WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Triple Feature: Whiplash

Episode Date: April 25, 2025

This week, Anna, McKenna, and Audrey review "Whiplash."

This is Triple Feature with your host, Anna Eddie, Audrey Hunsbet, and McKenna Bambury, where we dive deep into the world of movies, rating, roasting, and raving about the best and worse of cinema. So grab your popcorn and let's get into it. Thank you for tuning in to Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. Today, we will be reviewing Damien Chazel's Whiplash, starring Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons. We will start with a plot overview. give our general takes, dive into some deeper questions about the movie, and wrap up with our overall ratings. All right. So getting into the plot of Whiplash,

Whiplash is an intense psychological drama directed by Damian Chazelle, centering on the relationship between Andrew Neiman, an ambitious jazz drummer, and Terrence Fletcher, his abusive and demanding instructor at a prestigious Music Conservatory, Schaefer Conservatory of Music. The film follows Andrew as he's selected to join Fletcher's studio band, a move that quickly turns into a psychological battle. Fletcher's conducting style is characterized by pushing students beyond their limits to achieve greatness, using humiliation and fear as his tools. As Andrew becomes obsessed with earning Fletcher's approval and becoming one of the grades,

the line between dedication and self-destruction blurs. Whiplash explores the cost of excellence, toxic mentorship, and the fine line between passion and obsession. The films editing, pacing, and music work in perfect sync to create a nerve-wracking, almost thriller-like intensity, culminating in one of the most cathartic and exhilarating fineries in modern cinema. That's a grandiose take. That is, seriously, I was like, whoa.

Yeah, but honestly, this is great because we watched it last night, so we've got it fresh in our minds. Super fresh. Lots of thoughts, and we've been holding back, trying to talk about it with one another in our house because we want to save it. All day. True. Yeah.

So I'm interested to know, honestly, we haven't even talked about what you guys thought. So McKenny, you want to start? Okay, so like I told you guys, this is my second time watching it, but I would only say it's like my one and a quarter time watching it because I watched it on a plane and didn't get to see the last five minutes, which is probably the most important part of the film. Yeah, seriously. So I will say that I really loved watching it. I felt super stressed after watching it.

And I absolutely adore Miles Teller. And J.K. Simmons, it's just phenomenal. Literally can't listen to him without thinking of Omneman. Shout out invincible. Yeah, just great movie. We'll talk about this later, but watching it from like an athlete. perspective like former athlete perspective i think made it even more impactful made it hit even harder so i'm excited to talk about it yeah good Anna yeah um this has been one of the movies has

been on my list to watch so i was really excited when we um decided we were going to watch it for our movie this week to talk about um yeah it was really good i obviously really like the actors in it as well they're both the really good um really great actors in a lot of other movies as well. I think drumming is so cool. So I always wanted to secretly be a drummer. It's like, oh, I can do that. I've never done anything with music.

I'm so excited to talk about the ending. We won't dive into that. But I really enjoyed it. It was very stressful and like, oh my gosh, what's going to happen? Yeah. But then it was great. And I loved the ending. So.

Okay, Audrey, your take? Super quick take. Yeah, I liked it a lot. I wanted to change up the genre. I think we did a lot of thriller, but oddly enough, this kind of gave me like a rea. reaction reminiscent of one that I would have when I'm watching a thriller because it was so, I was so on edge. It's not like there was, it wasn't an action thriller, but it was definitely

like a, I would almost say psychological thriller. Yeah. And it was, I just felt like I was kind of in the moment with the characters, the actors, which is, I think, the mark of a really, really good film. But yeah, I really enjoyed it. It was different. Definitely not like anything I've ever watched. Moving forward, I think some, I have a ton of questions I want to talk about. So I'm just going to get right into it. Okay, there's a point. After Neiman, the drummer is starting to practice with the band. He is learning a new piece and Fletcher gets in Neiman's face and makes him redo the beginning of the piece over and over again until he gets this tempo that right and it honestly all sounds the exact same to me as an uncultured drummer but i just want to know

um what you guys thought when fletcher got so frustrated with neman having to restart the tempo that um he threw a chair at him so what was your guys's reaction when fletcher blew up on neman and throws a chair at him um it was pretty shocking because i didn't think band was that intense Yeah. It's also the first time that we see him, like, get emotionally, like, really involved. Like, physically involved. Yeah. Yeah. Which is crazy because I'm like, what happens if he didn't duck? I know. I think it was so, like, such an intense moment because of the moment, like the scene prior. Yeah. When they're both outside. I think the band had just taken a break. And Neiman was grabbing, like, a drink of water. Fletcher comes up to him and is just like asking him about like his family life like why he

came to the conservatory just very like nice conversation yeah um smiles is like so friendly and mhmins's like oh wow like he's so kind and like wants to know about my life all this stuff and then fast forward like five minutes later he's chucking a chair at him cussing him out just like being so awful and I think that really just like that's what makes it so intense is that like intense like insane flip the switch like whoa holy where did this come from absolutely because one minute like you were fine and you seemed like a kind person and now you're screaming at me because I made like a mistake or because I couldn't figure out the tempo so I think that was really like what shocked me was the insane switch up yeah that's like

So real. Oh my gosh. Like what do I do with this human being that just like flipped on me so fast. Yes. And I don't know what's going on now. Yeah. So. Yeah.

That's really. That's a good point. Because you're expecting one thing and then, which I, I almost feel as though Fletcher did that on purpose. Oh. Oh, yeah. He was very. So manipulative. Super manipulative where he's just like, oh, I'm going to lull you to sleep and think this is going to be easy and fun.

Just kidding. Yeah. I'm going to check this at you. Yeah. Like, don't fall asleep because I'm coming after you, which is just like so unhealthy. Yeah, it was crazy. Okay, so my next question is a lot, okay, a lot of things that kind of mesh together. Climax, I would say, of the movie is when the band is going to a really intense competition.

And Fletcher has told the band the day before, get there at five, do not be late. so obviously there's foreshadowing that there's going to be an issue. Andrew's on his way to this competition and his bus gets a flat tire, breaks down, and then he has to switch buses and then rent a car. And upon getting the car, Neiman accidentally leaves his drumsticks in the car rental building and gets to the competition, which is nine minutes away, and he's already late but doesn't have his drumsticks and Fletcher is threatening to replace his spot with the second drummer and Neiman rushes back to go pick up his drumsticks and they're about to go on the band's about to go on stage someone's calling him and Neiman's like I'm almost there I'm almost there and then all of a sudden a semi teabones him and it's just like the biggest jump scare ever and also just like a terrifying moment because it's like is he dead what happened what's going to happen

Niemann gets out of the car and runs to the performance, which is, I mean, to me, insane. I think, I mean, there is something to be said. Like, one could argue that is dedication. Like, he would not miss that performance. He would not let another drummer pass him. Blood all over his face. Yeah.

Probably like a broken hand. At least a finger. Like, yeah. So what did you guys? think of that. Like, that also kind of runs into what, where is the line between dedication and destruction? Because there, there is a line and that I think borders, if not crosses the line very much so. Yeah. I mean, I think that's a little bit insane. Yeah. Everybody's pushing the brink of insanity in this movie. True. Um, which I think he, he kind of got pushed to. Like I think

Fletcher definitely added to that. I think he ain't I think Neman already had those tendencies towards that. Yeah. Which I think Fletcher saw in the beginning of the movie, which is why he pulled him up to the studio band. And he was able to push all the right buttons to get him to be a little bit obsessed and to be a little bit insane about his craft, which I think can be. okay in a sense but like you're saying i think there's a point where like if it's leading to

destruction like there's something kind of wrong with that um i probably would not get out of a car crash and go to my studio band yeah recital oh i was like oh he's done for like he's just going to get his spot replaced i did not expect to see that boy crawl out of the car and go to the recital right well it's also evident in his and the destruction of his relationships like with Nicole like he obviously predicted what would happen if they stay together and that he would care more about drumming than her and also with like his family i mean i'm not judging i'm all here i'm here for like when you want to be good at something you practice and you work hard but like practicing until your hands are like actually bleeding and you're

you have to numb your hand in a gallon of ice water. I think most of us would probably prioritize our relationships and, like, having a family and, like, being parents and- Definitely. Pouring more into that and obviously, like, still balancing a career. But, like, you see some of the grades, like, I think of sports and stuff. And, like, LeBron James, for example, like, he has a family. And, like, he's arguably one of the top, if not the top. I'm not going to make this argument, but one of the top basketball players ever.

And he still, like, was able to have a family. I don't know about how their marriage is doing, but they're married. And, like, you know, so it's, the question is always, like, at what cost? Totally. And that's just the question that I was asking the whole time. Yeah. There's definitely a lot of sacrifices. Which, okay, so I think that what we've all kind of been itching to talk about, too, is the ending.

because there's the end of the movie where Fletcher winds up getting removed from the conservatory after Neiman anonymously comes through with a lawyer talking about Fletcher's abusive behavior as a conductor. And Neiman is working just, he's far removed from that studio band and is walking down the street and sees that there's a jazz club that's hosting a band and a special guest is Fletcher, Terence Fletcher. And so he goes in, he catches up with Terrence Fletcher, and Fletcher says, you know, I have another band, I'm working with, and we need a drummer, we're playing this weekend, we're doing all the old songs we used to do.

So, Neiman reluctantly, but willingly, honestly, goes to the performance, and they're on stage, and Fletcher says, okay, we're doing this song, and it was not a song that, that Neiman had ever played or practiced. So it was kind of like Fletcher's ultimate, like I knew you were the one who anonymously came through. And so he was kind of trying to get him, to get Neiman back for that. But at the same time,

Neiman does his very best. He tries to play the drums. He tries his best to catch on. And then there comes with this, that song's over. He's obviously not done a good job because he has no idea what the song is, and then just starts playing on his own

in front of the whole crowd and performing an incredible drum solo, and then sort of like cues the rest of the band in, and they play a great song. They played caravan. And then he just sort of keeps going and goes absolutely insane on his solo, literally does not stop.

He's sweating bullets. And then Fletcher sort of winds up, like, on Neiman's side. It was a little ambiguous how that ended. So I just want to know what you're, guys's take was do you feel and then the movie ends like the movie literally ends there and i want to know what you guys thought of that what your take was on the end did you get closure because personally i do not feel like i got closure i thought that moment where um fletcher comes up and is

like i knew it was you the whole time yeah was like oh my i know i did not accept that was terrified so scary and like his face the way he looked his veins popping out yeah the way he looked at It was like, I know and like I'm going to do everything to get back at you and like make you look like a fool because I hate you. You just knew he was rude. Like, oh my God. It was so evil looking and I was like, oh my gosh, I don't want to be Neiman right now. And then going into how it like shifts. I did really like how Neiman like walks off the stage but then comes back.

And it's like, you know what? No, I'm going to fight back. Like I know that you're trying to be. make me look like a fool. I know you're trying to like make me fail, but I'm not going to let you have that power over me, which I really liked that he fought back and he like showed him like, I can do this and I am great and I'm going to be great. And then kind of how Fletcher like was sort of on his side in the end like you said. It was like, oh, finally. And then he was like, finally like you made this breakthrough like this is what I've been waiting for. But also at the same time, I'm like,

you're a horrible human being. So, so true. So interesting. Yeah. So it was kind of close. So it was kind of closure but also left a little bit ambiguous. Yeah, because I'm like, did he get into the Lincoln Center core? No, that was his goal. Did he whiplash too? Or was it to, or was it for Fletcher to finally be proud of him? If you can even say like he was proud. Yeah.

Or like, I hope that's not the only reason why. No. That would, that would not be closure to me. Like that would actually make me more annoyed if it was just to like, please Pledger. Yeah. Which I don't, I don't think that it was. Like I, I don't know.

He was caught in such a whirlwind. Because there was such a news. Neiman wanted his approval so badly. Would you guys change anything? I would add more of the family drama dynamic. I think if I were going to do anything, I think that it's evident that Neiman's family doesn't understand how passionate he is about playing the drums and they kind of make fun of him for it.

And I would kind of like to see that more and maybe that, how that impacted his ambition to be so good. I don't know if it did. I think it was kind of sprinkled in. But I think that could also have contributed to why he also so desperately wanted Fletcher's approval was because he didn't have his family's approval. Although his dad was always supporting him. So I want to count his dad out of that. His dad was great. The father's son relationship was actually so tender.

I wanted more of that. I wanted more of that too. I also kind of wish that, like, I know, like, he probably shouldn't be with Nicole because he's unwell. But I wish there was, like, some sort of, like, tying up of that more. I think I would just say relationships in general, like seeing him interact with more people to show how obsessive he is. Like, he, I think maybe it was intentional that he was pretty isolated because they did mention, And he did even say he doesn't have any use for friends. He doesn't see them useful.

Yes, he did say that. They would impede him from being great and like spending time with work, which was also why he broke up with Nicole. So but yeah, I think that would have showed maybe even more would to emphasize it even a little bit more. But it also could have been intentional. Yeah. Yeah. Not a lot that we would change though.

I really enjoyed it. So I guess you can get into ratings now. We'll go through plot, cinematography, and then acting. We'll rate out of 10 and then total all of our scores out of 30. So plot rating, what do you got 10? I'm going to give the plot a 9.5. It was pretty great. Watching it second time.

I was still surprised by a lot of scenes and I like how it progressed. Awesome. I would rate it an 8. There were times that I thought it was a little bit rushed and some scenes. I felt didn't have complete closure. And then again, I wish that the relationships had been developed a little bit more amongst the characters. But overall, very good. I agree.

I think the plot was good. I think there were certain things that I would have maybe spent a little bit more time on when I give it an 8.5. Okay. All right. Cinematography, Kenny? Okay, I'm probably going to give cinematography a 10, low key. I think that drove the movie. and really helped intensify the emotions and the craziness

and really added to the psychological element of the movie. I am also going to give it a 10. There were so many scenes, like when Neiman's playing and you can see the sweat and the blood dripping onto the symbols and the drums, I think, and there's like intense zoom-ins of Neiman's face. I think that the cinematography was fantastic and really captured the intensity of the moments. So 10. Same here.

I really liked that moment where like you were saying the symbols and like the drums when the like sound went out and you could just see the like water droplets. And then also when after he had like cut his hand and he like puts it in the ice bucket. but then the way like the screen like flipped and then it just became more and more red. I thought that was really cool. And then also just the moving like the quickly moving back and forth. That was really like ups your stress levels. Yeah. All right.

Acting, Kenny. I will, wait, I will caveat. Sorry. J.K. Simmons earned 40 accolades from his role as Fletcher, including the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award. Wow. So he definitely killed it. That's my omnipan. We're not alone in our assessment, I think.

I thought it was great. So what do you think, Ken? Yeah, I'll probably give acting 10. Yeah, just both Miles Teller and Young Miles Teller. Oh, he was so baby. And J.K. Simmons, love them both. So they killed it. I've got a 10, too, for that one.

I think it was just great. I'm also going to give it a 10. I think they did a really good job. J.K. Simmons really did a good job of being, of getting in the mindset of someone who is kind of like abusive and aggressive. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And just like really, just his facial expressions, like the looks in his eyes.

Oh, I know. He just had just this insane glare. I wish I could make a vein pop in my head on demand. The way you thought it was a scar. I was dying. It was. crazy. All right, that brings us to 29.5 for McKenna, 28 for Audrey, and 28.5 for Anna. So one of our top movies, I would say. So, yeah, would recommend. Thank you all for listening to Triple Feature on Radio Free Hillsdale, 101.7 FM. We're your hosts.

McKenna, Burberry, Anna Eddie, and Audrey Huntsbett. We'll see you next week. Thank you.