WHIPLASH
US, 2014, 107 minutes, Colour.
Miles Teller, J.K.Simmons, Paul Reiser, Melissa Benoist, Austin Stowell, Chris Mulkey.
Directed by Damian Chazelle.
One of the pieces played often in this film has the title, Whiplash. But Whiplash has overtones of torture, beating, suffering. And that is what happens in this very strong and fascinating film.
The writer-director, Damian Chazelle, studied music himself and draws on his own experience in shaping this story. He brings quite an intensity to the characterisations and conflicts.
Miles Teller, who has appeared in a number of rather obnoxious and forgettable sex comedies, makes his mark as young drummer, Andrew, who hopes to be a top performer. He is at a music college, studies in a band, is overheard one day by the chief director of the school’s main band, Fletcher, played by J. K. Simmons, a fine character actor for many years. This has to be his best performance.
One day, Fletcher marches into the smaller band rehearsal and summons Andrew. At first, Fletcher gives the impression of friendship and encouragement but very soon is too demanding of Andrew, Andrew going too fast, too slow, not the right timing, Fletcher throwing things at him, mocking him about the one tear in his eye… And it goes on from there.
Audiences with movie memories of martinets and the harsh treatment of those under their command may remember Louis Gossett Jr’s treatment of Richard Gere in An Officer and a Gentleman or R. Lee Ermey in Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket. This is on a par with those performances. There are some moments when Fletcher seems to be human, especially in his grief at a student who has died – but that also has its harsh and bleak sides.
Most of the film is the confrontation between Fletcher and Andrew. At least Andrew has the support of his fond father, Paul Reiser, and, for a short time, dating with a girl who sells tickets at the local cinema. But, Andrew has great perseverance as Fletcher does his best to humiliate him – and the others in the band, especially the fellow-drummers.
The key question is how far should a teacher, a mentor, a parent-figure, put pressure on a student. Towards the end of the film, there is a confronting discussion between teacher and pupil. The teacher says that he does not want his students to be ordinary. He claims that “a good job” is the worst of compliments, being satisfied with the ordinary.
It also raises the question of the teacher, mentor, parent living through the student, a precarious success.
The trouble is that there is some traumatic effect on the student when there is so much pressure from the teacher. For the audience, this is clear in looking at Andrew, his bleeding hands, his intensity and using every moment for practice, cutting off relationships, the consequence of complete dedication to craft and wanting perfection.
So, the film shows both sides of this pressure question and its consequences, confronting the audience and its belief in excellence and achievement as well as feeling towards those whose lives are altered for the worse because of the pressure.
It builds up to a psychological confrontation, a musical confrontation, and a tour-de-force performance by Andrew which makes a difference to Fletcher’s perceptions of him.
For those who appreciate music, especially jazz, the film has a strong score which plays throughout the whole film.
1. Praise for the film, performances? Insight into human nature?
2. The music, jazz, performances, instruments, rehearsals, concerts? Teachers?
3. The title, the musical piece, the implication of whips and torture?
4. Education, teachers and techniques, styles? student-friendly? Demanding more, pressures, emotional brutality, psychological pressure, abuse? Nothing worse than “a good job!”.
5. Miles Teller as Andrew? As a character, as a boy, his memories, getting the drums, his father and his bonding? Performance, playing the drums and Fletcher hearing him? At school, the practice, the band? Fletcher listening, his manner of responding, his exacting and exact choice and use of words? Thinking that Andrew was too glib? His being chosen? Fletcher talking to him, seemingly affectionately? Hope, performance? Playing too fast, playing too slow, Flectcher complaining about the timing, throwing things at Andrew, his comment about the one tear person, the reaction of a nine-year-old girl? Make him assistant to the drummer, turning the pages, the reaction of the others? His dealing with the insults?
6. Meeting the girl at the cinema, going to the movies with his father, enjoying them, his being tongue-tied, asking the girl to go out, their date? His response to the girl, his changing, becoming awkward, the pressure on him and telling her there would be no more dates? His intense practice, drawing blood on his hands? Fletcher and his insulting others, the original performer? Making them vie with each other for success? Intensity, the time taken, proving himself? The story of the violinist, successful student, Fletcher’s grief at the phone call, the man’s death? Hearing the true story, the man hanging himself, the effect on Andrew, the interview, the boy’s mother, asked to give information against Fletcher? Fletcher gone from the school? Andrew playing, giving up? His meeting Fletcher in the street, the coffee, invited to play, Fletcher humiliating him? His father’s presence and support? Defying Fletcher, the scene, walking out, going back? The interactions, Fletcher knowing that he could be a good player, Andrew and his tour-de-force of performance? Fletcher acknowledging this? Andrew’s achievement? At what cost?
7. The implications of the teacher, mentor pressurising for excellence, not just “a good job”? The psychological and traumatic effect on the student? As illustrated by the violinist killing himself?
8. Fletcher, no story of his background, wearing black, his hearing Andrew play, talking with him, the invitation, coming into the class and singling out Andrew? The interview with him, the exact words, seemingly encouraging? Insulting him, the test, throwing things at him, mocking him, being pleasant, not? The verbal and psychological violence? His grief at the death of the young man? The times rehearsals, urging the 3 to compete with each other, his demands? His being dismissed? Meeting Andrew, talking about the dismissal, then saying that he knew that it was Andrew who informed? The invitation, the prestige of the concert, Fletcher and the musicians, conducting, Andrew and mis-timing, the humiliation, the confrontation, Andrew walking out? Fletcher and his response to Andrew’s jamming, encouraging him, a final smile?
9. Andrew’s father, a good man, supporting his son, going to the movies, feeling for his being insulted, going to the concert, encouraging him?
10. The other musicians, on the receiving end from Fletcher, his taunts, humiliations, making them compete, the young man encouraged to take Andrew’s place, and then humiliated?
11. The girl, at the cinema, the dates, her hopes, the cut-off, her telling Andrew off?
12. The quality of the film, the story, characters, the music, the intensity of the confrontations?
