Whiplash - How J. K. Simmons Perfected Terence Fletcher

Рет қаралды 41,219

Күн бұрын

This video essay analyzes J.K. Simmons acting in Whiplash (written and directed by Damien Chazelle and distributed by Sony Pictures). After years of acting in small supportive roles, J.K Simmons broke through to bigger roles and won an Oscar for his terrifying and intense performance as the music teacher Terence Fletcher. This video is a character study of Fletcher's physicality, how he intimidates and dismisses students, and screams.
FAIR USE NOTICE:
This video may contain copyright material; the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This material is made available under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made "fair use" for the purposes such as criticism, comment, review, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that otherwise might be infringing. All rights belong to its owners.
Music used:
On the Delta by John Patitucci (KZfaq Audio Library)
Like Lee by The Mini Vandals (KZfaq Audio Library)
Lost Cowboy by Coyote Hearing (KZfaq Audio Library)
Blue Mood by Robert Munzinger (KZfaq Audio Library)
Landing On a Dark Planet by Doug Maxwell (KZfaq Audio Library)
13 Cocktails by Dan Bodan (KZfaq Audio Library)
&
'In Search of Solitude' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
Timestamps:
0:00 JK Simmons
3:00 Physicality
6:15 Intimidation and Dismissal
9:00 Screaming
#jksimmons #whiplash #terencefletcher

Пікірлер: 155

@qjames0077 Ай бұрын

Clicked on this faster than Andrew's double time

@skmfilms4229 Ай бұрын

"SO YOU DO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!"

@qjames0077 Ай бұрын

@@skmfilms4229 "I'M UPSET!" 😭

@yourfriendlyneighborhoodbu3733 Ай бұрын

Couldn’t have said it better myself

@Jonasgp123 Ай бұрын

NOT QUITE MY TEMPO

@rowandunning6877 Ай бұрын

WERE YOU RUSHING OR WERE YOU DRAGGING?!

@thattylerguy2104 Ай бұрын

From his perfect performance of pure rage, you just know he’s the nicest dude irl

@GermanCptSlow Ай бұрын

That was the most stressful movie I've ever seen.

@DrakenGuardz Ай бұрын

You ever seen Uncut Gems?

@GermanCptSlow Ай бұрын

@@DrakenGuardzyes.

@Shinkajo Ай бұрын

I found relaxing.

@altenbraun7081 Ай бұрын

Have you seen the shining?

@mosquitopyjamas9048 Ай бұрын

Uncut gems and beau is afraid also stressful

@jonathanmarwood1058 Ай бұрын

Literally had a boss like this from 2003-2007, till he was fired for bullying. Now, for me, it was his bosses above him that were more accountable as they knew what he was like,but he was getting results....until he grabbed and shook someone while screaming at her,and then they closed ranks and he rightly got canned. However, those bosses went on to have full careers and retired happy. This can be dealt with at all levels,not just from the people below a tyrant.

@ajtaylor8750 Ай бұрын

Terrence Fletcher is a man who views himself as doing what's best for his students, even viewing his abuse as necessary in order for their greatness to blossom. J.K. Simmons gives one of the best performances ever, being terrifying at almost every turn while somehow getting you to see why he's so convicted in his ways.

@jessicalacasse6205 Ай бұрын

because the alternative would be a teacher that don t give a but he is there for the checks ...fnl is good too cuz with younger kids you cant be violent plus you see how they look at it as the highlight of their life further in life

@JohnKim-wx6vt Ай бұрын

I don' even think he sees himself as a 'good' teacher. The way he humiliated the protagonist by giving him wrong notes, therefore costing his OWN show with HIS students? That's just vile and stupid. Jesus.

@alainalittle9965 21 күн бұрын

I think we can also commend the director for his deep understanding of the psychology of abuse. I think besides JK Simmons wanting to be a music conductor in his youth, I think JK Simmons highly appreciates the directors vision. This was a terrifying film to watch (and abused people will be given a good dose of lessons on how to live their lives outside of an abusive manipulator.)

@TopTen-virtualvideos2 14 күн бұрын

@@JohnKim-wx6vt that was at the end of the story lol. He was no longer his teacher he getting back at him for literally getting him fired...

@jakeziegler6503 Ай бұрын

It took me 10 years to finally watch this film due to the subject matter. I dealt with years of physical and emotional abuse from my father much in the style of Fletcher. It was a great watch, and the final drum solo was a well-earned finale for both the protagonist and the viewer. That being said, I’m no hurry to watch it again, though I’m glad that I did.

@guywiesel2380 Ай бұрын

Bro the drum solo at the end represents the protagonists fall to fletcher ways

@jessicalacasse6205 Ай бұрын

sometime the push to leave learn to fly is more in a form of a a ss kicking ..

@ulquiorracifer5493 Ай бұрын

You're weak.

@pianist150 Ай бұрын

I just now realized I never knew what the J.K. stood for until this video. I never even thought about it

@fresamouse Ай бұрын

"It's never too late, to show you're capable of more." brilliant. simply perfect.

@gelatom5942 Ай бұрын

Genuinely yesterday I was looking at your channel to see if you had any videos on Whiplash and was disappointed to see that you didn't, feels like my prayers were answered now

@bliponthe Ай бұрын

Good video but not quite my tempo.

@jakeziegler6503 Ай бұрын

Was he rushing or dragging?

@ahmedrkiza6613 Ай бұрын

@@jakeziegler6503 Start counting... IN FOUR DAMN IT. Look at me.

@kerbybenjamin2793 Ай бұрын

@@jakeziegler6503rushing😢

@playgroundchooser Ай бұрын

I believe that JK is so scary in the role because he is playing complete opposite of his actual personality. I've gotten to meet him a few times at University of Montana functions, and also was lucky enough to know his wonderfully kind parents. The whole family is just a big bunch of amazing people we should all try to be like. ❤

@tedtawk2783 Ай бұрын

59 years old for a bigger break is pretty damn cool

@alainalittle9965 21 күн бұрын

I actually watched this film as I was solely curious about JK Simmons performance as a voice actor for a video game. JK Simmons is a talented guy and his voice reminds me of old school 1950s radio announcers! I have a hunch that the director plays the same game and thought of JK Simmons to be cast in the film for this reason too. In the video game, JK Simmons plays the role of a formerly successful businessman whose hubris lead to problems in his company and later an embittered CEO. JK Simmons delivered this role perfectly as he did with this film. I have no doubt why he won an Oscar for this!

@Vicky-ke4es Ай бұрын

I had a teacher like this when I was 10 years old, suffered under her for 4 years, now I'm 25, and still have nightmares about her sometimes. Whiplash was like living the nightmare all over again.

@benjaminprietop Ай бұрын

I've seen some music KZfaqrs who say this film is unrealistic in the context of real music education, but they always praise J.K's performance

@priscillachuong8011 8 күн бұрын

I had a director that threw a music stand at us during rehearsal because someone was flat so idk I felt like it was accurate.

@ishanbhasin9381 Ай бұрын

Idea for a new video- How Jake Gyllenhaal perfected Lou Bloom from Nightcrawler

@puddinggeek4623 Ай бұрын

Excellent video as always. Whiplash is an outstanding film JK Simmons is an excellent actor. It would be great for you to do a video on OZ, the prison drama JK starred in as Vern Schillinger. Keep up the good work.

@elizabethpalladino8301 Ай бұрын

I first noticed J.K. Simmons in the "Numb3rs" episode "Vector" as Dr. Clarence Weaver. I have loved him ever since. He can convincingly play obsessed characters who really think that what they are doing is what needs to be done to get to the true goal. For those of you who haven't seen that "Numb3rs" episode, it is worth a look.

@seankim2743 Ай бұрын

One of my favorite actors - JK Simmons. He's right next to R. Lee Ermey from Full metal jacket.

@thegunslinger1363 Ай бұрын

"I can always start again. Make another band!" Jokes aside, It's hard to believe this is the same guy who played J. Johan Jameson in the Sam Rami Spiderman films.

@BigMek667 Ай бұрын

Why? Just put more irony and laughs in there and play it as a comedy.

@DrtyALGreen 29 күн бұрын

JK was always one of my favorite OZ characters and it makes me so happy to see him getting the props he deserves. Another YT creator talks a lot about a characters "presence" even when off screen in the great supporting roles and this one definitely has that.

@riz8299 Ай бұрын

I just rewatched this recently and now you made an excellent video on it, great coincidence

@martinbeziat6695 Ай бұрын

What a great analyze work, as usual ! I love your work and I love your channel ! Congrats ! :)

@bungalowfeuhler1541 19 күн бұрын

When he asks about his family, he basically tells him that he’s a born genius and doesn’t need to practice. Then he tears him apart based on thousandths of a second. That’s how you show someone with skill that they can’t get complacent. Complacency is the greatest enemy of genius.

@gabrielacavalcante2188 3 күн бұрын

I had a conductor who was very similar to Fletcher, he was always screaming in our faces if our tempo was slightly off, threatening to kick us off the band, putting people on the spot to play perfectly while he loomed over us ready to decimate us if we made the slightest mistake, people silently crying while they played, him screaming at a guy because his tears feel on the music sheet. It was a horrible environment, especially considering we were a bunch of kids and he was a big marine dude, the difference in power was insane and it made everything feel even more threatening. When I first watched this movie, I didn’t know anything about the plot, it quite shocked me to see a similar version of the abuse I went through, it felt like looking through a foggy mirror, where a lot of events and emotions felt like they came from my own memories. Spectacular performance by Simmons and Miles, it was a really thrilling piece to watch. Loved the observations made in this video about how Fletcher’s character came to life, the nuance is so important

@roberttosa2560 3 күн бұрын

you nailed it. great insights and review.

@ghlibisk67 Ай бұрын

Just watched Whiplash for the first time 3 days ago. This video, as Fletcher would say, is on my time.

@raindropsonthewindowsill5170 28 күн бұрын

Saw this film literally 30 minutes ago and it is the best thing I’ve seen since La La Land

@channel5980 17 күн бұрын

Both happen to be directed by Damien Chazelle.

@TheShadowrun. Ай бұрын

Great observation 👍🏽 I can never get bored of this film. Each time i watch this movie, it gives me the same feeling as I watched it the first time

@jakobbansch4838 Ай бұрын

As a jazz musician I feel very ambiguous about this movie. On the one hand it was great to see a (cinematically seen) good jazz film being at the top of the charts, especially since jazz is such a niche subject. But the movie is completely unrealistic; the "sport" aspect of being able to play that fast or being drilled in that inhuman way is very uncommon in the jazz scene of the 21st century, especially compared to other art scenes (theatre, dance, classical music..). In most jazz bubbles I know the student-teacher relation is a respectful but very friendly one. I just hope that people who watched "Whiplash" don't think that that's what jazz is about.

@nsd781 10 күн бұрын

Hi. Im in the military band side of music and oh boy, I still haven't watched this movie because it hits too close to home. As the narrator said, the lines between greatness and pain become blurred 🫠

@christianaguilera1469 Ай бұрын

I'm wondering why the original student didn't reprise his role in the feature length film.

@ADavid42 Ай бұрын

excellent analysis of Simmons excellent work

@Devil-Made Ай бұрын

Love it. What an awesome movie. And an awesome video!

@everestjarvik5502 Ай бұрын

I have a music degree and neither I nor anyone I know had an experience anything like this in music school. Adam Neely correctly says that’s because whiplash is a sports film where the sport is drumming Realism aside, it’s still an amazing movie though

@ivanmartinez489 Ай бұрын

What a hard line to finish on a video, great work as always!

@RaindropGroptop Ай бұрын

So psyched you made a whiplash video

@basilreid257 Ай бұрын

Thanks for deciphering this movie which wasn’t easy to watch. J.k. Simmons nailed it it.

@zqxzqxzqx1 Ай бұрын

I didn't realize until this video that my mother was a Fletcher (and I'm 56.)

@GhostPoynt Ай бұрын

this is genuinely one of my favorite movies of all time. im so glad he made a video on it

@yourstruly4817 Ай бұрын

As if it be worth it to endure all that bs Simmons gives him in order to become a great musician, it's not talent that makes you successful anymore, it may be more promising and bearable to join the Army

@geoff7500 Ай бұрын

As much as I love the movie I feel that’s a key point that’s overlooked. Fletcher broke countless musicians and all he had to show for it was a shiny career not the Jazz messiah he wanted. And he didn’t even keep the career.

@allaboutthevisuals77 Ай бұрын

Really good breakdown, thank you.

@RoyHodgson97 Ай бұрын

Excellent analysis, as always, I'm definitely going to watch this movie. I absolutely LOVE YOUR WORK, every video you drop is a highlight in itself. But, after scrolling through your list of videos to see if I've missed something, it turns out that you've missed something, Sir😉🤣. One of the greatest- if not THE Greatest- actor in the history of acting, at least in my layman's humble opinion: Daniel Day-Lewis. Any chance for a Daniel Plainview analysis in the near or distant future, Sir?🙏 ☺

@JustanObservation Ай бұрын

Thank you! I would love to but Mirimax copyright claim every video they can, meaning I would spend a full week making a video for free. I’m too busy with other projects outside KZfaq to do that now, but maybe one day

@RoyHodgson97 Ай бұрын

@@JustanObservation Oh I see, these shameless big corporations don't accept 'fair use' anymore. I'm not exactly shocked. I wonder why they behave like that tho because when a guy like you (a pro)analyse a brilliant acting performance and make a video about it, it wouldn't exactly "hurt" their movie, I think it's quite the opposite actually. Thanks for the reply☺

@scottgregory6129 Ай бұрын

I think J.K. plays one of the best villains ever. His motivations are clear, as you observed. And because of his power.. the desire of the young players to prove themselves to him create an oppressive atmosphere. Looking down as another is being verbally abused. As you pointed out. I'm really glad I subbed a couple weeks ago. Love your content.

@gabrielafonseca4034 Ай бұрын

I couldn't help but notice, on the 29 times I've watched this movie, that the actor is very fit. He's been paunchy in other movies. That and the perfectly shaven head plus him always wearing the same outfit can be interpreted as a highly disciplined individual. The black tshirt sometimes makes him blend into the dark sets, making him look as if he's looming out of darkness, coming at you like an evil spirit. I've always wondered why he makes it his mission to make "a great one" instead of strive to be a great one himself

@kailovi Ай бұрын

disciplined with a side of perfectionism, good detail! No sloppiness to be found. It must be exhausting to live like that.

@jocylynkirsty4877 Ай бұрын

This is one of my all timers. There are still those who defend sacrificing your mental health for the sake of art, or at the abuse of others, and as an artist, I assure you it is not worth it, and it signals to me that they haven't had the experience. The Shining is one of the greatest films ever made, but Kubrick did not have to do Shelley Duvall, or any of the other traumatized actors, like that. If you can't direct without inflicting abuse on others, then you shouldn't direct at all. That being said, I would be SEATED at the final concert in this film.

@blondequijote Ай бұрын

These showbiz types tend to be sensitive or they eoupdnt be able to get into different roles so well. Idk how you'd manage all that talent and egos attached to it while bring a ppl pleaser. If someone wants to traumatized me and give me millions of $, that's a beer deal than most ppl with trauma get.

@dauntethomas5594 Ай бұрын

What happened on the set of the shining ? Also if you don’t feel like explaining any way to point me in the right direction, can’t seem to find it myself

@jessicalacasse6205 Ай бұрын

go ask brady or jordans what it took to be 1%

@jocylynkirsty4877 Ай бұрын

@@jessicalacasse6205 Brady and Jordan were brutal teammates, not directors. As I said from experience, I invite you to sacrifice your physical and mental well-being for art and let us know how it goes. I don’t know how you can watch Whiplash and still this behavior as necessary. This is a typical from those who have not had the experience in entertainment or are gaslit into believing this is “just how it is”.

@jessicalacasse6205 Ай бұрын

@@jocylynkirsty4877 this show you just havent had to do something hard that makes you better in the end ( just go do squat or running (( you see how sacrificing your physical and mental well being to achieve a goal is kinda the point of being human ))... Nothing worth having is easy or free ... Ps maybe your entertainment would have been harder in a era where weistein wasn t casting lmfao

@passenger128 Ай бұрын

Nice video, good job.

@CS-tq4er Ай бұрын

I really like your videos

@patrickbateman9534 Ай бұрын

how? howw??? he had practice, abusing teenagers is his thing, peter parker and mark greyson can absolutely relate

@Zeug_ 24 күн бұрын

JK Simmons is one of the greatest of all time, I'll never get enough of him

@alyasuramzahwani Ай бұрын

What are the odds that just yesterday I was at a jazz concert at my city where Caravan was a surprise song to close the performance, and today you uploaded this vid!

@spaceo8568 Ай бұрын

He went just as hard in this movie as he did playing Schillinger. Brutal.

@dmagwaza Ай бұрын

What Vern Schillinger was like as a father!

@thedoctor2871 14 күн бұрын

Can you make a video about Anthony Starr's performance as Homelander on how he manages to portray his character as monstrous & sympathetic.

@clairekelliest Ай бұрын

His performance reminds me of his character in Oz, but less theatrical and more realistic.

@SpensaVenture Ай бұрын

Such a good movie and such a great performance. I love how the movie looks as well. Whiplash is one of my all time favourites

@animal245533 Ай бұрын

4:37 He also would of looked like Mr. Clean.

@pierrenc Ай бұрын

Unrelated but I’m surprised you haven’t made a video specifically on Christopher Moltisanti. Would love for you to make something!

@renatapaschoal7605 Ай бұрын

Indeed. I was terrified of the professor. I've never forgotten how he made me feel. 😂

@948joejoe Ай бұрын

Peter Parker got the best shots of Spiderman only because he was never told “Good job”

@cheapypeepy9150 Күн бұрын

I think everyone who has studied music has had a teacher like fletcher

@zxcv7_AQ Ай бұрын

Can you make a watching a man change video on rick grimes, love the video btw

@lana_002 27 күн бұрын

watching this movie for the first time was amazing, but by far the most stressed i have ever been watching a movie.

@nnkk7742 Ай бұрын

Always love it when corporate doesn't get a chance to destroy a creative work.

@Toxodos Ай бұрын

funny I was just deciding to rewatch Counterpart like an hour ago. Great show, wish it didn't get cancelled, but it works with the two seasons it got

@ceeseybergen8704 Ай бұрын

I love your content

@ChristopherChartier 25 күн бұрын

This movie is about the second father. I'm not smart enough to explain the second father concept but I think anyone who had a drill instructor, angry football coach, etc. knows him. You are terrified of this person and hate him all at the same time. Years down the road you just wish you could thank him.

@gamecokben 29 күн бұрын

My high school band director was exactly like this

@jakemartin4305 22 күн бұрын

I think Simmons is a great example of a great actor dont always have to be a lead and really if you think about it a great support actor makes a lead 100x better 🤷‍♂️ Simmons 1 of the greats in my book ❤

@Olyphantman Ай бұрын

He was great as Schillinger on OZ.

@RevisedGames 23 күн бұрын

It's Schillinger!

@bungalowfeuhler1541 19 күн бұрын

Strongest performance of his career to date? I dunno, certain episodes of Oz get pretty astounding. Also, the lemons?

@oros5719 Ай бұрын

He was perfect genuinely don't think he could've performed better

@allengaible6436 Ай бұрын

This video is not my tempo. JK. It's right on.

@verticalstance Ай бұрын

this movie reminds me of all the times i went to work with my dad when i was a teenager

@leonefurlan137 Ай бұрын

Sameeeee! I'd rather work with Hitler,The Devil & Stallin than with my old man!!!

@Okkotsu86275 Ай бұрын

J.K. Simmons is an underrated gem and one of the best character actors in the game. His performance in this film is highly memorable and striking. Fletcher is one of the best anti villains/heroes in cinema.

@WDRhine Ай бұрын

While I have only praise for Simmons' performance, I think the movie suffers from its dependence on the premise that a character like Fletcher could actually behave like that at a prestigious music school. You think exceptionally dedicated musicians would pay $80K per year to put up with that shit? You think that the faculty, administration and board would all turn a blind eye for years to the potential legal risks of his teaching style? There is another reason why music teachers don't physically and mentally abuse their students: it doesn't improve their students' performance or their lives. The degree to which the film presents Fletcher as having legitimacy as a teacher - the "good job" monologue in particular - is a real problem for me and missed opportunity for the film.

@shredderdemon3252 Ай бұрын

You are right that’s why he gets kicked off from teaching in movie if I remember correctly

@kailovi Ай бұрын

but that's kinda the point, I mean the philosophical side (is there true greatness without pain/suffering and pushing too far?) aside, abusers at high levels are often great manipulators. They only overtly abuse those who are below them, and know how to sweettalk and covertly abuse and manipulate those whose good graces they need. Also, intimidating people into silence is a tale as old as time. I'm happy I've never met anyone like Fletcher in a school or work setting, but other sort of abusers in positions of power and prestige? Absolutely, constantly. Personally, I don't accept abuse, and I always bring it up especially when I witness someone else being abused, and you know what happens? Nine times out of ten, the messenger is shut down, silenced, bullied or removed, and the bully stays. People are afraid of conflict, they're also scared of what will happen to them if they speak up, managers on the top trying to avoid a potential legal hassle etc. Not to mention the psychology of abuse victims, why do you stay? Why does a victim even protect their abuser? Psychology is wild one-to-one, now get the whole institution involved and it's gonna be messy. The abuse also often starts gradual, if a teacher starts at a job and on the first day throws a chair at a student, yeah bye, but if they've already amassed a sort of cult like following (because of their supposed "greatness") a chair may have flown, but if there were no eyewitnesses willing to testify and the teacher is known to be harsh but fair among their colleagues, well...maybe the kid is over reacting? And this ofcourse emboldens the abuser every time they get off the hook, and things continue escalate, until something, or someone breaks. Like in the film, he was fired eventually. Until we as a society stop idolising perfection, the grind and dominance, this cycle of abuse won't change.

@macethorns1168 Ай бұрын

This movie was a complete surprise and a treat.

@Tecchi Ай бұрын

yaay i love whiplash

@nickymo Ай бұрын

When Fletcher asks his name in the first scene, Miles Teller says "Andrew NAY-man, sir," and Fletcher proceeds to call him "NEE-mon" for the rest of the movie. From moment one he's using flippant disrespect to enforce his power over his student.

@user-wz8tj6qp4c Ай бұрын

Respectfully disagree about this being his big break but still loved the video.

@mumblaff Ай бұрын

❤

@datdamnkez 25 күн бұрын

Niceeee

@PourItIn_MyTrophies Ай бұрын

So basically, this movie is musicians version of army basic training?

@elizabethpalladino8301 Ай бұрын

P.S. I don't want to call Simmons' Terence Fletcher a caricature, but I'm not surprised to find out that Simmons' first avocation was as a musician. Not that I've ever sung under the baton of a conductor as abusive as Terence Fletcher, but it's obvious that Simmons is familiar with the type of conductor for whom the performance and its success or failure is a reflection on the conductor, and it doesn't matter how many lowly performers he has to grind in the mill of those interminable rehearsals in order to get to the Holy Grail of a perfect performance.

@ILEJOSTARGOJI713 29 күн бұрын

Why y’all looking down at the comments? There’s no mars bar down here

@pianoraves Ай бұрын

Whiplash Essays is one of my favorite genres

@kristos1179 14 күн бұрын

Is there a word for a phobia of wasted potential?

@livagVallz 14 күн бұрын

Where's Mark, William?

@VasudevAnandcva Ай бұрын

Whiplash is easily my favourite film of all time. I love everything about it, the performances, the music, the directing, the cinematography, the editing, and so much more.

@user-fh7kf8xq9d Ай бұрын

You should do Rachael McAdams from Mean Girls or Paddy from House of the Dragon 😊

@elijahalbiston Ай бұрын

I second both those picks.

@LCCWPresents 22 күн бұрын

Jk simons looks cool with that beard

@originaozz Ай бұрын

Watching this film at different stages of one's life & career, you start to realize that the ending is a warning on "greatness". It still has my favorite ending of all time for the thrill and exhilaration, but no longer the achievement. Andrew proved himself to be "worthy" of Fletcher's approval, but at what cost? Stripping out all parts of yourself until all that's left is the drive is never gonna last. In contrast to artists who make something of their own and find joy in doing what they love, Andrew is only doing for one moment his name will be remembered. Fletcher won by living vicariously through his student's achievements, that too is a bitter way to live.