple job and they are happy.
Fletcher 100% took the folder. From the moment Andrew entered studio band every single thing from talking to him about doing his best, throwing the chair at him, to slapping him, to making him compete against others until he hits his limit, was all to achieve his vision. Taking the folder was part of the process to see if Andrew would step up and play.
My father parented like Fletcher taught using intimidation, fear, and threats of physical abuse to get me to achieve "greatness". His parenting methods made me depressed, and suicidal when I was 12 and until I went to therapy when I was 20 I thought that no matter what I did I would never be enough for him to like or love me. My father believed that he could achieve success through me rather than allowing me to be my own person. What Fletcher views as weakness is actually survival instincts telling the person to survive and return to living a healthy, wholesome life. This is abuse and I have the CPTSD (complex PTSD) to prove it.
I'm so sorry that you went through that, I didn't have my father do that but I know he did horrible things to me and my brother, he dragged my brother up the stairs when he was just did something I think just playing something, I have autism and when I've had meltdowns etc my father would blame me, his mother and father would all be the same and not even understand it was never my fault and instead were like "we know you failed/made a mistake or something and so we expect you to be better" or something like that, they'd not be like my mother who understood that it wasn't my fault and that meltdowns are just the same as sezuires, one day my father messed up something where me and my brother were fighting but then calmed down and apologised and made up but he came in got angry and had my brother leave and caused things to get worse and I went into a meltdown and he hit me, punched me across the face and just it was horrible, my entire mother's side of the family all absolutely hate him and despise him, my father always blames my mother for everything even someone who passed away when he went to live in Brighton. He said that she made him do so and blames her for someone who died and he said she made him move from London to Brighton I- sorry for talking about my father, its horrible but I've been taking antidepressants and I've been healing mentally and physically
I am sorry to hear about your experience but also this is so important to share. I was left with education based trauma from teachers (and partly parents) who had somewhat similar methods. Watching this film (especially how Andrew was responding) brought back a lot of memories and was super uncomfortable. I was upset and had nightmares for like a week. I really like your reflections on how the "weakness" was in fact a survival thing. I hope you are doing well.
Your father sounds like a complete failure (I know he his because of what he did to you) - he vented his own frustrations and disappointments on you. It's the most cowardly thing a parent can do to someone with no means of escape. Using you as a punchbag - whether physically or verbally. Pathetic - I personally would throw your dad in jail and swallow the key like he deserves ... the fate of all cowardly bullies.
We have to remember that miles teller’s character isn’t a normal person, for a lot of people they do react the way you do but some people thrive in that environment, he just happens to thrive because he wants to be exceptional. Not trying to invalidate your trauma just saying people work different
W dad tbh made a perfect person, broken. A broken person isn’t really broken but flawed and wants to be fixed. You achieved greatness by pushing yourself for your abusing father. Congrats
everyone's mentioning that shot of his dad towards the end, and rightfully so because it's beautiful, but the shot that really gets the tears flowing for me is that close-up on Fletcher's eyes as he says "good job". Absolutely pitch perfect moment
The ending is incredibly dark in what it suggests. The moment Andrew leaves his father and goes back to Fletcher is the moment Andrew signs his life away. He'll become one of the greatest, "dying drunk, broke and full of heroin at the age of 34..." but hey, at least Andrew will still be talked about around the dinner table. So it's worth it, right?
"What's better? To die old and decrepit, dreaming of what was and smelling slightly of urine? Or to go out in a blaze of glory, passing into legend without seeing your thirtieth?" -Dexter 'Dex' Deshawn
@@jackbreh2788 Not really, because I wanna die happy surrounded by my family and the people I love instead of dying drunk, broke, and full of heroin at the age of 34 with all my friends and family rejecting me because of my toxic behavior and my unhealthy obsession to a profession that I was striving to be a master at like those artists who died young because of an abusive piece of shit teacher who forced me to be better out of malice.
@@jackbreh2788 Bruh whats the point of becoming a legend after you die? Are you so longing for attention that you will give up your life for it. That is far more of a hollow existence then a person with years and years of great memories and successes and regrets.
"Andrew will never be happy" is a take I can agree with. The type of person that succeeds inthat fashion is typically the type that can never be satisfied, it's very rare to have someone with the drive, perseverance, and perspective to appreciate their accomplishments. As soon as you begin to look back, you begin losing ground.
It's true, hard to say if Andrew will ever really be happy, but it seems like he was happy in that moment at the end. Andrew was definitely someone who thrived from being pushed that hard, because he was also pushing himself that hard. I like that Tanner went to pre-med, which everyone knows is one of the fucking hardest programs, after leaving music. Just shows how high level Fletcher was.
@@wimmywhamwamwozzle it’s hard to say what the message of the movie is, even regarding fletchers own teachings, it’s hard to say whether the movie thinks it was right or not. There’s also a question asked about whether Andrews pursuit of greatness was worth the things he sacrificed (girlfriend, I guess his mental health somewhat) The movies message itself is completely ambiguous, that’s why it ended right after Andrew essentially perfected, it’s basically just making the viewer decide whether what was shown is positive or negative. Personally I see it as a positive ending, what Andrew wanted was this perfection. I’ll also say that when you say it’s clear the movie implies he won’t be happy, I’d say that’s not clear. I’m assuming u are getting this interpretation from fletchers other student person who became a core jazz player, I think it was Sean Casey or something, the guy who killed them-self. but Sean Casey was never the ‘Charlie Parker’ that fletcher wanted to make, the whole point was that Andrew and Sean Casey were not the same, Andrew made it to the pinnacle and Sean did not, possibly saying that Andrew would not kill himself, and maybe even be happy. Anyway, to me it’s a positive ending.
@@askechadd2473 I don't know. Andrew being more like Charlie Parker, than Sean Casey, is not necessarily a good thing. You should look up Charlie Parker's life. He died at the age of 34 and had at least 2 suicide attempts (also drugs and alcohol problems, like many others like him). Being at the top of an craft, does not necessarily bring happiness. It definitely does not guarantee an happy ending. If you see a movie, that ends with two people getting together, then you'ld probably call it a happy ending. But if you see a movie with an completely toxic, abusive relationship that's falling apart. And it ends with them hooking up again, while hate-fucking each other. Would that seem like an happy end, knowing that it can only end badly? I mean, maybe you'ld say yes, if that's what they want. This movie's ending, definitely seems more like the second scenario.
@@damyr55 well Charlie Parker’s suicide attempts and drug abuse had nothing to do with his music career. He attempted suicide cos his daughter died right? I understand reaching the pinnacle doesn’t always make u happy, I’m just saying that reaching that pinnacle won’t make u kill yourself, that’s not the message of the movie. You say the hate-fucking can only end badly but again that isn’t shown in the movie, being Charlie Parker in the movie seems to be presented as a good thing, if they were trying to present it otherwise, as in present Charlie Parker’s treatment from his teacher as bad, they would’ve brought up some negative consequences of that treatment, at no point do they do that, I think the reason they didn’t is to use Charlie Parker as the positive consequence.
The thing with skills, contrary to what Calvin was saying, isn't that you plateau after a climb, it is constant maintenance and keeping up with the next best and current trends to where your life is consumed being the top performers. I want to imagine Andrew would find a life after becoming Fletchers Charlie Parker, but it's likely a road of turmoil if all he consumes is his craft, which is a choice he made in the film because he knows that is what Fletcher wants and is somewhat fueled by Andrew's own ego.
" it is constant maintenance and keeping up with the next best and current trends to where your life is consumed being the top performers." Exactly. Daily, concentrated, long practice is needed to increase and maintain everything from musical ability to athletic ability to math/science skills. I feel people overlook the fact that you won't passively get better at anything without commitment.
@@alisw81 I imagine it comes with the territory of telling a story, the "happy ending" implies the growth period is over. You end at the the top and there's no more story to tell what happens after. Obviously if you consider real life competition I think most people would realize it but not everybody is thinking of movies from a the real world even if a movie tackles real world themes.
La La Land is a great companion movie to this - They both ask the question "What is passion and it worth it?" They also are both directed by the same director and thematically play off of each other very well.
Recently on reddit there was a music expert who actually analysed the 'Not my Tempo' scene. They went though several filters, slowed it down and sped it up. After VERY thorough analysis, it turns out that Andrew was playing the correct tempo every single time. Despite this, Fletcher still got angry and threatening. Now people that've seen this post think that he got angry and immediately singled out Andrew *BECAUSE* he got the tempo down so well.
Had a teacher in high school who was as verbally aggressive as Fletcher. If somebody didn’t raise their hands or if someone didn’t know the answer, he gets angry fast & starts cursing. Thankfully, the only physical aggressiveness he had was pounding his fist on his desk. Few years later, when I was out of high school, he secretly got fired for watching X-rated content at school. I was told no one knew what happened to him (a teacher had to fill in) until the news slowly reached its way up, and the school confirmed it. Nothing wrong with watching X-rated content, but you gotta do it outside of your work (unless your work involves that). Lol
One of the best on-screen abusive relationships of the last decade. Try not to get lost in the idea of success vs. happiness, this is a story of a man's ego and the abuse he's willing to expell to fuel it. He may feel remorse (like losing a student to suicide), but he's using Andrew's obsession with "success" (something anyone artistic knows is a sliding scale with no end in sight) to get what he wants: to say he made an all-time great.
I think I saw some interview with the director about what happens after the final scene and he said that Andrew lost everyone and isolated himself and that he probably would die of a drug overdose in his late 20s . He lost everything to become the greatest.
okay but Neman got what he was wanted more than anything in life! I bet if Neman had a choice to go back he would do it all over again if it meant it all led to his success the way it does.
5:42 with the accidental foreshadow! As a drummer, I just loved your reactions to this as I've only watched Whiplash with other drummers and it's good to see people outside the music (especially drum) community enjoy the movie
This is my favorite movie of all time. I thought the story was done when Andrew walked off the stage. I thought Damien Chazelle wrote himself into a corner that there was no way out of and I thought it was going to end on that awful cringe moment. I had no idea what was going to happen when he walked back out onto the stage. And when Andrew starts that song on his own, it was almost like a jump scare. You should've heard the reaction in the theater I was in. It was visceral. Granted, I was in a jazz band, so I know that just starting a song on your own like that is NOT something that is even remotely possible. Like that just doesn't happen in the real world, which is why it was so out of nowhere for me and such a surprise and worked so well.
The ending to this film is in my top 5, all time. Just masterful. The all-out, epic drum finish, that last look by Fletcher, FINALLY giving Neiman some hint of approval, the closing beats, and then right to black. I mean, it doesn't get any better than that.
Can we give respect to the fact that they pull this film together in 19 days with a injured director, and Miles Teller was playing so hard he was literally bleeding on set in real time while playing. Something for everyone to remember whenever they watch this
My reading of the movie? Fletcher's basically a vampire who preys on kids who have potential, brings out the best in them in the most unhealthy and self-destructive way possible, and then once they've reached their pique, uses them until they inevitably burn out. Then moves on to the next victim. The Perfect Blue/Black Swan vibes are fuckin' real.
I love being creative. Writing, drawing, 3d modeling, programming. To me this speaks to people who have a craft and wants to master. There comes a point where you literally become an unforgiving slave to your craft. NOTHING ELSE MATTERS. It’s the price to become a Legend and be studied by other greats.
@@sian1000 It's crazy how good it was as the fourth movie in the series and after such a long break. Normally movies like that end up disappointing. Everything just worked so well. The pacing from start to finish, the setpieces, the story woven throughout, the visuals, music etc. What a ride.
The ending can be interpreted as good and or bad for the characters depending on how you see it, by the end both fletcher and Andrew got what they wanted, fletcher got his Parker and Andrew got his approval, I truly believe that Andrew became one of the greats but with that he lost his sanity and did end himself at the age of 35. someone from the outside can question how anyone could be ok knowing they suffered through so much trauma to be something but on the other hand, Andrew himself said that he would rather die and have people talk about him than live a long life having become nothing, so really for him he got the ending that he wanted
@@SpiderBatFan that might be my favorite roast in the movie, either that or “let’s go with the fucking Irish Pattie McCracker now. You know you actually do look a little like a leprechaun, I think I’m gonna start calling you flannery.”
Whiplash is one of those I've wanted to watch for years but never got around to (kinda like you were saying, Eric), and it's been loaded on an Amazon Prime tab ready to go all week. I just hadn't been able to watch it yet because I knew how intense a viewing it would be. Seeing that you guys had uploaded a reaction to it was the final push I needed to take the plunge. I've just finished it, and am jumping straight into this video of yours. Can't wait!
I nearly passed out when you said… “music is not worth this…” I haven’t played the drums in a few years, but it’s the only thing that’s ever made me feel alive.
Love this movie so much. Something about the theme “the price of genius” hits me more than anything else. The ending scene carries so many layers, it manages to create such a fantastical ending yet with such tragic implications. Plus I played in a jazz band so it felt good understanding all the nomenclature.
I mean I’m in an orchestra and my god after watching this movie I was totally scared of my conductor despite he has being a nice dude the whole time and never rage out on us😂😂
I don’t know if anyone said this but Caravan is a jazz standard. Every jazz musician knows the changes and key. Usually anything different is decided in rehearsal beforehand or easily cued by the director or leader of the group which is what happens at the end.
My favorite movie of all time. Watched this movie more than 10 times and just now realized that him falling down the stairs actually foreshadowed his car accident later on.
This movie is like the anti-Mr. Holland’s Opus. Mr Holland’s Opus is all about loving what you do and making music mean something to you emotionally, this movie takes your love of music and throws it in a shredder and slaps your face for complaining
Great reactions and reviews!!! I've been in bands for most of my life from middle school to college and I can attest to the insane levels of drive many many musicians have. Some greater than others but the industry itself is insanely competitive. Musicians compete at every level.
Whiplash is one of my favourite movies! I'm glad you've reacted to it! It's also soooo cool and very interesting to read the comments and to know everyone else's point of view :)
Whiplash was one of the most suspenseful movies to come out that year! I've never been so white knuckle on my couches' cushions before. You will be on the edge of your seat for the last 20-30 minutes of this movie. JK Simmons and Miles Teller were beyond brilliant.
In an interview with director Damien Chazelle, he says that beyond the ending of the movie, he sees Fletcher as always feeling like he "won" and Andrew becoming a "sad, empty shell" of a person who would "die in his mid 30s due to a drug overdose", which I just find chilling and so sad. The damage Fletcher has done to Andrew would absolutely cut his lifespan in half, just like he did to his other student.
Another extremely intriguing take to denote on top of the countless other devices and meanings: during the final scene when Andrew’s father is looking in awe through the theater doors, pay attention to the performer’s phenomenal facial expression- is he astonished at simply how good Andrew truly is at his craft, or is he in complete disarray realizing that Fletcher “won,” and that Andrew technically fell back into his arms, regardless of both the pros and cons of leaders like Fletcher.
Ino they might not think this is great for reactions but I hope they do more grounded films in the future like this. Films like nightcrawler, prisoners and marriage story would be great
okay this was the best way to start 2021! absolutely love this movie also, if you guys have seen black swan with natalie portman, i recommend watching a video essay on the "obsessed artist" topic comparing whiplash and black swan from a channel called "lessons from the screenplay" (y'all can do it in your own time haha i'm not asking for a reaction, it's just a recommendation because that video is AMAZING)
As a musician this movie gives me so much anxiety that I have to prepare myself to watch it, but I appreciate it so much because it's a true testament to the dedication that a person has for music. Plus I love J.K. Simmons as an actor and I hate Fletcher with a passion
I love this movie since it came out and I didn’t expect you guys to react to it. That being said you’re reaction was just as enjoyable as the movie itself. Constantly laughing
Raw Rider Patrons can watch the Full Length Reaction HERE: blindwavellc.com/whiplash-movie-full/
please react to Warrior!
Please react to Parasite next!
And Train to Busan is also a masterful film
Best line ever : "no- one handed, like Def Leppard!" :)
The best companion piece to Whiplash is Black Swan! go get some
That ending drum solo is one of the best movie endings of the last 10 years.
Its my number 1 best movie of the decade
@@jonjay2909 its tied at number 1 with Spider Verse for me.
Endgame??
@@baldguy3951 Sure it's a fun and enjoyable movie but it's not a filmmaking masterpiece or cinema great. But the thing is it doesn't have to be I like them as what they are
@Giovanni Martinez spiderverse was one of the most popular movies after it got released wtf are you talking about?
The realization in his father's eyes was supreme.
And him being on the outside looking in. Chef's kiss.
He knows how all this will probably end
He's realizing he's losing his son to his abuser. The framing boxing him in, or maybe keeping him out reinforces this.
@@wimmywhamwamwozzle wow
The horror in his eyes, the amount of sacrifice it took to achieve such a performance
J.K Simmons so deserved his Oscar for this.
100% agree!
I’m pretty sure he did
Oh yea for sure and Miles Teller should've gotten something too, Simmons actually cracked 2 of his ribs when Teller tackled him.
Just to make it clear.... I know he won. I'm merely saying it was greatly deserved 🤦🏻♂️
@@Fozzimodo chill dude ...
The really eerie thing about this film is that toward the end of production, Damien Chazelle was badly injured in a car accident, but insisted on continuing to work and got the production wrapped in just a few more days. And yes, the scene of Andrew insisting on playing after a car accident was written before this happened.
wtf is that true?
@@arafat9828 And you can add on that Miles Teller had also recently been in an accident himself, with the scars on his neck clearly visible.
@@Rmlohner 😳
Black lightning detective is in the movie too
I like to imagine what he was thinking when that happened. ya think he went like "oh hey- just like in my movie. that's wild." ?
The final 20 minutes of this movie is one of the most insane, inspiring, intimidating and anxiety ridden pieces of filmmaking ever. Chazelle is incredible.
Only a person who hasn't many movies makes that claim. That scene is laughable. You do know he's not really playing drums, right?
@@TTM9691 you know that him not playing drums has absolutely no bearing on whether it's a well made film, right? Acting is just that. Acting. Who sits behind a drum set in reality doesn't affect the tension, drama, acting, editing and entertainment behind the scene.
In fact, your statement comes off more as being from someone who doesn't watch or understand movies frequently than mine does, as it shows a crystal clear lack of understanding of the craft.
But then again I'm sure you'll come back with some chain about how you are an amateur critic or filmmaker but by that time I'll have forgotten you even exist and be happier for it. So save yourself the trouble
@@joshuabarnett88 It's not a well-made film, Joshua. Obviously you don't know that. And the script is ridiculously stupid in this movie, I don't know anybody could fall for such tripe. I'm a musician (who teaches) and who's also done directing, acting and writing, so I feel like I can judge this movie from both sides, thanks, Josh. The movie is for twits, I don't know else to put it. Every musician I know laughs at this movie. I watched this with another music teacher, and we laughed though the whole thing. Sorry, Josh, music teaching ain't Full Metal Jacket. And yes, I know the whole backstory of this silly movie. Simmons gave a great performance, he just a dopey script. "Whiplash" is for people who are afraid to watch actually good movies. If all you know is dopey franchise movies, yeah, "Whiplash" seems like some kind of amazing film. Oh, and one more thing, Josh? If you make a movie about music? Have real musicians actually play because that unto itself is a stunt. The fact you don't know that this silly, dopey movie is just a lot of faking - which teaches the audience absolutely nothing and makes it boring to anyone who actually knows how to play - kinda shows that you're the last person to weigh in with an opinion about it. My advice is to you is to literally go year by year, going back to the early 1900s, and start watching the history of great movies, then get back to me when you have some taste.
@@TTM9691 your feeling of superiority means less than nothing to me. It's fun how you did exactly what I said you would which is come in with some story about working on films. And none of that means a single thing to me. Drama exists not to always be exactly what it mimics in reality but to be a heightened display of a situation. The movie doesn't need to be the exact accurate representation of teaching music and never once did I say that it was attempting to be accurate.
I said it was anxiety driven, well acted, edited and shot, and none of those things are widely disputed. Just because you don't agree with the portrayal and because you acted and directed in what I'm sure what the most brilliant student film ever preciously doesn't make you the authority on Cinema. It makes you another person with an opinion.
But I'm not the one needlessly starting a conversation with a stranger that had a different opinion by trying to pick a fight and insulting them weeks after their original post. That behavior it narcissistic and pathetic. And it shows that you lack enjoyment and satisfaction in your life. Do you think that if you had succeeded in either acting, directing or teaching music you might have been happier in life and maybe you wouldn't feel the need to lash out at strangers on the internet?
Don't worry, sunshine, someone will come along one day and care that you graduated from playing Happy Birthday on a $200 piano and you can tell them how you're nothing like the big, scary man in the movie! Just like all those clowns who have to tell everyone there not like pennywise and it's ok to hire theny for a birthday party!
@@joshuabarnett88 What are you babbling about, Josh? I'm not even going to read this drivel. Are you unhinged? Listen, kid: the movie is for people who don't know anything about music, nor movies, nor acting. And that's just the way it is. End of discussion. What a geek.
The look when his father is looking through the glass is my favourite shot of the movie. A mix of awe, terror and pride. Amazing.
Gives me chills everytime
Andrew starts the movie wearing a white shirt while practicing, symbolizing his innocence and just pure passion for music. However, after meeting Fletcher we can see his clothing getting darker and darker, until it fully goes black, symbolizing his choice of his desire to be great over his desire to be happy. He leaves his family and girlfriend behind to pursue greatness, but you can see in his dad's eyes in the end that he knows his son will never find happiness.
Damn I’ve never thought of the shirt color symbolism, well done👌
Well spotted. I didn't notice that before. Makes me view the film differently.
disagree in the last part about the dad, i think that his dad sees greatness in his son, and the passion he has about it, he realeses the prodigy that his son is, something thathe never saw in the enitre movie, its just stupid to think that his father sees what you think he sees
@@arkham5940 you are wrong in the screen play it is written
Jim watches Andrew -- crazed, exhausted, looks like he’s
pushing himself past what is safe -- and knows there is
no longer anything he can do about it.
He has lost.
basically what cutshort said but half assed
One of the best details about fletcher is that he is not really sad about his student passing, but he is sad cause his death means he will never be "his" Charlie Parker. He only cares about his ego.
I believe fletchers love of the music was bigger than his ego. He was sad because a great musician passed. In my opinion, he didn't want someone to be "his" Charlie Parker as you mentioned, I believe he wanted a new Charlie Parker for the world. For music's sake. In the end tellers character and fletcher connected because they both wanted the same thing, they wanted to create something new as musicians. Despite their hatred for each other their love of music transcended this. And that final scene where they smile at each other. They both know they've hit a gold mine. The costs of being great in this movie are highlighted with the mc losing an important relationship or fletchers student taking his own life but I think this movie doesn't aim to cast a bad light on greatness but rather show the sacrifices people make to achieve greatness. I think it gets you thinking, seeking greatness and living a normal life can both be just as fulfilling. In living a normal life and giving up on his dream, he loses his chance of exploring his passion and creating something beautiful, while if he continues on his journey for greatness he risks missing out on a normal life, love, a wife, children, stability etc. I believe fletcher was sad with his students death both because he was a good musician but also because he felt his student gave up, he was a lost potential for greatness who could no longer handle that journey. Which unlike Charlie parker came back and rose from the ashes, a phoenix after failing. Tellers character was the Charlie Parker that did not let his failures discourage him and instead came back great to fletchers surprise. It shows that without the sacrifices of great artists we wouldn't have their art. Sure the glory is great, but the music itself has impacted n inspired countless lives. Inspiring many through their art is their service to the world and what all the sacrifices in their personal lives was for, and I think that's what's highlighted more in this film. The lesson I gathered from this film is that endeavoring on the road to greatness must not be done half heartedly or you will suffer, you're either in or out, and when it calls you, you must follow through or forever be haunted by what could have been
thats... not at all why. Fletcher didnt care about his ego. He cared about creating the next great
I'm 8 months late here and I didn't read that novel above me lol, but another part of it is that that's the student we find out later killed himself partly as a result of Fletcher. So all of that plus I imagine he personally felt some guilt about that (even though he'd probably never admit it).
@@will-gp7dd based
@@auntiespancakes2528 that’s a lie he tells himself to condone his behaviour. He clearly cares about his ego in my humble opinion. His ego couldn’t handle not being Charlie Parker, & that’s why he’s so obsessed w finding the next one, so he can take credit for it.
This movie is basically about a Sith master and apprentice. It's one of the best film in the last decade.
Dude, a series about a Sith master and apprentice sounds awesome.
@@dominichumlie The Acolyte is coming out
@@Mehdz03 yea, so so but the acolytes more about girls empowerment thingy...
@@MaxArch Or, it might end up being a great show about a Sith Master and their apprentice.
@@dominichumlie I really hate Disney haven't thought about adapting the Darth Bane trilogy either in film or as a series. It's such a good story. Agubally the most important period in Sith history.
I feel like the movie Nightcrawler would be a great companion piece to this
That movie is even better than American Psychopath
Great movie. Went in blind and then came out so amazed
That takes unhealthy obsession to new heights
FACTSSSS they are so different yet feel so complimentary to each other
YESS. GREAT MOVIE.
Eric's clearly someone who values his and other's mental health over any achievement or goal. I really respect that.
His gonna raise some mighty fine and healthy kids, Im sure of it.
I’d respect the reverse to that as well.
@@Gino565 the reverse of this is the leading cause of suicide so I don’t know about all that
@@graystark240 you don’t know about respecting someone who puts their goals as their number one priority? Huh? And how exactly is having goals as your number one priority the leading cause for suicide? That’s bullshit.
@@Gino565 I’m talking in terms of raising a family as a parent and the effects of fearing to fail. You raise I good point. I didn’t think about that aspect cause of the previous comments
I love that you guys took on this film. The relationship is co-dependent. Andrew may have started as someone who loves music, but now is he in it to be the best for the sake of being the best? Or does he care more about Fletcher’s approval? When you looks at his room and behavior you know he started from a love of music but ambition and teacher approval has warped him. For fletcher, you know he wanted a slew of Charlie Parkers as students. But I had doubts as it seemed he was too sadistic. But at the end when Andrew’s solo during caravan took off you saw Fletcher’s expression of elation. It’s what he dreamed of and validated his method. They are both doomed unless Andrew can break free.
Excellent synopsis of their relationship
The ending is pretty sad if you think about it. Now Andrew is completely dependent on Fletcher; you can see in his father’s reaction and the way Fletcher freely controls him by telling him how fast to play at the end
I think in the end after Andrew got dismissed from the Shaffer, he threw away his posters and CDs and contacted Nicole, it shows to me he got over his obsession of Fletcher and thus had a healthier relationship with his ambition comparatively in the beginning where we saw him moved his bed to the front of his posters.
When he joined Fletcher’s new band, he didn’t practice excessively. We didn’t even see him practice at all. He opened his closet where he kept his drum kit and thats it. He opened his ambition back but different approach this time.
When he performed in the last competition, he defied Fletcher and focus on his music, he was leading himself. And that’s what amazed Fletcher; he was there to perform for himself and not for Fletcher.
If Fletcher's Band played a slow jazz piece, they'd be mostly lost. They can play extremely fast tempos at incredibly efficient speeds, but when it comes to emoting, they'd be too scared to show the slightest emotion.
@@erasmus9511 Not true. Neiman came back in an effort to finally impress Fletcher, outright let himself be controlled by Fletcher as shown in him following his conducting throughout his solo, and even smiled when he finally gained his approval. In the end he cast his passion for music and his entire life aside purely to be the next Charlie Parker. His father's reaction, contrary to what many think, is not a reaction of bewilderment or wonder, but actually one of pure horror at the sight of having lost his son. That much is confirmed by both the script and all those involved in the making of the film. Miles Teller even said in an interview that he felt Andrew Neiman would inevitably end up dead underneath a bridge of a drug overdose in his 30s.
“I’d break his ankle” is the weirdest threat ever.
It's so oddly specific I think he'd actually do it lmao
@@camthetrashman2386 or had done it before
@@camthetrashman2386 🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂
It's the Achilles weakness
I'd hit his ankle from the side, lol almost died laughing
Well, Michael Jackson and his siblings basically had a more abusive version of Fletcher as a father, which is actually worse considering he was their father
Atlanta has a decent episode that talks about this.
I'd recommend the series.
@@erikstrasburg6411 thats a fucked up episode and Donald Glover part is crazy i watched with my brother and half part of the episode we both starting asking is this fucking Donald Glover?
(1) You still do not deny Michael Jackson, the artist, which makes your comment quite hollow; and (2) he still forgave his father for what he did, yet you have not -- and he wasn't even your father. This is worth thinking about for like ten years.
@@TheClassicWorld kinda irrelevant buddy. The dude was still abusive to his children, and a shitty guy regardless of whether or not Michael forgave him. If a guy killed someone’s mother, and the mother’s child forgave the killer, does that mean the rest of us should forget what he did as well? Doesn’t work like that.
But there are few to none jazz band directors like that
Anxiety: *exists*
Whiplash: I'll take your entire stock
Fletcher took the folder. It’s a fact.
Yea I thought that was obvious. Don’t know why they think Andrew took it.
@callmecatalyst nope
@callmecatalyst How would Neiman know that the Drummer *needs* visual cues? They don't seem to be buddying up at the band, so that information shouldn't really be privy to him. Fletcher tho, as the guy states it "knows it".
@callmecatalyst Fletcher is definitely more likely. We're watching from Andrew's perspective, so we definitely would've found out if it was him.
@@213byron When the crew said "he took it", I took that to mean Fletcher, not Andrew.
At the end where Fletcher keeps nodding and steps backwards into the shadow, he looks like the devil staring at his monstrous creation.
It blows my mind that some people think this has a happy ending, or that this proves Fletcher's point, that he somehow cared all along.
Fletcher doesn't care about people. He cares about performance. People, to him, are nothing but candidate vessels for superior genius. Which of course means that anyone failing to meet that standard is trash. And he will not hesitate to throw people into the trash, squeezing them dry, destroying them, in the hopes of getting the one who can "take it." and reach his idea of greatness.
This is about someone being broken by an abuser into being his creature. In that last scene, Andrew looks towards a man who traumatised and exploited him to the point of his physical and mental breaking point for his approval. And Fletcher smiles in triumph. He got his wish - all it cost was that kid's sanity, stability, and ultimately quite possibly his life.
Well said. It’s quite disturbing really
Yeah, Fletcher only cares about what his students can ultimately do for his own image/ego/career. He wants a Charlie Parker to prove that his methods work, to prove that he was right, to prove his worth as a music instructor and conductor. He doesn't care what happens to Andrew in the future as long as he gets what he needs from him.
In other words, he's a pathological narcissist. To put it in simple terms.
If he only cares about the performance, why would he do something that would make his drummer look like as ass on the stage...that would ruin the performance too .
@@vipuljani8392 Do you not remember his whole Charlie Parker conversation he had with Andrew? Cymbal thrown at Charlie's head because he missed a note. Charlie then doubles down and practices twice as hard, eventually turning him into the legend we know him as today. It's about long-term legacy, not one single performance. Fletcher wants to create his own Charlie Parker so he can cement his legacy as a teacher, so he's willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen--including tormenting these kids and sacrificing some performances to teach them that lesson.
This movie left me a different person when the credits rolled. This is one of the greatest movies ever
The reason that Fletcher was so upset about his former player dying wasn't that he liked the player. He thought that trumpet player was going to be "his" Charlie Parker. And the ending with the smile he gives Andrew is that he maybe found his next Charlie Parker. It is a great ending though.
Another thing that I do like about the ending, is that solo that Andrew plays at the end, is the one that he has been practicing whenever he is in the studio by himself. He was finally able to play it all the way through. The other people had the rest of the music too. Fletcher just didn't tell Andrew about the piece that they opened with, in an effort to screw up his future. He thought Andy was just going to walk off and not finish. Since it was a professional band Fletcher probably thought that even without a drummer they would be able to do the other songs.
The writer of this movie doesn't see a good life for Andrew after this movie. He believes that Andrew will probably end up dying of an overdose, just like the trumpet player.
"that ungrateful fucking bat"
I thought the trumpet player killed himself.
@@keenanbartlome8153 It has been awhile since I have seen the movie. I think you're right.
Which who are you to judge is thats a bad thing for andrew. HE made it clear his goal is to be the best and be remembered at any cost (which based on his dinner scene stems from that fact that hes treated as a no one in the family). Who are you to judge that just bc he MIGHT die young means his life was less fulfilling than someone who lived to 100 but never accomplished anything of note?
@@jackbreh2788 you don't need to "accomplish" anything big thing to be happy. Most people live their lives with their family, with a simple job and they are happy.
Fletcher 100% took the folder. From the moment Andrew entered studio band every single thing from talking to him about doing his best, throwing the chair at him, to slapping him, to making him compete against others until he hits his limit, was all to achieve his vision. Taking the folder was part of the process to see if Andrew would step up and play.
I noticed this I totally agree
There is no way it could’ve been Fletcher unless he has the power to teleport or has super speed.
@SonicPlayer2004 it's def fletcher
My father parented like Fletcher taught using intimidation, fear, and threats of physical abuse to get me to achieve "greatness". His parenting methods made me depressed, and suicidal when I was 12 and until I went to therapy when I was 20 I thought that no matter what I did I would never be enough for him to like or love me. My father believed that he could achieve success through me rather than allowing me to be my own person. What Fletcher views as weakness is actually survival instincts telling the person to survive and return to living a healthy, wholesome life. This is abuse and I have the CPTSD (complex PTSD) to prove it.
I'm so sorry that you went through that, I didn't have my father do that but I know he did horrible things to me and my brother, he dragged my brother up the stairs when he was just did something I think just playing something, I have autism and when I've had meltdowns etc my father would blame me, his mother and father would all be the same and not even understand it was never my fault and instead were like "we know you failed/made a mistake or something and so we expect you to be better" or something like that, they'd not be like my mother who understood that it wasn't my fault and that meltdowns are just the same as sezuires, one day my father messed up something where me and my brother were fighting but then calmed down and apologised and made up but he came in got angry and had my brother leave and caused things to get worse and I went into a meltdown and he hit me, punched me across the face and just it was horrible, my entire mother's side of the family all absolutely hate him and despise him, my father always blames my mother for everything even someone who passed away when he went to live in Brighton. He said that she made him do so and blames her for someone who died and he said she made him move from London to Brighton I- sorry for talking about my father, its horrible but I've been taking antidepressants and I've been healing mentally and physically
I am sorry to hear about your experience but also this is so important to share. I was left with education based trauma from teachers (and partly parents) who had somewhat similar methods. Watching this film (especially how Andrew was responding) brought back a lot of memories and was super uncomfortable. I was upset and had nightmares for like a week. I really like your reflections on how the "weakness" was in fact a survival thing. I hope you are doing well.
Your father sounds like a complete failure (I know he his because of what he did to you) - he vented his own frustrations and disappointments on you. It's the most cowardly thing a parent can do to someone with no means of escape. Using you as a punchbag - whether physically or verbally. Pathetic - I personally would throw your dad in jail and swallow the key like he deserves ... the fate of all cowardly bullies.
We have to remember that miles teller’s character isn’t a normal person, for a lot of people they do react the way you do but some people thrive in that environment, he just happens to thrive because he wants to be exceptional. Not trying to invalidate your trauma just saying people work different
W dad tbh made a perfect person, broken. A broken person isn’t really broken but flawed and wants to be fixed. You achieved greatness by pushing yourself for your abusing father. Congrats
everyone's mentioning that shot of his dad towards the end, and rightfully so because it's beautiful, but the shot that really gets the tears flowing for me is that close-up on Fletcher's eyes as he says "good job". Absolutely pitch perfect moment
The ending is incredibly dark in what it suggests. The moment Andrew leaves his father and goes back to Fletcher is the moment Andrew signs his life away. He'll become one of the greatest, "dying drunk, broke and full of heroin at the age of 34..." but hey, at least Andrew will still be talked about around the dinner table. So it's worth it, right?
and who are we to say its not worth it. That's the beauty of it. A long life lived isnt the same as a worthwhile life lived.
"What's better? To die old and decrepit, dreaming of what was and smelling slightly of urine? Or to go out in a blaze of glory, passing into legend without seeing your thirtieth?"
-Dexter 'Dex' Deshawn
@@jackbreh2788 Not really, because I wanna die happy surrounded by my family and the people I love instead of dying drunk, broke, and full of heroin at the age of 34 with all my friends and family rejecting me because of my toxic behavior and my unhealthy obsession to a profession that I was striving to be a master at like those artists who died young because of an abusive piece of shit teacher who forced me to be better out of malice.
@@bubsyfinnigan4462 DeShawn was a piece of shit that the game acknowledged he sucked and threw him away. Thats not the best guy to quote.
@@jackbreh2788 Bruh whats the point of becoming a legend after you die? Are you so longing for attention that you will give up your life for it. That is far more of a hollow existence then a person with years and years of great memories and successes and regrets.
"Andrew will never be happy" is a take I can agree with. The type of person that succeeds inthat fashion is typically the type that can never be satisfied, it's very rare to have someone with the drive, perseverance, and perspective to appreciate their accomplishments. As soon as you begin to look back, you begin losing ground.
What if the music itself is his happiness if so he'll die a happy man
It's true, hard to say if Andrew will ever really be happy, but it seems like he was happy in that moment at the end. Andrew was definitely someone who thrived from being pushed that hard, because he was also pushing himself that hard.
I like that Tanner went to pre-med, which everyone knows is one of the fucking hardest programs, after leaving music. Just shows how high level Fletcher was.
I think it's clear the movie implies he won't be. This is a dark ending masquerading as a happy one.
@@wimmywhamwamwozzle it’s hard to say what the message of the movie is, even regarding fletchers own teachings, it’s hard to say whether the movie thinks it was right or not.
There’s also a question asked about whether Andrews pursuit of greatness was worth the things he sacrificed (girlfriend, I guess his mental health somewhat)
The movies message itself is completely ambiguous, that’s why it ended right after Andrew essentially perfected, it’s basically just making the viewer decide whether what was shown is positive or negative. Personally I see it as a positive ending, what Andrew wanted was this perfection.
I’ll also say that when you say it’s clear the movie implies he won’t be happy, I’d say that’s not clear. I’m assuming u are getting this interpretation from fletchers other student person who became a core jazz player, I think it was Sean Casey or something, the guy who killed them-self. but Sean Casey was never the ‘Charlie Parker’ that fletcher wanted to make, the whole point was that Andrew and Sean Casey were not the same, Andrew made it to the pinnacle and Sean did not, possibly saying that Andrew would not kill himself, and maybe even be happy.
Anyway, to me it’s a positive ending.
@@askechadd2473 I don't know. Andrew being more like Charlie Parker, than Sean Casey, is not necessarily a good thing. You should look up Charlie Parker's life.
He died at the age of 34 and had at least 2 suicide attempts (also drugs and alcohol problems, like many others like him). Being at the top of an craft, does not necessarily bring happiness. It definitely does not guarantee an happy ending.
If you see a movie, that ends with two people getting together, then you'ld probably call it a happy ending. But if you see a movie with an completely toxic, abusive relationship that's falling apart. And it ends with them hooking up again, while hate-fucking each other. Would that seem like an happy end, knowing that it can only end badly?
I mean, maybe you'ld say yes, if that's what they want. This movie's ending, definitely seems more like the second scenario.
@@damyr55 well Charlie Parker’s suicide attempts and drug abuse had nothing to do with his music career. He attempted suicide cos his daughter died right?
I understand reaching the pinnacle doesn’t always make u happy, I’m just saying that reaching that pinnacle won’t make u kill yourself, that’s not the message of the movie. You say the hate-fucking can only end badly but again that isn’t shown in the movie, being Charlie Parker in the movie seems to be presented as a good thing, if they were trying to present it otherwise, as in present Charlie Parker’s treatment from his teacher as bad, they would’ve brought up some negative consequences of that treatment, at no point do they do that, I think the reason they didn’t is to use Charlie Parker as the positive consequence.
@@askechadd2473 well, the writer disagrees with you, but there's always the death of the author argument
The thing with skills, contrary to what Calvin was saying, isn't that you plateau after a climb, it is constant maintenance and keeping up with the next best and current trends to where your life is consumed being the top performers. I want to imagine Andrew would find a life after becoming Fletchers Charlie Parker, but it's likely a road of turmoil if all he consumes is his craft, which is a choice he made in the film because he knows that is what Fletcher wants and is somewhat fueled by Andrew's own ego.
" it is constant maintenance and keeping up with the next best and current trends to where your life is consumed being the top performers."
Exactly. Daily, concentrated, long practice is needed to increase and maintain everything from musical ability to athletic ability to math/science skills. I feel people overlook the fact that you won't passively get better at anything without commitment.
Yeah its the non-nuanced take that fame and success as some grand sense of satisfaction
@@alisw81 I imagine it comes with the territory of telling a story, the "happy ending" implies the growth period is over. You end at the the top and there's no more story to tell what happens after. Obviously if you consider real life competition I think most people would realize it but not everybody is thinking of movies from a the real world even if a movie tackles real world themes.
The tension in the movie theater when I saw this was insane.
That bit after the car crash... I think we all felt your pain
La La Land is a great companion movie to this - They both ask the question "What is passion and it worth it?" They also are both directed by the same director and thematically play off of each other very well.
Recently on reddit there was a music expert who actually analysed the 'Not my Tempo' scene. They went though several filters, slowed it down and sped it up.
After VERY thorough analysis, it turns out that Andrew was playing the correct tempo every single time. Despite this, Fletcher still got angry and threatening. Now people that've seen this post think that he got angry and immediately singled out Andrew *BECAUSE* he got the tempo down so well.
I remember reading somewhere that it was another section that messed it up. I can’t remember for certain, but I think it was the brass section.
Miles Teller actually played the drums in this movie
Well, not most of it, but some of the wide shots were actually him.
Some shots but they were also dubbed by professionals.
«You dont Get whiplash with me» Calvin sounded genuinly devestated saying that
Well Hello there @McLovin!
General @@RandomAndysChannel
I don't understand the subtext of this comment. Did i miss something?
@@daddy_.rome0 What?
Ah, Mclovin, RandomAndy! A surprise to be sure but a welcome one !
Fun fact: at 30:05 Fletcher actually says "Good job" to Andrew
Had a teacher in high school who was as verbally aggressive as Fletcher. If somebody didn’t raise their hands or if someone didn’t know the answer, he gets angry fast & starts cursing. Thankfully, the only physical aggressiveness he had was pounding his fist on his desk. Few years later, when I was out of high school, he secretly got fired for watching X-rated content at school. I was told no one knew what happened to him (a teacher had to fill in) until the news slowly reached its way up, and the school confirmed it. Nothing wrong with watching X-rated content, but you gotta do it outside of your work (unless your work involves that). Lol
if im not mistaken his drum solo took 2 days to shoot
Thats not too crazy honestly. Given how long it is and how long movie shpooting takes.
@@carlhilber2275 It apparently took only 19 days to shoot.
@@matthewc5747 I see. That is a long time on the other hand.
@@carlhilber2275 19 days to shoot the whole film
I close my eyes, I hear Tenzen humiliate air bender disciples.
Korra would've done a lot more than tackle him lol
i see you came here from the legend of whiplash XD
Damn never expected a comment like this
One of the best on-screen abusive relationships of the last decade. Try not to get lost in the idea of success vs. happiness, this is a story of a man's ego and the abuse he's willing to expell to fuel it. He may feel remorse (like losing a student to suicide), but he's using Andrew's obsession with "success" (something anyone artistic knows is a sliding scale with no end in sight) to get what he wants: to say he made an all-time great.
I could watch that ending sequence over and over. Pure cinema. What a film.
I think the ultimate question of the movie is “do the ends justify the means”
It's also asking if the end justifies the end.
YOU’LL GET YOUR TEMPO WHEN YOU FIX THIS DAMN DOOR!!!
the folder was full of pictures of Spider Man
The editing of this movie was amazing, almost jazz like in a way. Pretty sure it won for best editing too.
Yeah, too perfect...
It hooks you like a... HOOK.
I think I saw some interview with the director about what happens after the final scene and he said that Andrew lost everyone and isolated himself and that he probably would die of a drug overdose in his late 20s . He lost everything to become the greatest.
What Andrew went through in this movie is never worth what he thinks he wants.
This movie fucking rules, goddamn that final scene man holy shit
Completely agree, I am just glued to the screen for 10 full minutes xD
Watch "Inside Luin Davis", it's even better
@@kraazexjoker1874 Watch "Inside Luin Davis", it's even better
Джон Таргариен *Llewyn
Great movie!
The prestige would be a great film to watch especially since it also deals with obsession just in a different way
Great film!
that film was a major mindfuck on the first watch
Or black swan
Sadly I believe they have all seen that.
What's cool about the ending is that it can be both seen as a good or a bad ending.
5:40, Aaron and Calvin summed up the movie pretty well. Never thought of it like that, but it makes perfect sense sense.
The movie ends with Fletcher winning!!!!!!!! He broke Neman down into what HE wanted him to be.
I mean its also what Neman wants
okay but Neman got what he was wanted more than anything in life! I bet if Neman had a choice to go back he would do it all over again if it meant it all led to his success the way it does.
Neman is Fletcher
Neiman’s final solo leaves me to fucking chills man!!!🔥🔥🔥
5:42 with the accidental foreshadow! As a drummer, I just loved your reactions to this as I've only watched Whiplash with other drummers and it's good to see people outside the music (especially drum) community enjoy the movie
After this movie, I’ll never think of “good job” the same way again.
This is my favorite movie of all time. I thought the story was done when Andrew walked off the stage. I thought Damien Chazelle wrote himself into a corner that there was no way out of and I thought it was going to end on that awful cringe moment. I had no idea what was going to happen when he walked back out onto the stage. And when Andrew starts that song on his own, it was almost like a jump scare. You should've heard the reaction in the theater I was in. It was visceral. Granted, I was in a jazz band, so I know that just starting a song on your own like that is NOT something that is even remotely possible. Like that just doesn't happen in the real world, which is why it was so out of nowhere for me and such a surprise and worked so well.
I'm so jealous. I watched it on my PC and immediately wished that I saw it in theatres
It was amazing watching this in the theatre
@@arafat9828 same 😭 i've watched it soo many times now, but i've never seen it in the theatre 😭
@@jilyui0416 pain
@@arafat9828 this and Bladerunner 2049 I just wish I could go back and see in theaters
The ending to this film is in my top 5, all time. Just masterful. The all-out, epic drum finish, that last look by Fletcher, FINALLY giving Neiman some hint of approval, the closing beats, and then right to black. I mean, it doesn't get any better than that.
This Movie is in my personal top 20 of all time. I love this movie. It's amazing. Best start to 2021 with this being the first movie reaction of 2021!
One of the greatest films ever made! The ending still gives me chills.
My all-time fav music related movie
Has Uncut Gems been on an poll? Because it really needs to be on a poll for these guys.
Adam Sandler shocked everyone with that film… He blew me away with his acting performance
Can we give respect to the fact that they pull this film together in 19 days with a injured director, and Miles Teller was playing so hard he was literally bleeding on set in real time while playing. Something for everyone to remember whenever they watch this
My reading of the movie? Fletcher's basically a vampire who preys on kids who have potential, brings out the best in them in the most unhealthy and self-destructive way possible, and then once they've reached their pique, uses them until they inevitably burn out. Then moves on to the next victim. The Perfect Blue/Black Swan vibes are fuckin' real.
I love being creative. Writing, drawing, 3d modeling, programming. To me this speaks to people who have a craft and wants to master. There comes a point where you literally become an unforgiving slave to your craft. NOTHING ELSE MATTERS. It’s the price to become a Legend and be studied by other greats.
One of my favourite movies of the past years. This, Arrival and Mad Max: Fury Road are probably the best ones I've seen in the previous decade.
Man I love Mad Max
@@sian1000 It's crazy how good it was as the fourth movie in the series and after such a long break. Normally movies like that end up disappointing.
Everything just worked so well. The pacing from start to finish, the setpieces, the story woven throughout, the visuals, music etc. What a ride.
@@Yusuku even the quiet and epic moments it is truly insane just how good it was
The ending can be interpreted as good and or bad for the characters depending on how you see it, by the end both fletcher and Andrew got what they wanted, fletcher got his Parker and Andrew got his approval, I truly believe that Andrew became one of the greats but with that he lost his sanity and did end himself at the age of 35. someone from the outside can question how anyone could be ok knowing they suffered through so much trauma to be something but on the other hand, Andrew himself said that he would rather die and have people talk about him than live a long life having become nothing, so really for him he got the ending that he wanted
“There’s no Mars bar on the ground”😂😂😂
One of many remarks he makes that I can’t help but laugh while still being afraid 🤣
“It’s not your boyfriend’s dick don’t come early” is another one 😂
@@SpiderBatFan that might be my favorite roast in the movie, either that or “let’s go with the fucking Irish Pattie McCracker now. You know you actually do look a little like a leprechaun, I think I’m gonna start calling you flannery.”
One of the moments that goes underrated is when he hugs his dad and then starts walking back to the stage, that always gives me goosebumps.
Whiplash is one of those I've wanted to watch for years but never got around to (kinda like you were saying, Eric), and it's been loaded on an Amazon Prime tab ready to go all week. I just hadn't been able to watch it yet because I knew how intense a viewing it would be. Seeing that you guys had uploaded a reaction to it was the final push I needed to take the plunge. I've just finished it, and am jumping straight into this video of yours. Can't wait!
I nearly passed out when you said… “music is not worth this…”
I haven’t played the drums in a few years, but it’s the only thing that’s ever made me feel alive.
Fun fact when he was asking if he was rushing or dragging he was actually doing it perfect he was just fucking with him
Well this is random as hell I just watched this movie for the first time last night
Only just caught how he says Sean died in a car accident, he can't except that he was responsible
Love this movie so much. Something about the theme “the price of genius” hits me more than anything else. The ending scene carries so many layers, it manages to create such a fantastical ending yet with such tragic implications. Plus I played in a jazz band so it felt good understanding all the nomenclature.
Is Aaron a band kid? He cringed in all the right places. 🤣🤣🤣
He’s mentioned a couple of times in the past that he was in a band-he played sax. Hopefully he couldn’t relate to all the abuse lol
😂
@@helinituhhh "Noooooooooo! It's worse if you don't know!" --Aaron
I mean I’m in an orchestra and my god after watching this movie I was totally scared of my conductor despite he has being a nice dude the whole time and never rage out on us😂😂
I don’t know if anyone said this but Caravan is a jazz standard. Every jazz musician knows the changes and key. Usually anything different is decided in rehearsal beforehand or easily cued by the director or leader of the group which is what happens at the end.
React to "There Will Be Blood" Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson starring Daniel Day-Lewis. It is a cinematic Masterpiece!
My favorite movie of all time. Watched this movie more than 10 times and just now realized that him falling down the stairs actually foreshadowed his car accident later on.
I don't know if I can relive this movie! It's amazing. J. K. Simmons is hilarious. But damn is it hard to watch!
This movie is like the anti-Mr. Holland’s Opus. Mr Holland’s Opus is all about loving what you do and making music mean something to you emotionally, this movie takes your love of music and throws it in a shredder and slaps your face for complaining
How noone tried to kill Fletcher is the most surprising thing.
This film is pure art. Nice surprise from you guys!
Fun fact! the scares on Miles teller face are real from a real car accident.
In Rabbit Hole.
Great reactions and reviews!!! I've been in bands for most of my life from middle school to college and I can attest to the insane levels of drive many many musicians have. Some greater than others but the industry itself is insanely competitive. Musicians compete at every level.
He's not an asshole, he is a sociopath. But it is the greatest ending ever.
"Mr. Holland's Opus + "Full Metal Jacket" = "Whiplash"
Whiplash is one of my favourite movies! I'm glad you've reacted to it! It's also soooo cool and very interesting to read the comments and to know everyone else's point of view :)
Best shot of the movie was the fathers face watching his son become the best.
Goosebumps every time.
This has just made my whole day, blind wave reaction to one of my favourite films of all time. Thanks guys 😜😁
Whiplash was one of the most suspenseful movies to come out that year! I've never been so white knuckle on my couches' cushions before.
You will be on the edge of your seat for the last 20-30 minutes of this movie. JK Simmons and Miles Teller were beyond brilliant.
J.K. Simmons won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for this film.
So deserved!!!
In an interview with director Damien Chazelle, he says that beyond the ending of the movie, he sees Fletcher as always feeling like he "won" and Andrew becoming a "sad, empty shell" of a person who would "die in his mid 30s due to a drug overdose", which I just find chilling and so sad. The damage Fletcher has done to Andrew would absolutely cut his lifespan in half, just like he did to his other student.
A great movie that created the perfect movie ending both achieve their Dream at the same moment and it was conveyed to us with no Dialouge
Another extremely intriguing take to denote on top of the countless other devices and meanings: during the final scene when Andrew’s father is looking in awe through the theater doors, pay attention to the performer’s phenomenal facial expression- is he astonished at simply how good Andrew truly is at his craft, or is he in complete disarray realizing that Fletcher “won,” and that Andrew technically fell back into his arms, regardless of both the pros and cons of leaders like Fletcher.
One of the best movie scores ever.
Ino they might not think this is great for reactions but I hope they do more grounded films in the future like this. Films like nightcrawler, prisoners and marriage story would be great
okay this was the best way to start 2021! absolutely love this movie
also, if you guys have seen black swan with natalie portman, i recommend watching a video essay on the "obsessed artist" topic comparing whiplash and black swan from a channel called "lessons from the screenplay" (y'all can do it in your own time haha i'm not asking for a reaction, it's just a recommendation because that video is AMAZING)
This movie, is the reason why I play for myself, and not for anyone else.
It's fun, and that's all I've ever wanted when I play.
That ending sequence gives me chills everytime.
I never thought We’d see the day when Tenzin taught Mr fantastic to play drums
As a musician this movie gives me so much anxiety that I have to prepare myself to watch it, but I appreciate it so much because it's a true testament to the dedication that a person has for music. Plus I love J.K. Simmons as an actor and I hate Fletcher with a passion
I love this movie since it came out and I didn’t expect you guys to react to it. That being said you’re reaction was just as enjoyable as the movie itself. Constantly laughing