Whiplash (2014 film)
Whiplash | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Damien Chazelle |
Written by | Damien Chazelle |
Produced by | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Sharone Meir |
Edited by | Tom Cross |
Music by | Justin Hurwitz |
Distributed by |
|
Release dates |
|
Running time | 107 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $3.3 million[2] |
Box office | $49 million[2] |
Whiplash is a 2014 American drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle. It depicts the relationship between an ambitious jazz drumming student (Miles Teller) and an abusive instructor (J. K. Simmons) at the fictional Shaffer Conservatory. Paul Reiser and Melissa Benoist co-star.
Whiplash premiered in competition at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 16, 2014, as the festival's opening film; it won the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize for drama.[4] Sony Pictures acquired the worldwide distribution rights, releasing the film under its Sony Pictures Classics and Stage 6 Films banners for its North American and international releases respectively.[5] The film opened in limited release domestically in the United States and Canada on October 10, 2014, gradually expanding to over 500 screens and finally closing on March 26, 2015. The film grossed $49 million on a production budget of $3.3 million.
The film received widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise for Simmons's performance and Chazelle's screenplay. At the 87th Academy Awards, Whiplash won Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Supporting Actor for Simmons, and was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.
Plot
Andrew Neiman is a first-year jazz student at the prestigious Shaffer Conservatory in New York City. He has been playing drums from a young age, and he aspires to become a world-class drummer like Buddy Rich. Famed conductor Terence Fletcher invites him into his Studio Band as the alternate for core drummer Carl Tanner. Fletcher is excessively harsh and even abusive to his students, as he repeatedly hurls vulgar insults at them and is quick to dismiss those who make mistakes. When the band rehearses the Hank Levy piece "Whiplash," Andrew struggles to keep the tempo as Fletcher alternately accuses him of rushing and dragging, until Fletcher hurls a chair at him, slaps him, and brutally berates him to tears in front of the ensemble.
A month later, in a jazz competition, after their first set, Tanner entrusts his sheet music to Andrew, who accidentally misplaces it. When called for their second set, Tanner cannot play without his sheets, and Fletcher reluctantly chooses Andrew to play instead after he declares he can perform "Whiplash" from memory. After a successful performance, Fletcher promotes Andrew to core drummer for his Studio Band. Soon after, Fletcher recruits Ryan Connolly, the core drummer from Andrew's former lower-level ensemble within the conservatory. Andrew believes Connolly is a less talented drummer than he and is infuriated when Fletcher promotes Connolly to core. Determined to impress, Andrew practices until his hands bleed and breaks up with his girlfriend, Nicole, to focus on his musical ambitions. At their next practice session, Fletcher repeatedly stops the band, finding neither Tanner nor Ryan nor Andrew able to match his tempo, leading to a grueling five-hour session with Fletcher alternating between the drummers, kicking furniture and screaming at him until Andrew ultimately earns back the core spot.
On the way to their next competition, the bus Andrew is riding breaks down. He rents a car but arrives late, then, realizing he left his drumsticks at the rental office, races back and retrieves them, but as he returns, his rental car is broadsided by a semi. He crawls from the wreckage, bloodied and injured, and runs back to the theater barely arriving as the ensemble enters stage. When he struggles to play "Caravan," Fletcher halts the performance and dismisses Andrew, who then tackles him on stage, cursing at him, resulting in his expulsion from Shaffer.
At his father's request, Andrew meets a lawyer representing the parents of Sean Casey, Fletcher's former student, in an ethics complaint against Shaffer. Contrary to Fletcher's prior claim that Sean died in a car crash, the lawyer explains that Sean hanged himself out of depression and anxiety spurred on by Fletcher's abuse. Sean's parents want to see Fletcher dismissed and forbidden from teaching again. Andrew agrees to testify as an anonymous witness. Months later, Andrew has abandoned drumming and is working in a restaurant. He discovers Fletcher performing as a pianist in a combo at a jazz club. Fletcher spots Andrew and invites Andrew for a drink after the performance. He reveals that he has since been fired from Shaffer, likely due to a student from Sean Casey's year testifying against him. Fletcher explains that he pushed his students so that they might become famous jazz musicians, referencing Charlie Parker's rise to fame as an example. When Andrew asks if his harsh methods may instead discourage students, Fletcher replies that the next Charlie Parker would never be discouraged. As they leave the venue, Fletcher suddenly invites Andrews to drum with his band at the JVC Jazz Festival playing the songs he was confident in from their time at Shaffer. Andrew invites Nicole to the performance, but she has since gotten another boyfriend.
Before going onstage, Fletcher explains to the band that this moment could define their career as a musician's success or failure. Then, just before they begin their first piece, Fletcher reveals to Andrew, that he knew all along that he was the person who testified against him. Fletcher then starts the concert with a song completely unfamiliar with Andrew, who then struggles to improvise. Afterwards, Andrew walks off stage humiliated and hugging his father in the stage wings, but afterwards he returns to the stage, and cuts off Fletcher's introduction to their next piece by playing into "Caravan," instead cueing in the band himself. Fletcher is taken aback but resumes conducting. After Fletcher cues to last beat of the piece, Andrew continues playing, continuing into a tremendous extended solo. After a moment of disbelief, Fletcher recognizes Andrew's endeavor, and after an approving smile, cues the band finale.
Cast
- Miles Teller as Andrew Neiman, an ambitious young jazz drummer at Shaffer
- J. K. Simmons as Terence Fletcher, a ruthless jazz instructor at Shaffer
- Paul Reiser as Jim Neiman, Andrew's father, a high school teacher
- Melissa Benoist as Nicole, a movie theater concessionist, who becomes Andrew's girlfriend
- Ellee Jane Hounsell as First Chair Saxophone, Studio Band
- Austin Stowell as Ryan Connolly, another drummer in Fletcher's band
- Nate Lang as Carl Tanner, another drummer in Fletcher's band
- Chris Mulkey as Uncle Frank, Andrew's uncle
- Damon Gupton as Mr. Kramer
- Suanne Spoke as Aunt Emma, Andrew's aunt
- Jayson Blair as Travis, Andrew's cousin
- Charlie Ian as Dustin, Andrew's cousin
- Kofi Siriboe as Greg, bassist (Nassau)
- Kavita Patil as Sophie, assistant
- Michael Cohen as Overbrook Stagehand
- April Grace as Rachel Bornholdt
- Henry G. Sanders as Red Henderson
- Max Kasch as dorm neighbour
- C.J. Vana as Metz
- Tarik Lowe as pianist, Studio band
- Jocelyn Ayanna as bus station passer-by
- Keenan Henson as truck-driver
- Clifton 'Fou Fou' Eddie as drummer (quartet)
- Marcus Henderson as JVC bassist
- Tony Baker as stage hand (Carnegie Hall)
Production
While attending Princeton High School, writer-director Damien Chazelle was in a "very competitive" jazz band and drew on the dread he felt in those years.[6] He based the conductor, Terence Fletcher, on his former band instructor (who died in 2003) but "pushed it further," adding elements of Buddy Rich and other band leaders known for their harsh treatment.[6] Chazelle said he wrote the film "initially in frustration" while trying to get his musical La La Land off the ground.[7]
Right of Way Films and Blumhouse Productions helped Chazelle turn 15 pages of his original screenplay into a short film starring Johnny Simmons as Neiman and J. K. Simmons (no relation)[8] as Fletcher.[3] The 18-minute short film received acclaim after debuting at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, winning the short film Jury Award for fiction,[9] which attracted investors to produce the complete version of the script.[10] The feature-length film was financed for $3.3 million by Bold Films.[5]
In August 2013, Miles Teller signed on to star in the role originated by Johnny Simmons; J. K. Simmons remained attached to his original role.[11] Early on, Chazelle gave J. K. Simmons direction that "I want you to take it past what you think the normal limit would be," telling him: "I don't want to see a human being on-screen any more. I want to see a monster, a gargoyle, an animal." Many of the band members were real musicians or music students, and Chazelle tried to capture their expressions of fear and anxiety when they were pressed by Simmons. Chazelle said that between takes, Simmons was "as sweet as can be," which he credits for keeping "the shoot from being nightmarish."[6]
Principal photography began in September 2013, with filming taking place throughout Los Angeles, including the Hotel Barclay, Palace Theater, and the Orpheum Theatre,[12][13] with a few exterior shots filmed in New York City to create the setting.[14] The film was shot in 19 days, with a schedule of 14 hours of filming per day.[15][14] Chazelle was involved in a serious car accident in the third week of shooting and was hospitalized with possible concussion, but he returned to set the next day to finish the film on time.[15]
Music
Whiplash (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | |
---|---|
File:Whiplash Soundtrack.jpg | |
Soundtrack album by Various artists | |
Released | October 7, 2014 |
Genre | Jazz |
Length | 54:43 |
Label | Varèse Sarabande |
The soundtrack album was released on October 7, 2014, via Varèse Sarabande label.[16] The soundtrack consists of 24 tracks divided in three different parts: original jazz pieces written for the film, original underscore parts written for the film, and classic jazz standards written by Stan Getz, Duke Ellington, and other musicians.
The actual drummer was Bernie Dresel.[17]
Track listing
- Snare Liftoff (I Want to Be One of the Greats) (0:43)
- Overture – Justin Hurwitz (3:19)
- "Too Hip to Retire" – Tim Simonec (3:03)
- "Whiplash" – Hank Levy (1:55)
- "Fletcher’s Song in Club" – Justin Hurwitz (1:28)
- "Caravan" – Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol (9:14)
- "What's Your Name" (If You Want the Part, Earn It) (1:30)
- "Practicing" – Justin Hurwitz (1:43)
- "Invited" – Justin Hurwitz (0:54)
- "Call From Dad" – Justin Hurwitz (0:40)
- "Accident" – Justin Hurwitz (5:21)
- "Hug from Dad" – Justin Hurwitz (1:19)
- "Drum & Drone" – Justin Hurwitz (1:34)
- "Carnegie" – Justin Hurwitz (0:36)
- "Ryan / Breakup" – Justin Hurwitz (0:31)
- "Drum Battle" – Justin Hurwitz (2:21)
- "Dismissed" – Justin Hurwitz (2:51)
- "Good Job" (He Was a Beautiful Player) (1:28)
- "Intoit" – Stan Getz (3:19)
- "No Two Words" – Nicholas Britell et Justin Hurwitz (1:41)
- "When I Wake" – Justin Hurwitz (3:50)
- "Casey's Song" – Justin Hurwitz (1:57)
- "Upswingin'" – Tim Simonec (2:12)
- "Rehearsal Medley" – First Nassau Band Rehearsal / Second Nassau Band Rehearsal / Studio Band Eavesdrop / Studio Band Rehearsal After Breakup (1:34)
Reception
Box office
Whiplash grossed $13.1 million in the U.S. and Canada and $35.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $49 million against a budget of $3.3 million.[2]
In North America, the film opened in a limited release on October 10, 2014, in six theaters, grossing $135,388 ($22,565 per theater) and finishing 34th at the box office.[2]
Critical response
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Whiplash_Wins_the_Audience_Award_for_U.S._Dramatic_%2812186461704%29.jpg/220px-Whiplash_Wins_the_Audience_Award_for_U.S._Dramatic_%2812186461704%29.jpg)
Whiplash has a score of 93% on the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 290 reviews, with a rating average of 8.55/10. The site's critical consensus states, "Intense, inspiring, and well-acted, Whiplash is a brilliant sophomore effort from director Damien Chazelle and a riveting vehicle for stars J. K. Simmons and Miles Teller."[18] On Metacritic the film has a score of 88 out of 100, based on reviews from 49 critics, indicating "universal acclaim."[19] Simmons received wide praise for his performance and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.[20][21] Peter Debruge, in his review for Variety, said that the film "demolishes the cliches of the musical-prodigy genre, investing the traditionally polite stages and rehearsal studios of a topnotch conservatory with all the psychological intensity of a battlefield or sports arena."[22] Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter praised the performances of Teller and Simmons, writing: "Teller, who greatly impressed in last year's Sundance entry The Spectacular Now, does so again in a performance that is more often simmering than volatile ... Simmons has the great good fortune for a character actor to have here found a co-lead part he can really run with, which is what he excitingly does with a man who is profane, way out of bounds and, like many a good villain, utterly compelling."[23] Whiplash also won the 87th Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing and the 87th Academy Award for Best Film Editing.[24]
Amber Wilkinson of The Daily Telegraph praised the direction and editing, writing: "Chazelle's film has a sharp and gripping rhythm, with shots, beautifully edited by Tom Cross... often cutting to the crash of Andrew's drums."[25] James Rocchi of Indiewire gave a positive review and said, "Whiplash is ... full of bravado and swagger, uncompromising where it needs to be, informed by great performances and patient with both its characters and the things that matter to them."[26] Henry Barnes of The Guardian gave the film a positive review, calling it a rare film "about music that professes its love for the music and its characters equally."[24]
Forrest Wickman of Slate said the film distorted jazz history and promoted a misleading idea of genius.[27] In The New Yorker, Richard Brody said "Whiplash honors neither jazz nor cinema."[28]
Accolades
The film received the top audience and grand jury awards in the U.S. dramatic competition at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival;[29] Chazelle's short film of the same name took home the jury award in the U.S. fiction category one year prior.[9] The film also took the grand prize and the audience award for favorite film at the 40th Deauville American Film Festival.[30]
Whiplash was originally planned to compete for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, but on January 6, 2015, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced that the film would instead be competing in the Adapted Screenplay[a] category[31] to the surprise of many, including Chazelle.[32] Although the Writers Guild of America categorized the screenplay as original, AMPAS classed it as an adaptation of the 2013 short version.[32]
At the 87th Academy Awards, J. K. Simmons received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance, Tom Cross won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing and Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley won the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing. In December 2015, the score received a Grammy nomination, and the film was nominated for the NME Award for Best Film.
Notes
- ^ a b The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes the movie as being based on the short film of the same name by Chazelle, due to the short being premiered in the Sundance Film Festival a year prior to the theatrical film being released. Although, in reality, the short film was actually based on scenes of the original full-length script written before, and the short was created to attract investors into creating the full-length film.[3]
References
- ^ "Whiplash". British Board of Film Classification. August 5, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Whiplash (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ^ a b Bahr, Lindsey (May 14, 2013). "'Whiplash': Sundance-winning short to become full-length feature". Entertainment Weekly. CNN. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ Cohen, Sandy (January 17, 2014). "Sundance Film Festival 2014 opens with premiere of 'Whiplash,' Damien Chazelle's tale of a brutal drumming instructor and his protege". The Oregonian. Associated Press. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
- ^ a b Horn, John (January 16, 2014). "Sundance 2014: Sony grabs international rights to 'Whiplash'". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ a b c Dowd, A.A. "Whiplash maestro Damien Chazelle on drumming, directing, and J. K. Simmons". The A.V Club. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
- ^ Hammond, Pete. "Damien Chazelle's La La Land, An Ode To Musicals, Romance & L.A., Ready To Launch Venice And Oscar Season". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ Dowd, A. A. (September 21, 2016). "Two takes on Whiplash show that J.K. Simmons is scary in small doses, too". The A.V. Club.
- ^ a b "2013 Sundance Film Festival Announces Jury Awards in Short Filmmaking". www.sundance.org. January 23, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
- ^ Fleming, Jr., Mike (May 14, 2013). "Cannes: Bold, Blumhouse, Right Of Way Strike Up Band For Feature Version Of Sundance Short Whiplash". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ Fleming, Jr., Mike (August 5, 2013). "The Spectacular Now's Miles Teller Gets Whiplash". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ McNary, Dave (September 19, 2013). "Jake Gyllenhaal's Nightcrawler Gets California Incentive (Exclusive)". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "Tuesday, Sept. 24 Filming Locations for The Heirs, Undrafted, Dumb & Dumber To, Focus, Shelter, & more!". On Location Vacations. September 24, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ a b "Producer: Whiplash was filmed in 19, 14-hour days". Page Six. February 9, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ a b "Making of 'Whiplash': How a 20-Something Shot His Harrowing Script in Just 19 Days". The Hollywood Reporter. December 9, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ "Whiplash Soundtrack Details". filmmusicreporter.com. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ Van de Sande, Kris (February 5, 2016). "Talking animals with Zootopia's Creative Minds". Endor Express. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Whiplash (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
- ^ "Whiplash". Metacritic. CBS Interactive.
- ^ Smith, Nigel M (October 15, 2014). "J. K. Simmons on His Whiplash Oscar Buzz and Abusing Miles Teller". indieWire. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ^ Riley, Jenelle (September 3, 2014). "J. K. Simmons on Playing a 'Real' Villain in Whiplash". Variety. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
- ^ "Sundance Film Review: Whiplash". Variety. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "Whiplash: Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ a b "Whiplash: Sundance 2014 – first look review". The Guardian. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "Sundance 2014: Whiplash, review". The Telegraph. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "Sundance Review: Whiplash Starring Miles Teller Leads With The Different Beat Of A Very Different Drum". indieWire. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ Wickman, Forrest (October 11, 2014). "What Whiplash Gets Wrong About Genius, Work, and the Charlie Parker Myth". Slate. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
- ^ Brody, Richard (October 13, 2014). "Getting Jazz Right in the Movies". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ Zeitchik, Steven; Mark Olsen (January 25, 2014). "Sundance 2014 winners: 'Whiplash' wins big". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
- ^ Richford, Rhonda (September 13, 2014). "'Whiplash' Takes Top Prize in Deauville". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
- ^ Tapley, Kristopher (January 6, 2015). "Oscar surprise: 'Whiplash' deemed an adapted screenplay by Academy". HitFix. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
- ^ a b Hammond, Peter (January 6, 2015). "Academy & WGA At Odds Over 'Whiplash' Screenplay; Will It Hurt Oscar Chances?". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
- Whiplash at Metacritic
- Whiplash at Box Office Mojo
- Whiplash at Rotten Tomatoes
- Whiplash at IMDb
- 2014 films
- English-language films
- 2010s drama films
- 2010s independent films
- American drama films
- American films
- American independent films
- BAFTA winners (films)
- Blumhouse Productions films
- Bold Films films
- Films about educators
- Films about harassment
- Films about percussion and percussionists
- Films directed by Damien Chazelle
- Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award-winning performance
- Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe winning performance
- Films produced by Jason Blum
- Films set in 2014
- Films set in New York City
- Films set in schools
- Films shot in Los Angeles
- Films that won the Best Sound Mixing Academy Award
- Films whose editor won the Best Film Editing Academy Award
- Jazz films
- Films with screenplays by Damien Chazelle
- Sony Pictures Classics films
- Sundance Film Festival award winners
- Films scored by Justin Hurwitz
- Features based on short films