Sorry for some audio issues in this video! Looks like it may have happened during the rendering process But what subject for a video should I do next? Either a video essay or a cancelled project!

The genius of Whiplash is it could be seen either as one of the most emotional and inspiring films ever made, or one of the most depressing and cynical stories about obsession and submission ever put to screen, all depending on your way of looking at things

I think the real question is what really happened to that folder? haha

Apparently, Damien Chazielle, seemingly in a joking manner, said that he once considered adding a post-credits scene to Whiplash set years after the film in which Andrew has died of a drug overdose and/or car crash in his mid-30s, and much of the cast is attending his funeral, with Fletcher giving one of the eulogies as only he could. It may have been a joke, but it still seems like an outcome that makes a scary amount of sense within the world of the film.

“Fuck off Jonny Utah, turn my pages bitch” is one of my favorite lines from the film 😂

Or he could become something way worse. A UKpostsr.

I never fully realized how dark the ending was until this analysis.

so at the end, Fletcher hands the folder back to Andrew. The one he stole a semester before, but Andrew is so consumed by obsession, he doesn't even notice. Wow.

My jazz band in high school competed regularly against Damien's. Damien was the drummer. In 20 years, they lost one time. Damien's director was what Fletcher was based off of. I have heard nothing but absolute CRUEL methods of that man's teaching style and I understand why Damien had to write the movie.

White to Black could be seen as his mastery of the art. Like Jiu Jistsu or martial arts rankings

I don't consider the ending "happy" nor "sad" but satisfying. And I don't see Fletcher as the bad guy - simply an insane/extreme mentor character. The enemy in this story is mediocracy. I thought it was interesting that both "win" at the end - Andrew has become the musician both he and Fletcher wanted. But also Fletcher is "beaten" as Andrew rules the situation finally. I think it's this unique dynamic that makes this movie a standout.

What an ironic and almost intoxicating innocence there is about Andrew’s statement at dinner. People will always remember Andrew as that famous drummer “who died at 34 of drug overdose”. That last part would always taint his legacy even if he is remembered.

Great video! I never noticed the colour change in Andrew's clothing; yet another reason to love this film. Keep up the awesome content! Subbed.

This guy is hella underrated

I have a different take on Andrew's fathers reaction to his drum solo at the end through the door. His father is witnessing greatness in Andrew that he never saw before, a passion and intensity that was not present before. It was at this moment his father realizes how great his son really is at the drums.

While you make an intelligent point in this video, I still think the act of going back out on stage and just starting to play his own music is so totally independent. Too much strength of character for him to end up a puppet to Fletcher or anyone else. Because of that, I also don't see him succumbing to unhealthy obsession. I don't see it as a happy-go-lucky ending, and Andrew may well end up isolated from the rest of humanity, but not to the point of misery and self-destruction.

People who think its a happy film seem to always forget how Fletcher starts giving instructions to Neiman at the end, showing he still has control over him. How when he smiles, its cut off. He's not smiling at Neiman, he's smiling to himself: "I was right all along. I was justified." How when Neiman sees that smile, hes has this horrible excited look on his face. He wasn't "proving Fletcher wrong", he was desperately chasing after acknowledgment. The film is littered with talk of what happened to Fletcher's last "star pupil", yet people think that wont be the case for Neimam even though he shows zero signs of detaching himself from that mentality.

Why can't this kind of stuff be on the trending tab?

What happens next is "Mini-Me" re-enters Fletcher's sight and Fletcher demolishes him

The ending was a stark reminder of how as humans we crave the praise of people who give you none.

Still getting goosebumps while watching the last scene; even though I've watched it a million times now. Masterpiece.

I think the ending is really up for interpretation, but the ultimate end of Andrew as stated by the actor and director fit perfectly. I could see alternatives like his dad was finally realizing how much the drums really truly meant to his son (in juxtaposition to the dismissive nature the family had at dinner) and felt bad about minimizing Andrew's passion. Andrew could end up leading a long successful life but end up just like Buddy Rich: an abusive yet talented drummer that is now more remembered for his cruelty than his music. Maybe Andrew would be alright with that, but it is a tragic ending for the character that we were rooting for. It's so gray and open for me because it's mixing passion with the horrendous reality of the abused returning to their abuser. There's so much to interpret from and project onto an ending like that.

I think his father looks at him in that scene and sees how amazing he is. No one in his family really understood how hard he was working and what he is trying to accomplish.

Ive always thought the lighting of Andrews old jazz class and the Studio Jazz room played a part on how we feel about those two very, _very_ seperate entities in the film

Andrew will be dead in 15 years at max. That is what his father realice when he sees him at the end. But as you said, that is what Andrew wanted, and you can see Fletcher is satisfied, he finally found HIS Charlie Parker.

This movie is like a fusion of Full Metal Jacket and Martyrs, but about musicians.

The ending is infinitely more philosophical than just "was it happy or sad." To someone like Andrew's father the ending is sad. To someone like Andrew or Fletcher its happy. Who is right at the end is entirely up for interpretation. Thats the point. Andrew got his success. Whether or not anyone else perceives it as such is irrelevant. It raises the age old philosophical question, is it better to die doing what you love, or to live a long life, bored?

Andrew finally gets contact at the end. Never got it with Dad. Look at the joy between them. "He has lost.." Dad has lost.

Doing this in film so I just watched it, one of the greatest films ever. Every ounce of it was scattered with emotional conflict, the blood sweat and tears that Andrew put into his work and every facial expression outlined his empty feeling, when he breaks up with Nicole I felt was his moment of emptiness, he was before a funny, cheesy guy with a promising future, when he breaks up with Nicole he shows no emotion or sign of remorse and she clearly points out that he is fucked up. I think at the ending like u said it just set his feelings in stone, he ALMOST got his life back but when he met Simmons again he just went back to being the scared student that was hellbent on success

God I am so glad someone else noticed the things that truly made this masterpiece beautiful. Most just think the insults that are often seen as humorous when things are carefully placed in this film to truly make you feel like you are at the breaking point right with that character and if the character or message conveyed something everyone has felt. A true feeling of melancholy when the screen goes black and your just left staring in awe.

just finished watching this movie and I kind of understood the ending but I needed a deeper meaning, and here it is. Great Video dude, this movie was truly a masterpiece

WHIPLASH IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE!!! You got good taste.

A detailed look at the undertones of this beautiful film. You´ve highlighted things in here that I had never really noticed or payed attention to, I may have to rewatch this film with a new perspective. Great video, you´ve earned another subscriber!

Others: Talking about Andrew, color of his clothings, Fletcher, what they think it is etc. Me (as a drummer and percussionist): *getting very disoriented by the drumming because the movie's audio and visual doesn't match the sounds of the acoustic drums played* but kudos for the actor to train very hard for this scene!

I see it differently which is why I like reading different interpretations of the ending. I see Andrew as different to previous bullied students or the ones that committed suicide. Andrew stood up to Fletcher, talked back to him and even fought him which others didn't do. He even kicked him out of the school, which was a first, he wasn't scared of the guy anymore. At the end when he gets humiliated, he comes back, plays and mouths FU to Terrence. Almost saying FU to it all, I'm finished playing whether good or bad. At the ending he did his solo to his tempo. Terrence wasn't really conducting him, only the part where he said slow it down and speed it up. He got the nod in the end and Andrew smiled. Maybe he continued, maybe not but he fought back.

I had the same thoughts, I never saw the ending as happy. I found it rather sad and torturous. I thought I was watching the movie wrong because I didn’t see the ending as satisfying. Thanks for this

This is one of the most insightful and we'll spoken videos I have ever seen on UKposts.

Really loving your videos after recently discovering your channel. Can tell you put hard work into these videos and hope you continue on!

I just watched the movie but I genuinely can’t get how people see the ending as a “happy” ending, even at first glance.

Everyone dies alone, may as well accomplish something along the way.

Great description! Made me think of how the "meeting at the crossroads" and the sale of a soul for the musical genius position has only adapted to role with the times...

I agree with everyone when they say JK Simmon was amazing in this role, and this whole movie was amazing, and the message is amazingly subtle and open to interpretations, but I DO preffer this theory. Fletcher drove another student to suicide, and the conversation at the restaurant prooves that he has no remorse, OR at the very least is so arrogant about his methods he doesn't realize what they lead to. Getting an aprooving nod from a guy like this is hardly a victory worth celebrating.

the meaning of the colors completely went over my head, but now it makes sense, and it fits perfectly. a great detail, and also a great video!

I found this channel a week ago and the quality you put in your observation, writing and editing is incredible. I'll take a well written and thought out, scripted 4min video, discussing a topic with passion and dedication over any 10:30 lifestyle bullshittery any time. Channels like yours are the future of this platform.

The ending made me cry. Andrew is no longer human. He is now a shadow of who he once was; a drum machine under the control of a sadistic abuser.

Never really connected the dying at 30 drunk and alone talk to the outcome of Andrew's life before, thanks for pointing that out. Damn, bleaker ending then I thought. I also always interpreted the father staring as him through the curtain as being in awe of his son, the script showing him being sad was not that clear to me. I think maybe they intentionally chose a scene/shot it in a way to keep it somewhat open ended enough that viewers could draw their own conclusions. I like that art lets you do that, that often the true meaning is ultimately subjective and in the eyes of the viewer. Amazing film

Great, great, great analysis. I had a film teacher who was exactly like that, cursing his students, unhappy with anything short of perfection. I developed major anxiety and depression on my first semester and was out. Looking back on it now-more than five years later-the memories still manage to cause significant stress in me.

I would love more of these!!!! WELL DONE!

Generally, I think your ideas on what 'what happens next' is very plausible but I also think the idea of using colors to define his progression is a bit misplaced. Yes, it's easy to say that you start out in the movie with whites to indicate innocence and then evolve into blacks to show the progression into madness (sorta speak), but I think you are reading more into it than is really there. As a few others mention, the use of black colors for the band is typical band attire. Usually, the conductor/leader has some opposite color to call them out as the "leader" but in the case of Fletcher, I think he preferred the black color because, in that context, he wants to be seen as an equal but also out front. To me, this reads "I'm one of you but also I'm leading you" based on his dialog across the movie. You see this illustrated when it's in the jazz club after being sacked from Schafer, he's in colors that support his individuality indicating that he's not a member of the group but a "drop-in" artist - he stands on his own. If you think back to the story of Jim Jones throwing a cymbal at Bird, he clearly sees himself as an equal to Jim Jones and based on his opinion of what his role is, to bring the next Bird to the world, his actions are justified - at any cost. He all but says that when in the jazz club scene. "I fucking tried....and that's more than most can say" As Andrew ultimately determines his direction in life, he realizes that even with all the horrible things that Fletcher says and does, I honestly think he comes to the conclusion that "this is the process to becoming great.." the Bird story justifies this to Andrew. Even with the Shawn Casey incident where you see Fletcher does have some humanity, it doesn't change Andrews mind'. The most important step in the movie is after Fletcher sets up Andrew for the ultimate musician humiliation of not getting the sheet music to the JVC show, Fletcher gives him the nudge that changes his life. Walk away humiliated and never play drums again, or prove to Fletcher that he's better and he knows he's better. His father tells him it's OK to fail because failing is also trying and trying is always better. But at that moment when he sees his father waiting in the wings, he knew he was faced with the final truth of the movie. Live life as my father has done, or live life as a world-class musician. At that moment is when his greatness is finally realized when he comes back with his chin held high and immediately changes the one element of the movie he never had. Control. This was the last thing Fletcher would think Andrew would do given the "...extra Avante guard from the rhythm section". As a musician myself, I had to chuckle at that comment. He changed the rules of the game - Andrew took control of the band and in doing so, put him in the position to show the world on his own terms that's he's a world-class musician. Fletcher has no choice but to follow completely flipping the balance of their relationship. You knew this immediately when Andrew kicks off Karavan. The look on Fletcher's face says it all "What the hell is this kid doing". He was genuinely confused. This is driven home when Andrew mouth's "Fuck You!" to Fletcher in the middle of the gig. That's some balls and he knew it. It was a nice touch to honor the Buddy Rich Impossible Drum Solo (it's on youtube - it's nuts) To wrap up, in a sense, you could contend that there are two father figures in Andrews life. Fletcher who he knows can make him great, and his real father that allows him to fail and still be his son. For those that think the Fletcher character is a little overly done, I can say that's far more common than you know. And I could really relate to how Andrew followed this man because of the greatness he wanted to achieve. I had a music teacher that was really strict in high school but he also was very well known so you knew it was a special thing to be with them every day. As much as a cursed his name when he would come down hard and yes, I had a the end of a conducter's baton tossed at me and time or three. When he left my senior year, I cried like a baby.

Steel sharpens steel. And greatness has a cost. That's the theme of this movie.

Excellent points, thank you for that analysis, it made me reflect on some ideas I had on the film. Yes, a great film

Dude you just made me love this movie more than I already did which was already a hell of a lot i believe it is a Masterpiece THE PERFECT FILM thanks for this video and explanation now I truly get it and have to watch my copy for the 103rd time (literally)

This is a true story that happened to a friend of mine. To achieve the greatness you must be obssessive and focused. Well true story he has 3 launched solo álbums and yes no one plays like him.

This is sound like a horror movie .. I liked it better when I thought that it had a happy ending. But this is a deep analysis ... thanks anyway.

Caught this from videoessay and I really enjoyed it. keep up the good work

YOU ANSWERED MY LONG DYING QUESTION . WITH THAT YOU GOT A NEW SUBSCRIBER !!

Really digging your videos, keep up the great work man! Also it would be awesome if you did a video on the cancelled Spider-Man 4.

I think neiman won't die in his 30s but rather become a teacher and be just as strict as fletcher

@CutShort damn you where on point with your observations. Touché and bravo.

Thanks for this great video man!

That's your opinion. I've been watching the ending for a few days now, what I take from this is the fact that Andrew won his ending objective. He won Fletcher's respect. When they cut to his father, I see his look that says "I get it now." He sees his son at his best, he realizes how he didn't get it, he didn't understand it until now (this ending scene.) Every time I watch this particular scene, I watch his dad's look, it give me goosebumps, that smile Andrew gives at the end says it all.

I honestly see the character getting fame but ultimately seeing how he had to push everyone away then coming back to being himself. I don't think he would die in his 30's at all. he'd just continue to play gigs and stuff or maybe try to mentor someone

This video just made me appreciate the movie even more. Thank you!

This is how I felt about this movie, too. Wow!! Great analysis.

Damn, this is like some Star Wars story about a Jedi that became a Sith. Fletcher reminds me of Palpatine a bit.

The all black clothing is bogus, that's just dress code for all concerts. But other than that, cool video

This channel is growing quickly! I’m really happy for you XD

Beautifully put ❤❤❤

Maybe I'm wrong but I think the whole clothing bit and the pitcher of water is you looking a bit too deep into it. After all, you can get the gist of what is happening to Andrew without the clothing and the pitcher of water. I think the biggest hint in the movie was the fact that the incredible trumpet player that Fletcher taught, committed suicide even though he had reached such a high level of success. It foreshadows the path that Andrew is going to take and the dark nature of the obsession he has.

Andrew was 110% devoted to becoming "one of the greatest" and clearly would do anything including shutting his friends and family out. But there is also a side of him that is not selfish and shows that he does care. For example, he called and apologized to the girl he liked, invited her to the concert and asked he to go out on another date. I like to think at the end, once he got all he wanted, he would make time for his loved ones and still pursued his career as one of the greatest drummers to ever live.

I love your videos! Fingers crossed in hopes you get way more popular!

Wow! thanks for the explanation, this movie is much deeper than i thought

Oh shit am becoming this with my craft

I do think that the ending was meant to be ambiguous but his father definitely saw his son in a worse light at that moment rather than a better one in the directors eyes.

Great video, just wished you had talked about what fletcher sais in the ending when they zoom in on his eyes, he clearly states something, in my opinion "good job" strenghtening your thesis as one where they both help each other suceeding in their on way. Great job man, keep these going.

Already like 1min and 30 seconds in this video and I love it, you've pointed out some stuff I hadn't already noticed e.g Andrew's and Fletcher's clothing. *good job* .oh wait...

hm... honestly... this is such a hard theme to talk about... hmm if i died happily at my 50s with my wifie and kids and won several competitions, that would be alright, but drug overdose at 30 alone but greatest musician? I really love jazz right next to classical but honestly. Jazz is dead it is 21st century. No one would surpass Buddy Rich because he was already the greatest. JOJO MAYER came pretty close but even he is making electronic music now with his band nerve. But pure acoustic jazz is dead. The greatest musician in the 21st century... idk if it would be possible honestly when virtuosity is not a thing now. But, for example Chopin died 200 years ago and people including myself still play him because he is the greatest classical pianist to me. People still listen to Buddy Rich but can anyone play like him? Maybe Jojo Mayer or Benny Greb but they are really underground now.

Man, i got the ending a little different you know, i think the whole movie taught us the cost of greatness....greatness just doesnot come from crying all day coz someone said you something, it comes from hardwork, determination and pushing yourself out of the limits previously unknown. That table talk was a very important part of the movie, i dont known but i guess many people missed it , they were talking about charlie parker and jo jonas, 'how charlie parker ruined his part, laughed off the stage and jo jonas nearly decapitate him...but a year later he sang the best mf solo the world has ever head'....and andrew ask fletcher that if those training and stuff discouraged the next charlie parker....to which jo jonas answered "THE NEXT CHARLIE WILL NEVER BE DISCOURAGED" and thats what we see in the marvelous final scene....i guess fletcher was pushing him hard to take out the potential that nobody but fletcher saw in andrew. That after ruining the part and getting to his dad for the hug showed us his dad just want mediocrity, his dad could have said " Son go out there show them what you have inside" but instead his dad said " lets go home". andrew turned around just like charlie parker and settled for greatness. his dad looked like that i guess not because he was devasted but because he never knew andrew had so much potential, desire, and talent in him (which we can see in that family dinner scene). And fletcher was pushing andrew like jo jonas pushing charlie parker. All the greatest people we know in the world, have suffered some kind of abuse, discouragement, failure, taunt of people and what not but they never back down and they worked hard showed the world which was unknown and never seen. Examples- Ronaldo, Dani Alves, Bill Gates,Steve Jobs, Mark Zukerberg, Albert Einstein, etc . GREATNESS NEVER COMES FROM RUNNING AWAY BUT FACING YOUR FEARS. Please rectify me if u think i was wrong somewhere...thank you for reading

I haven't noticed that about the clothing detail. That's brilliant!

I see this channel blowing up soon. Your video style and narration is excellent, keep them coming.

Here's the thing - it matter what the writer, director or actor think it were trying to portray in the film, what matters is what each individual takes away from it. This is exemplified perfectly by that scene where Andrew says that he rather die alone in his 30s. His father, and perhaps most people, would consider that crazy, but to Andrew, this is GREATNESS. Who's right? No one. Personally, I see this as a happy ending because both go) men got what they wanted, and it's happy because the film compelled me to buy in to that premise. And that's what made this film great.

Yeah but I'm gonna die alone without any dramatic story like this behind it.

thank you for the ( great ) analysis

Even though this video was 4 minutes long, it got straight to the point and perfectly summed up everything. 10/10

as a drummer who was beaten to become the best, I have to disagree a little bit. when you finally see who you are and what you will become you get lost in the tide but when you know who you are, well. You do what you were meant to become. yeah it can change you but you'll always be you.

Abusive teacher story hits home hard and made this movie too hard to watch, but in the end I loved it because of that.

You know I really love channels like these

To be that good, as shown in the performance at the end, takes more than love and dedication to the instrument, it takes insanity, also no one person can truly be the best, music is way to subjective,top ten maybe, that said it was a great fuckin movie, definitely dark but uplifting as well, I’m not perfect, you’re not perfect, no one is perfect!, but this was a near perfect representation of the human condition. Also like and subscribe to this guy, he’s not there yet but he’s definitely on his way🤘🏻

the background music of the vid is great

So is this just Full Metal Jacket for musicians

Great commentary!

Loved it. Subbed!

Wtf. This movie ending review is mindblown. I thought all this years that the ending seems good for Andrew.

Andrew neiman:the next greatest drummer Roger taylor:hold my drum sticks

I always envisaged an ending scene which is a repeat of a previous scene- when you had a tracking shot of a wall in jazz club showing the photos of all the great drummers the last one I think was buddy rich they could repeat this shot this time showing an extra photo on the wall which is miles teller's character andrew playing his heart out on the drums like a master painter but instead of paint brushes he is using drumsticks to create his art of music!

You know this is one of those movies that I wish had more but I know it would mess up the beauty of how it ended in the first place. Thinking about this ending leaves me in awe still. This is such a good frickin movie 🥲🥲🥲🥲

Andrew's become broken after the end of the film, becoming one of the greats and it is definitely proven in the solo. That goes a long way, but of course, it makes one's mind so fragile it cannot always keep up. I don't know if I should respect Terrence Fletcher or not. I just know that he didn't expect his own "creation of Charlie Parker" to finally come to light. And now... Andrew has become a great musician... with the cost of his central humanity... :/ Sad, but I think that's the hard tradeoff. Can't argue after what happened. Though I know for a fact Nicole would find out later on. Maybe if she would talk to him again, she would find Andrew already bleeding too much for striving to be so much more? Dunno. I'm looking and looking for answers, people! ^_^

He wears black because that’s what you wear to performances of that nature. 🤣

When i first watched this movie, alot of the meaning/symbolism went over my head. I didn't understand what made this movie so great (other than J.K Simmons' acting). But looking back on it, how i've seen people describe the ending, it truly goes to show how much of a dark tale this movie was about. It kinda reminds of the premise of Blue Lock, sacrificing yourself/your humanity to become the best you can be. It really makes me sad now, rewatching the ending in that perspective.

Great explanation