I really enjoyed Whiplash. Really the only thing I would agree with is the car accident. It did bother me that he just walked away from it. But at the same time, I think it was a decent device to show how badly he needed to play. That was his chance, the whole story was leading up to him being discovered and he knew that's where it needed to happen. While walking away from the accident is unrealistic, him pushing his way past the alternates to play makes sense. It would be like if someone got injured one their way to their first ever NHL game. He would do anything to make that happen. I actually thought the kid would die of a brain hemorrhage or something while on stage.
I also found it really odd that Fletcher would submarine his own performance by not giving him the music. But I think, as said in here, he really didn't give a crap about that ensemble, and said as such when they chatted at the bar. Someone with the issues he has and knowing the kid had him canned from his dream job, I could see why he would end up doing that.
Personally, the final scene made the movie. He finally took control for himself, rather than trying to follow someone lesser, he decided to say "f this" and show what he was really made of. That solo was incredible and I especially like him mouthing "F*** you" to Fletcher and slamming the crash symbol in his face. And then his dad, who didn't seem to understand how good his son was, watching through the door. The whole last 10 minutes was his redemption for letting Fletcher walk over him, for giving up a social life, for all the frustration from his family having no idea how good he is, and for very nearly giving his life in the pursuit of that one chance to show what he is. And he blew everyone away. I loved it and have re-watched that last part a couple times.
As a drummer, yes, my hands have bled. Usually more from smoking my hand on a rim than from blisters, but I get blisters every time I play. I would bet the only reason they don't end up bleeding is because I stop when they get bad. Playing that fast for that long, yeah, I think his hands would be bleeding. Bonham's hands used to bleed too.
Side bar, It can't have been easy for them to find a good actor who could also play the drums that proficiently. I commend the filmmakers for casting it that way, and commend Teller for being a fricken good drummer.
As a drummer, yes, my hands have bled. Usually more from smoking my hand on a rim than from blisters, but I get blisters every time I play. I would bet the only reason they don't end up bleeding is because I stop when they get bad. Playing that fast for that long, yeah, I think his hands would be bleeding. Bonham's hands used to bleed too.
In fact, Miles Teller (the actor who played Neyman) did end up with his hands bleeding during filming.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattyC
The whole last 10 minutes was his redemption for letting Fletcher walk over him, for giving up a social life, for all the frustration from his family having no idea how good he is, and for very nearly giving his life in the pursuit of that one chance to show what he is. And he blew everyone away. I loved it and have re-watched that last part a couple times.
At some point it's trust the tale not the teller; different people can get different things out of a piece of art and none of them have to be "right" or "wrong". But I seriously don't understand how people got such a triumphant note out of the ending of this. Deceptive cadence?
... I'll show myself out.
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At some point it's trust the tale not the teller; different people can get different things out of a piece of art and none of them have to be "right" or "wrong". But I seriously don't understand how people got such a triumphant note out of the ending of this. Deceptive cadence?
... I'll show myself out.
I can see where people would find the end depressing, particularly with the comment from the filmmaker. Art is how you interpret it. Even the artist (the filmmaker) can have a totally different idea of what their art is supposed to be getting across, but in the end it's how it makes the audience feel.
I saw the whole final performance to be Andrew's middle finger to Fletcher and anyone who ever doubted him. Put all his pain, rage and emotion into one drum solo. When he was about to leave, I got disappointed that he wasn't going to get his due. Don't know if this would hold true, but maybe being a musician I find more triumph in those final moments than despair. The director sees him dying of an OD at 30, I saw him whipping a stick at Fletcher once he was done and overshadowing him for the rest of his life. If anyone is to be haunted, it's Fletcher for having a hand in the suicide of a former student. AND if Andrew is driven to OD at 30, is it because of emotional trauma from Fletcher, or because he couldn't live up to his own expectations? "The greatest musician of the 20th century" is a lofty goal.
But, to me, the fact that the film prompts discussion about how characters would live out their lives and how that affects how you look at the story, tells me it's a damn good movie.
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Is one allowed to refer to one's own rant as "epic"?
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I actually didn't find the events all that unrealistic. They were obviously more packaged than you'd see in real life. However in law school and early practice, I saw far worse breakdowns and equally questionable conduct from "mentors".
And yet throughout the solo he was taking orders from Fletcher. That was very purposefully put in there.
I guess so. But even then, Fletcher didn't start any directions until he was well into the solo. And most of his directions were more just head nods and drooling over what Andrew was doing. Andrew even tells Fletcher that he'll count him in and Fletcher just nods sheepishly and runs to his stand. The only time there was any actual direction to Andrew was during his crescendo from fast to slow and back to fast right before the rest of the band came in. They are still part of a large, intricate ensemble and he had to be timed into the rest of the instruments. But I felt like Andrew was really the one directing everything at that moment. Everyone was reacting off of him, including Fletcher.
I think Fletcher even says at one point during the film that any idiot can conduct. He controlled the pace of his crescendo and gave a wave of his hands to signal Andrew to go all out near the end. Those are the only directions given to Andrew that whole time and they can barely be classified as such.
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On a side note, JK Simmons holds a degree in music from the University of Montana.
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I was hoping that there would be some type of discussion about 7 foot "animals" who can only grunt flying spaceships travelling faster than the speed of light
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Is one allowed to refer to one's own rant as "epic"?
I remember meeting a neighbor once. He said something somewhat funny and my friend and I laughed. The neighbor responded by saying (about himself) "that he had a quick wit".
Walking away, my friend dryly remarked "that wasn't something you usually heard people say about themselves". Happened 15 years ago and still makes me chuckle.
Anyway, I kind of enjoyed the OP. But picking Whiplash as the movie that breaks your back on plausibility is quite the choice.
My favourite part was when after all the training and battling, after all the adversity, beaten and bloodied, at the end when it was all on the line, he dug down inside himself and found the next level, transcended what was possible to transform and become better than almost anyone thought was possible.
Son Goku is amazing.
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