Recalling the Captivating Opening of Oscar-Winner "Whiplash" | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Featured

Recalling the Captivating Opening of Oscar-Winner "Whiplash"

Building up to the Oscars with a rewatch of visceral feature film, "Whiplash."

6616
Recalling the Captivating Opening of Oscar-Winner "Whiplash"
ideasevolved.com

The snapping pop of a snare drum begins to play, the tempo gradually intensifying. “Whiplash” appears in white lettering against a black background.

As the drum roll reaches its climax, the camera cuts from black to a shot from the back of an ill-lit hallway.

At the end of the empty hallway, Andrew (Miles Teller) sits illuminated at a drum set. The camera slowly creeps forward, Andrew’s arms flying from drum to drum, cymbal to cymbal.

A mysterious man confidently strolls in and orders Andrew to play double time swing. “Faster,” he commands.

Within seconds, the man storms out, slamming the door.

“Whiplash’s” first minute is what an opening scene should be. It sets the overall tone, themes and conflicts of the film. Within seconds, the audience is hooked — at rapt attention.

It doesn’t let your mind wander or drift off to all of the homework you have or all of the bills you have to pay.

You’re gone, immersed in Director Damien Chazelle’s fictional world.

And luckily, the rest of “Whiplash” is just as good as the first minute.

“Whiplash,” Chazelle explains, is almost like a war movie. The battlefield? Music. The combatants?

Well, there’s Andrew, a wannabe Buddy Rich. And there’s Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), an extremely abusive, successful music instructor at the best music school in the country.

Essentially, the entire film is Fletcher trying to break Andrew.

This struggle begins when Andrew, even after his initial rejection in the first scene, is invited to play drums in Fletcher’s coveted jazz band.

What follows is shocking.

Rehearsal in Fletcher’s class is torture.

He shouts crude, degrading, sexual insults at his students, and he even hits them.

In one of the most telling scenes, Fletcher throws a chair at Andrew for not playing in time, and then he proceeds to slap him repeatedly to “teach him” how to properly count.

The brilliance in Chazelle’s movie comes from the extreme passion he imbues in his characters.

Andrew practices and practices until his hand bleeds from exertion. But he doesn’t stop. He slaps on bandage after bandage, sweating bullets, as he practices for hours.

Andrew even breaks up with his girlfriend because he says she’ll get in the way of his greatness.

Fletcher yells and yells, degrading his students to no end, demanding greatness.

Both of these characters are immensely interesting to watch, as they have so much drive. And when the two clash, lots of sparks fly.

Of course, Chazelle’s wonderful characters wouldn’t be amazing without good actors.

Teller nails his role, especially because he actually plays the drums throughout the entire movie, unlike other musical films.

This adds another element of realism to the film, and it makes it more enjoyable to watch, as the audience gets to see Teller’s drumming skills.

And Simmons’ unflinching portrayal is equally as good.

When the shot moves to a close up of Simmons’ face, you can almost feel his breath and spittle, as he shouts commands inches away from players’ faces.

Even when Simmons doesn’t shout, the cadence of his voice is that of a drill sergeant, terrifyingly firm.

It’s a visceral performance.

While there probably aren’t many music teachers like Fletcher, and while there are few students as driven as Andrew, I left the movie feeling emotional towards both characters as if they were real.

And luckily, “Whiplash” maintains its momentum to the very end with a satisfying finale.

It was the most captivating, if not the best, film of 2014.

From Your Site Articles
Report this Content
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

188342
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

13744
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

456975
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26091
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments