Whiplash is a truly unique film despite following a typical story structure. It features a protagonist that is extremely relatable in that he is incredibly flawed and often experiences intense emotions due to his lack of success but is always working to better himself as an individual. However, many of his problems are not entirely his fault. Terence Fletcher, Andrew’s instructor, could be partially blamed for many of the rash decisions that Andrew makes. It is true that he definitely becomes more skilled as a musician, but he is obviously not happy during the process of achieving this goal. The film does an excellent job at showing the amount of dedication and focus one must have in order to develop their craft. Andrew really believes that he is meant to be one of the great drummers, and he does not stop until he is forcefully removed from his school. Even then, he manages to make a comeback at the very end with a drum solo that shows what he is capable of. This moment of the film is extremely well done. There is little to no dialogue at the end of the film. The final scene in the film is Andrew finishing his drum solo. Fletcher finally gives a nod of approval and starts encouraging him. This part illustrates how hard work and perseverance can really pay off. Overall, what this film excels at is character development. Specifically, the main characters, Andrew and Fletcher, are given more attention than anyone else in the film. Andrew is actually featured in every scene of the film. The heavy focus on these characters helps the film to be more impactful. It makes it far simpler and more straightforward. It makes the audience far more invested in the characters by allowing them to fully understand their motivations and desires. I also like how the ending is open to interpretation. It is not revealed whether or not Andrew’s ex-girlfriend shows up to his performance or what happens between Andrew and Fletcher after the drum solo. It is also not revealed whether or not Andrew continues to pursue drumming or he would only return to it that one time.
In addition to the plot and characters, the technical aspects of Whiplash are also quite fascinating. The film is dominated by close-up shots and medium shots. The close-up shots reveal the emotions of the characters and often adds tension to the film. The medium shots help to emphasize the surroundings. However, one cinematography choice is the opening scene. The scene opens with an extreme long shot and shows Andrew isolated in a room surrounded by a dark hallway. It makes Whiplash feel more eerie and threatening which sets the serious tone that is present throughout the rest of the film. The camera moves slowly to show the perspective of Fletcher and then we see several close-up shots and jump cuts that allow Fletcher’s presence to be so much more frightening. The lighting is black in the opening scene, but throughout the film, there is more of an orange or green tint. The scenes with Andrew and Fletcher have an orange tint which could signify intense energy or adrenaline. Meanwhile, any scene that only shows Andrew is green, which could be a sign of self-reflection.
As for genre, Whiplash is primarily a coming-of-age drama. It illustrates real-life issues and also illustrates how he overcomes the obstacles he faces during the period of his life between youth and adulthood. However, that does not mean that there are no other elements present here. Despite having such a serious tone, Whiplash has scenes that could be considered comedic. Specifically, the comedy in the film is delivered by Fletcher (J.K Simmons). He is presented as an awful, unkind character who abuses his power. However, the scenes where he bullies his students are comical in my opinion only because of how ridiculous and unusual his lines are. Because this is a fictional piece of work, the audience is able to laugh at his witty insults rather than recoiling at them. One scene that is simultaneously hilarious and dark is the “Rushing or dragging” scene.
By analyzing this film in depth, I learned to appreciate the film far more. I often forget plot points or major events in films because I usually just watch movies for the entertainment value. Whiplash is an incredibly entertaining film, but it is even more interesting when attempting to understand the choices that the director made in order to allow the film to work. The cinematography was a detail that I had not paid attention to previously when I watched the film twice before doing an in-depth analysis. Overall, Whiplash is a great film as it tells a truly inspiring underdog story.