What makes whiplash such a great film
When a film really works, it makes me curious it makes me wonder if Andrew Stanton is really right when he says
Stories that make us care aren't created by chance. They are created by design
but what about the kinetic sequences
The colorful characters,  or the great performances. Are you one of those single-tear people?
Well, yeah, but other films have these things, but aren't quite the masterpiece that I think whiplash is.
For me. There's two reasons why this film really works, number one
It has an emotional, clear and focused story and number two it's well directed
But since old directorial choices are crafted to service and support the narrative
we end up circling background to the idea that story is king and this video aims to explore and
Deconstruct what makes whiplash such a strong and effective narrative?
Let's start with the macro
as part being the overarching,
emotional, invisible through line that connects Andrew Neiman desire and the climax
Remember Elia Kazan once wrote everything must build to the climax
Unity to climax and this is certainly true for the all mighty explosion, that is this final sequence
But let's start with the desire, Andrew wants to be a great drummer. We can see personal choices of this even before Fletcher arrives
He's putting in the hours of practice
He admires the greats
And he's chosen ,applied and being accepted to the best music school in the country.
So his intention is pretty strong at the start of the film
But it's the introduction of Fletcher that really brings out Andrews more internal character need, his need to prove himself
Has all-mighty inner flaw?
His reliance on the judgment of external factors to give him some inner worth is the part of him that is explored throughout the film
Now the climax is a culmination of two things
Andrew gets a chance to prove himself as a great drummer, a mixture of his internal and external goals
And he wins the approval of Fletcher winning the validation of the abusive relationship, which he is so craved
But I'm not saying that the end of the film is a win-win for our hero
But we'll get back to that later. For now, Let's use this macro
Story arc as the spine in which all other events and scenes hang on
So if a story is as simplistic as a hero struggled to achieve a specific goal
Then the roadblocks and the obstacles and that antagonist force has to be pretty formidable
For the hero to really learn what he's truly made of
Well luckily whiplash has been blessed with the ultimate in bad guys or maybe by design
Fletcher's goal is simple, to find his Charlie Parker and by his own rationale is someone who is willing to injure
incredibly brutal treatment in service of their craft
So he isn't actually looking for excellent ability from his musicians. He's looking for grit
Now tell me if this sounds familiar to the plot of whiplash
grit is defined as
Perseverance and passion for a long-term goal grit is conceptualized as a stable trait that does not require immediate positive feedback
individuals high in grit are able to maintain their determination and motivation over long periods
despite experiencing failure and adversity
the emphasis on personal resilience has become more and more clear to me after multiple viewings of this film, a lot of
Exchanges in the film that seem like they're about music are really about testing Andrews character
Fletcher wants to purposefully push down and see who comes back stronger
I can only imagine the years of torture and thousands of students that have been prey that this man's
Methodology before arriving at this moment, as a well developed a master manipulator.
So externally Andrew wants to be a great drummer
externally Fletcher wants to find a great drummer
But andrew has a deep need for validation and to prove himself while Fletcher has a method of continual negative
Reinforcement to test one's character both their goals are aligned, but at the same time are direct opposites
This gives us the unbearable conflict that occupies the length of the film
One small detail that really makes whiplash such an on edge
experience, full of tension that lasts to the final seconds of the film is the
placing of the desire and the climax, in other films we learn what a character wants during the first act and
Near the end of the third act we get that action climax with some resolution for good measure at the end
But in that case it means that there is time spent in the film that isn't actively all in the hero's journey and for some
Films that's necessary
But for whiplash the desire has been set before the film even begins and we catch up during that first scene and without any
Resolution at the film's end after that huge music sequence that emotional character arc and that rival
Relationship peaks at that last final moments and then lets us know no more, this does a few things
it makes sure that every scene the audience gets to see is packed with tension and something that's meaningful to the story
rather than being sat up or a fluffy resolution allowing us to really experience Andrews point of view and struggle and
Secondly it takes away any
Resolution to the story so it eliminates the what happened next factor and as a consequence of Andrews actions it
leaves the audience for some questions
Did Andrew do it for himself or did he do it for Fletcher?
Is greatness really worth the sacrifice and would he have got that level if it wasn't for Fletcher
So let's go back to design, to really understand the extreme height of this final moment and the deliberate building of progressive
Complications throughout the film I have found the Storygrid a very useful book to deconstruct
personal stakes of the film Shawn Coyne and editor of 25 years and author of the book suggests that
You break down the story into scenes and then give them a numerical value
Based on the stakes of the character, like the moment where Andrew misses his big chance to impress Fletcher
It feels like a big moment at the time, but was really at stake here more than some embarrassment and self-loathing
So let's say he were about a 2 for personal stakes
He gets accepted into the official band then wakes up late
He could miss his only shot, disappoint Fletcher, be struck out the band, disowned by the school
Andrew has more to lose the stakes are greater were now about a 3
He sees the threat of making a mistake and he starts to mess up
That embarrassment on a way bigger scale, were now at a 4. He has a little victory by being able to perform without the sheets
But then his immediately threatened with replacement and now he wants it more than ever 5
Note that as the story goes on. We can never go back down in terms of intensity and values of conflict
It must always
Escalate, it must always build. The bus breaks down, gonna be late, gonna miss the big show forgot his sticks,  crash, bleeding, 7
Embarrasses himself in front of anyone who will ever hire him
basically destroying his career 9.  And then define the
Ultimate antagonist and potentially redefining himself on his own terms an act of faith that could go totally wrong
10
So when you watch the film and you get to that climax you're invested you can't believe the
Unbearable tension and the inevitable faceoff in a way that you had no idea was coming
This is what Robert McKee calls taking the story to the end of the line
Before we move on to the best part of the film. Let's look at one more structural element
Damien Chazelle couldn't just have non-stop drum battles throughout the film although
This is where a lot of the intention and action comes from
But these hero-villain face offs are intercut with different aspects of andrew's home life this supports the overall narrative in a few ways
Firstly it gives us a little more insight into andrew's perspective and point of view laying as the audience relate and sympathize with them
So that we can ultimately root for him in the finale
It breaks up the constant music scenes giving us two separate parallel worlds in which we see Andrew changing
Not to mention giving the audience a chance to acclimatize before going back into some more action and lastly
Most of the non drumming scenes and conversations are about the film's major theme
What does it mean to be great and is it worth the sacrifice?
All scenes big and small are a play on this idea. I call these thematic
conversations
Acting as different viewpoints to that central argument for the film comparing people who know what they want and a wandering undergrad is
Is it better to die young and great or live old and never achieve anything. I need to do this
I need to sacrifice everything for my mission. This is a really effective way the story layers in complexity and ambiguity
Through different sides of the argument so that the film as a whole doesn't present one solid answer
Another connecting element that highlights the impact of Fletcher on Andrew is the action Andrew takes
immediately after a music sequence
The juxtaposition between the drum scenes and the home scenes are kind of in
Conversation with each other. If Andrew has a small win
he feels good about himself building enough courage to ask out the girl if
Andrew fails in the eyes of Fletcher he grinds harder putting himself through vigorous
Maybe damaging practice when he almost loses the position he realizes how much it will take and let's go of his new girlfriend
Despite being super cold. He feels justified in this emotionally brutal action. Just look at what the script says at the end of this scene
But my favorite part of the non drumming scenes is the relationship with his father. He is the outsider
someone observing Andrews actions with no emotional attachment and full objectivity
His journey goes like this. I don't understand. You. I Don't understand you. I don't agree, you're doing the right thing,
Unconditional love, but when he sees his son do this, he thinks oh
Now I see, I didn't see the greatness in you because it wasn't in me
Which brings us to the person who did see it in him?
Fletcher
if you've only seen this film once you're Missing out because this film really is designed to reward multiple viewings and
Overtime really starts to paint Fletcher in a different light
I mean is safe to assume the Fletcher is pretty torturous and mean throughout the whole film
but by the end of the film his methods are
Rewarded he realizes his vision of being everyone down until someone won't take it becomes his Charlie Parker
But this one-dimensional pure evil personification in Fletcher is humanized and balanced by a few scenes
number 1 Fletcher cries
We feel for his love of the music and a person's ambition
And we understand him a little at his core number 2. He is nice to this little girl and
Number 3 the jazz bar scene he softened towards Andrew and we start to believe a little on his perspective
But let's look again here knowing the full outcome of the narrative number 1
Fletcher cries because he missed his chance to get his Charlie Parker a very selfish goal
And we also learned later that he may have had more to do with the blame of the students death than first appears
Number 2 the little girl scene is cute still a little self-serving since he tries to recruit her for his band in the future
But even that glimpse of a different side of him is brought back into full focus when he walks back into his area of domination
moments later
Similar to the Fake guy encouragement talk he gives to Andrew moments before this happens
Subtly putting Andrew in a state of comfort, only to flip moments later and number three the jazz bar scene this
Might just be my favorite scene of the entire film
Really solidifying Fletcher as the master manipulator on second viewing we know all along this entire
Conversation is set up for vengeful hurtful embarrassment towards Andrew
Which is ultimately rewarded by Fletcher getting what he wanted
making a very curious choice of moral compass for the narrative
But my favorite element of the scene despite all the sap is
That we still don't know how honest is Fletcher really being here
Number 4 1 Fletcher move that I never picked up on the first time in
The opening scene name and his challenge to perform the double-time swing
And Fletcher leaves, later to inspect the amateur Band and grill their abilities
But he specifically asks the drummer's for the double-time swing
For me it seems like he doesn't want to see how good the drummer's are performing the beat
All he is interested in is did Andrew get better
Was he damaged enough from the initial meeting that he went away and practiced the beat?
Fletcher is looking to see if andrew has grit and will respond and be compatible to his
Methodology and also number 5 who stole the folder a manipulator such as Fletcher would know that the first guy would need the sheets
You notice I need the music. It's my memory
I need visual cues and perhaps another test for Andrew would he thoroughly learn the material
How much does he really want and how hard is he willing to work for now. Let's dig into the micro
into the scenes and directorial choices and the visuals that
Support by acting his effect of smaller pieces to a bigger whole and let's get specific on the power of this short
You know what the show is this show has money
You show money and you don't even know and it is worthy of this
You couldn't plan a show like this unless you were fully in service of the narrative the shift and focused is all the storytelling legwork
the framing between the victim and the harasser the timing and realization of Nieman as he sees the stakes and
Intensity required to play at this level all the heavy lifting
Story-wise is seen here, but let's go back to the start of this scene so
We the audience are the outsiders and new to this world and is crucial that we see this scene from Andrews point of view
So we cleverly cut back to him at certain beats within the scene as the conflict builds
Let's take the scene as a separate entity and pose some questions here
What is the point of the scene the power dynamic is shown through how the band responds to Fletcher?
Basically the rules of the self-contained world
Saying stakes for Andrews incompetence and showing the nasty impersonal way in which Fletcher treats people
Number two what are the characters want?
And why well andrew is the observer in this scene so we the audience learn about this world as he does?
But Fletcher wants to find the weakness in his band and tear out you were Erickson
But he didn't know
and thats bad enough note that he doesn't get rid of the person who is actually in the wrong
He gets rid of the person in the band with the weak character not enough grit to make it through his teachings
And why because his deep philosophy of only the strong and the tough and the self-sacrificing will ever have the chance to reach greatness
Causing him to bully and identify weakness in people
Where's the conflict the anticipation of Fletcher's reaction mingled with?
Andrews uncertainty of what will happen when he's put on the spotlight
Brings the threat very much into reality
How does the scene turn, well Fletcher takes action by throwing at the player and we the audience as Andrews point-of-view learn the
Obstacle and dangers of Fletcher that we must overcome in our journey
How does it advance the plot this scene acts as setup as almost part one to the following?
Confrontation it's why the scene finishes with the lane all right take 10 when we get back the squeakers on
To purposefully unnerve Andrew sending us into the next upcoming conflict with anticipation the band
Undoubtably know what's coming, but neither Andrew or us the audience do
But this naivety circles back round later when Andrew has this great moment of witnessing the punishment to somebody else
So why does whiplash work?
Well every image is designed
Sculpted in a way that supports the scene, and we know that every scene builds as part of a bigger whole
Making a narrative that is tight
Cleared and deliberately designed to move an audience because every level of this film the narrative in the direction are saying the same things
There's an integrity and a strength to the story that is married with an incredible
execution in the direction so that's why I consider whiplash a
Masterpiece. So part of the intent with whiplash was okay? I'm gonna
I'm gonna write something small and focused and lean and mean and
and and really sort of
Simple in a way like hopefully not simplistic. Hopefully you can you can sort of expand it to to a bigger canvas of ideas?
But the actual story itself. I wanted to be incredibly clear-cut and
About you know two people with very clearly defined goals who are just going like this
until they realize they have the same goal basically
Hey guys. I hope you enjoyed this exploration into whiplash
It's a film that I have learned a lot from and definitely a film worthy of study if you enjoyed this video
Please consider subscribing for more. I have other videos on this channel that you may enjoy. I want to say a huge
Thank you to all my patreon supporters
and if you have a film that you'd like to suggest or you want to talk about whiplash some more and
I will be in the comments below a huge. Thank you for watching. I'll see you in the next video
