Whiplash: A Path of Self-Destruction
Whiplash directed by Damien Chazelle, perfectly entails the journey of one’s self-destructive path to greatness. Set in a modern day music school, Andrew Niemen, an ambitious jazz drummer wanting to become “One of the greats” is met with an opportunity to join studio band with a well-known teacher Fletcher. A psychological mind warfare ensues between the two with Fletcher pushing Andrew to his limits ultimately setting him on his path of self-destruction. Chazelle portrays Andrew’s descent into his pure devotion to drumming through many techniques such as music and sound effects, colour symbolism, montages, camera angles and movements. One scene that is brilliantly crafted is the final scene with Andrew …show more content…
Chazelle depicts Andrew’s intensity through quick camera movements including dolly shots, tracking shots, quick panning that makes the viewer feel they are in the scene with him watching Andrew’s performance. The level of intensity in the cinematography reflects the pure devotion that Andrew has. Chazelle also gives us the audience’s perspective in the theatre showing how the audience’s focus is purely on Andrew. Most of the shots are close up or extreme close ups as the focus is on Andrew, the drums and Fletcher. Chazelle said that he shot the movie as if it was a thriller with suspenseful film techniques such as quick montages of close ups. Alfred Hitchcock, one of the world’s greatest directors states “montages should be impressionistic” meaning that the scene should leave out bits and pieces for the imagination of the audience to fill in the gaps. The audience’s imagination makes the scene far bigger then what is being …show more content…
Throughout Andrew’s journey, he is faced time after time with the struggle to perform a perfect 400Bpm (Beats per minute) double time swing. It’s not until the last scene that Andrew performs an impeccable double time swing. However, rather than hearing the success that Andrew has achieved, the audience is engulfed with a harrowing silence. The brief seconds of silence allows the audience to reflect on Andrew’s journey of self-destruction and what he has sacrificed to achieve success. Another technique that is utilized is the allegory to other artist that predict the future that Andrew has after achieving his goal. Throughout the film, characters constantly mention other artists that have achieved greatness but then fall down a path of loneliness and depression. At the dinner table scene Andrew says, “I’d rather die broke and drunk at 34 and have people at a dinner table somewhere talk about it than die rich and sober at 90 and have no one remember me” showing the true ending to Andrew’s self-destructive path. Chazelle offers a moment that allows the audience to reflect on Andrew’s character arc and journey through the harrowing silence of his success at the climax of his self-destructive
Whiplash directed by Damien Chazelle, perfectly entails the journey of one’s self-destructive path to greatness. Set in a modern day music school, Andrew Niemen, an ambitious jazz drummer wanting to become “One of the greats” is met with an opportunity to join studio band with a well-known teacher Fletcher. A psychological mind warfare ensues between the two with Fletcher pushing Andrew to his limits ultimately setting him on his path of self-destruction. Chazelle portrays Andrew’s descent into his pure devotion to drumming through many techniques such as music and sound effects, colour symbolism, montages, camera angles and movements. One scene that is brilliantly crafted is the final scene with Andrew …show more content…
Chazelle depicts Andrew’s intensity through quick camera movements including dolly shots, tracking shots, quick panning that makes the viewer feel they are in the scene with him watching Andrew’s performance. The level of intensity in the cinematography reflects the pure devotion that Andrew has. Chazelle also gives us the audience’s perspective in the theatre showing how the audience’s focus is purely on Andrew. Most of the shots are close up or extreme close ups as the focus is on Andrew, the drums and Fletcher. Chazelle said that he shot the movie as if it was a thriller with suspenseful film techniques such as quick montages of close ups. Alfred Hitchcock, one of the world’s greatest directors states “montages should be impressionistic” meaning that the scene should leave out bits and pieces for the imagination of the audience to fill in the gaps. The audience’s imagination makes the scene far bigger then what is being …show more content…
Throughout Andrew’s journey, he is faced time after time with the struggle to perform a perfect 400Bpm (Beats per minute) double time swing. It’s not until the last scene that Andrew performs an impeccable double time swing. However, rather than hearing the success that Andrew has achieved, the audience is engulfed with a harrowing silence. The brief seconds of silence allows the audience to reflect on Andrew’s journey of self-destruction and what he has sacrificed to achieve success. Another technique that is utilized is the allegory to other artist that predict the future that Andrew has after achieving his goal. Throughout the film, characters constantly mention other artists that have achieved greatness but then fall down a path of loneliness and depression. At the dinner table scene Andrew says, “I’d rather die broke and drunk at 34 and have people at a dinner table somewhere talk about it than die rich and sober at 90 and have no one remember me” showing the true ending to Andrew’s self-destructive path. Chazelle offers a moment that allows the audience to reflect on Andrew’s character arc and journey through the harrowing silence of his success at the climax of his self-destructive