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Whiplash
Script of Whiplash.
A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential.
A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 13, 2024
This was the script of the hit film. Remarkable.
January 28, 2024
Upon reading this screenplay, I realize that Fletcher and Neiman are both, at their core, the same character. There are cut scenes present in this script that exemplifies that relationship much more than the movie does. We see a more well rounded Fletcher, one who truly loves the students that he terrorizes; studio band is the only family he has. This makes his abuse that much worse, but it also shows you that he treats those closest to him the same way that Neiman does. He pulls them in with honey (e,g the scene where he sits Neiman down in his office) and that pushes them away with his lust for success.
Chazelle has a skill for expressing theme through characterization. Out of his filmography, I think this is the one that does it best. There is so much internal conflict integral to both Fletcher and Neiman that one can place them in any setting and the dialogue will write itself. I love how these two characters simultaneously give each other what they’re looking for whilst destroying each other completely.
They both see the other as an enemy; they both believe the other is trying to destroy something that they have. Fletcher, sees Neiman's mistakes as a direct attack on the band. Neiman, on the other hand, views Fletcher as someone who exists to terrorize him specifically. While there is a lot of intentional trauma inflicted on Neiman by Fletcher, ultimately, Fletcher isn't after Neiman personally. Neiman is just the next victim he's found in his quest to find the next Parker.
Neither are able to recognize that their true conflict is an internal one and they are directly responsible for their failures. Fletcher's dream is to find the next Charlie Parker but he destroys any student of his who comes close to having the chance. His dream is also flawed from the start, as he's trying to turn a student INTO Charlie Parker. He won't find the next best of the new generation by squishing any and all potential into a Bird shaped box. Neiman's dream is to be the best, not happy, and these ideals create the breeding ground for Fletcher's abuse. Only someone so focused on being the best would let someone crush them down to nothing in the name of this goal. These shortcomings are entirely internal and we see how they manifest in both character's behavior. When Neiman finally grows a spine by the last few pages, we, the reader, are overjoyed to see him become himself. However, Fletcher is also happy. He got exactly what he wanted, and in doing so, lost both Shaffer conservatory and the band in this obsession while his personal life become fractured (there are hints of both a wife and child that he's lost due to his erratic behavior). Neiman also got exactly what he wanted, and in doing so, lost both Shaffer conservatory and the band in this obsession while his personal life become fractured.
Chazelle has a skill for expressing theme through characterization. Out of his filmography, I think this is the one that does it best. There is so much internal conflict integral to both Fletcher and Neiman that one can place them in any setting and the dialogue will write itself. I love how these two characters simultaneously give each other what they’re looking for whilst destroying each other completely.
They both see the other as an enemy; they both believe the other is trying to destroy something that they have. Fletcher, sees Neiman's mistakes as a direct attack on the band. Neiman, on the other hand, views Fletcher as someone who exists to terrorize him specifically. While there is a lot of intentional trauma inflicted on Neiman by Fletcher, ultimately, Fletcher isn't after Neiman personally. Neiman is just the next victim he's found in his quest to find the next Parker.
Neither are able to recognize that their true conflict is an internal one and they are directly responsible for their failures. Fletcher's dream is to find the next Charlie Parker but he destroys any student of his who comes close to having the chance. His dream is also flawed from the start, as he's trying to turn a student INTO Charlie Parker. He won't find the next best of the new generation by squishing any and all potential into a Bird shaped box. Neiman's dream is to be the best, not happy, and these ideals create the breeding ground for Fletcher's abuse. Only someone so focused on being the best would let someone crush them down to nothing in the name of this goal. These shortcomings are entirely internal and we see how they manifest in both character's behavior. When Neiman finally grows a spine by the last few pages, we, the reader, are overjoyed to see him become himself. However, Fletcher is also happy. He got exactly what he wanted, and in doing so, lost both Shaffer conservatory and the band in this obsession while his personal life become fractured (there are hints of both a wife and child that he's lost due to his erratic behavior). Neiman also got exactly what he wanted, and in doing so, lost both Shaffer conservatory and the band in this obsession while his personal life become fractured.
March 25, 2020
1. Birdland
2. Whiplash
3. Fordham
4. Carlton
5. Sean Casey
6. My son
7. Special guest
8. Upswingin’
2. Whiplash
3. Fordham
4. Carlton
5. Sean Casey
6. My son
7. Special guest
8. Upswingin’
February 17, 2021
Beautiful. Absolutely stunning.
August 5, 2025
Amazing screenplay, would highly recommend both reading and watching the movie, I loved being able to see the differences in what made the final movie cut and what wasn’t included.
January 5, 2023
I’m writing a proper review I’m just too lazy to finish it <3
October 29, 2025
I cant read it for some reason idk how to read it, it just says “want to read”
July 6, 2025
Whiplash by Damien Chazelle http://realini.blogspot.com/2017/09/n...
10 out of 10
For some strange reason, when I first saw this excellent motion picture, I was not taken aback, exhilarated, but last night, when it was aired again on Film Now, it has been such a delight that I am putting this note down
Critics and audiences have been jubilant, indeed, it has won many prizes, including three Oscars, it was also nominated for Best Motion Picture, Best Writing Adapted Screenplay in 2015, and it is placed at Forty-One in one chart
If you check this and other data on the IMDB site https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582802/... you find that the public thinks this is one of the best 100
The narrative, cast, director, production team are all fabulous, and albeit I think I have heard that Miles Teller aka Andrew, the main character in the movie, is somewhat difficult (may obnoxious) the film is mesmerizing.
Andrew wants to be ‘one of the great’, one of the memorable scenes take place at the table, and other young men boast and are praised for their achievements, which Andrew – who is at times quite difficult and unlikeable, as when he breaks up with a girl – dismisses, one of the other men at the table plays in the third league, whereas the hero is a student at the best music teaching institution, Shaffer Conservatory of Music, in the land and he wants to have a legacy, to be remembered long into the future
It is often an overwhelming fight, Andrew explores his limitations – Harvard Professor Tal Ben Shahar http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/04/c... has a few mantras which he uses in his lectures (the most popular in the history of Harvard) and one of them is ‘learn to fail, or fail to learn’, giving the example of a very successful individual, who rises to the top, to work in an important position at the White House, only to commit suicide, when he is faced with the first crises of his life
Terence Fletcher is the professor at Shaffer who has a jazz band that represents the prestigious conservatory at competitions, he is portrayed by spectacular JK Simmons, who has won the Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, and indeed, this is a tour de force, an extremely challenging role, which combines under the same skin the monster, abuser, sadist homophobe (though now that I put this down, I wonder if the mentor is not really using all kinds of insults, just to provoke a reaction, defiance, to hurt feelings and then make the students rise to prove him dead wrong) and the winning competitor
Andrew is accepted into the band, but only to turn pages for the ‘lead drummer’, his role is limited, and he might get a chance, in an emergency, which arrives, as the pack of papers with the score is missing – I may have missed this, but I suspect that Fletcher would have taken the papers, to give Andrew a chance, without undermining his image as the obnoxious, monstrous sadist – but the he is pushed down again
The protagonist believes in himself, seems to apply the rules from The Six Pillars of Self Esteem http://realini.blogspot.com/2013/06/s... a classic of psychology by the glorious Nathaniel Branden…the musician believes in himself, he is ready to sacrifice for his goals, at stages, he is so devoted to his aspirations that he exercises his drums to the point where he is wounded, his fingers have blood, and he has to put his hands in an ice bucket to be able to continue
If we refer to another classic, Outliers http://realini.blogspot.com/2013/05/o... by Malcolm Gladwell, one of the most influential psychologists of our age, then we can see the principle advanced there in action – the author says that if people exercise, study for ten thousand hours, over a period of ten years, which means an average of three hours per day, then one is almost destined to reach the top, unless of course, one that is not in shape, hopes to break the marathon records…
We find quite a few Character Strengths in the hero, who is brave, resilient, has vitality, he shows curiosity, creativity (especially in the grand finale), wisdom, self-control, love of learning, appreciation of excellence and beauty and there is more, in so many ways this is a role model, with some caveats that have to do with his behavior – it is in fact worse than misbehavior – towards the young woman he dates…
He is the one that invites her out, and then suddenly, he gives an incredible speech, insisting on the lack of perspective, the fact that he will dedicate his time, efforts to his practice, the music, and she will be frustrated, upset that he does not give her enough, or any attention, and hence they will be unhappy and fight, which could be taken as honesty, and a correct assessment of possibilities, but shows quite a bit of insensitivity, to say the least…in fact, part of the huge appeal of this wondrous work is that we have complex characters and situations, Fletcher is a bully and abuser, but at the same time, he is one that dedicates his life to finding the future great musician, and in his way (flawed) he tries to offer ‘support’
Now for a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
10 out of 10
For some strange reason, when I first saw this excellent motion picture, I was not taken aback, exhilarated, but last night, when it was aired again on Film Now, it has been such a delight that I am putting this note down
Critics and audiences have been jubilant, indeed, it has won many prizes, including three Oscars, it was also nominated for Best Motion Picture, Best Writing Adapted Screenplay in 2015, and it is placed at Forty-One in one chart
If you check this and other data on the IMDB site https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582802/... you find that the public thinks this is one of the best 100
The narrative, cast, director, production team are all fabulous, and albeit I think I have heard that Miles Teller aka Andrew, the main character in the movie, is somewhat difficult (may obnoxious) the film is mesmerizing.
Andrew wants to be ‘one of the great’, one of the memorable scenes take place at the table, and other young men boast and are praised for their achievements, which Andrew – who is at times quite difficult and unlikeable, as when he breaks up with a girl – dismisses, one of the other men at the table plays in the third league, whereas the hero is a student at the best music teaching institution, Shaffer Conservatory of Music, in the land and he wants to have a legacy, to be remembered long into the future
It is often an overwhelming fight, Andrew explores his limitations – Harvard Professor Tal Ben Shahar http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/04/c... has a few mantras which he uses in his lectures (the most popular in the history of Harvard) and one of them is ‘learn to fail, or fail to learn’, giving the example of a very successful individual, who rises to the top, to work in an important position at the White House, only to commit suicide, when he is faced with the first crises of his life
Terence Fletcher is the professor at Shaffer who has a jazz band that represents the prestigious conservatory at competitions, he is portrayed by spectacular JK Simmons, who has won the Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, and indeed, this is a tour de force, an extremely challenging role, which combines under the same skin the monster, abuser, sadist homophobe (though now that I put this down, I wonder if the mentor is not really using all kinds of insults, just to provoke a reaction, defiance, to hurt feelings and then make the students rise to prove him dead wrong) and the winning competitor
Andrew is accepted into the band, but only to turn pages for the ‘lead drummer’, his role is limited, and he might get a chance, in an emergency, which arrives, as the pack of papers with the score is missing – I may have missed this, but I suspect that Fletcher would have taken the papers, to give Andrew a chance, without undermining his image as the obnoxious, monstrous sadist – but the he is pushed down again
The protagonist believes in himself, seems to apply the rules from The Six Pillars of Self Esteem http://realini.blogspot.com/2013/06/s... a classic of psychology by the glorious Nathaniel Branden…the musician believes in himself, he is ready to sacrifice for his goals, at stages, he is so devoted to his aspirations that he exercises his drums to the point where he is wounded, his fingers have blood, and he has to put his hands in an ice bucket to be able to continue
If we refer to another classic, Outliers http://realini.blogspot.com/2013/05/o... by Malcolm Gladwell, one of the most influential psychologists of our age, then we can see the principle advanced there in action – the author says that if people exercise, study for ten thousand hours, over a period of ten years, which means an average of three hours per day, then one is almost destined to reach the top, unless of course, one that is not in shape, hopes to break the marathon records…
We find quite a few Character Strengths in the hero, who is brave, resilient, has vitality, he shows curiosity, creativity (especially in the grand finale), wisdom, self-control, love of learning, appreciation of excellence and beauty and there is more, in so many ways this is a role model, with some caveats that have to do with his behavior – it is in fact worse than misbehavior – towards the young woman he dates…
He is the one that invites her out, and then suddenly, he gives an incredible speech, insisting on the lack of perspective, the fact that he will dedicate his time, efforts to his practice, the music, and she will be frustrated, upset that he does not give her enough, or any attention, and hence they will be unhappy and fight, which could be taken as honesty, and a correct assessment of possibilities, but shows quite a bit of insensitivity, to say the least…in fact, part of the huge appeal of this wondrous work is that we have complex characters and situations, Fletcher is a bully and abuser, but at the same time, he is one that dedicates his life to finding the future great musician, and in his way (flawed) he tries to offer ‘support’
Now for a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
February 11, 2021
Whoever is more obsessed will get there. Fletcher is pushing his students so far so that the craziest one with an extreme obsession eventually will reveal himself. It’s the drive, he is looking for that dangerous and at the end of the day self destructive drive.
"FLETCHER (CONT’D)
The truth is I don’t think people understand what it is I did at Shaffer. I wasn’t there to conduct. Any idiot can move his hands and keep people in tempo. No, it’s about pushing people beyond what’s expected of them. And I believe that is a necessity. Because without it you’re depriving the world of its next Armstrong. Its next Parker. "
And in the end...
"Andrew builds it further... Going beyond what even he’d planned for himself -- his arms like machines, the single- stroke roll building steam and power and pinning the audience in their seats... Fletcher raising his hands, beckoning Andrew forward... He and the drummer working together, player and conductor, competitor and coach... "
Beautiful film equally beautiful script. Hats off to J. K. Simmons.
"FLETCHER (CONT’D)
The truth is I don’t think people understand what it is I did at Shaffer. I wasn’t there to conduct. Any idiot can move his hands and keep people in tempo. No, it’s about pushing people beyond what’s expected of them. And I believe that is a necessity. Because without it you’re depriving the world of its next Armstrong. Its next Parker. "
And in the end...
"Andrew builds it further... Going beyond what even he’d planned for himself -- his arms like machines, the single- stroke roll building steam and power and pinning the audience in their seats... Fletcher raising his hands, beckoning Andrew forward... He and the drummer working together, player and conductor, competitor and coach... "
Beautiful film equally beautiful script. Hats off to J. K. Simmons.
September 3, 2023
I really enjoy seeing the difference between the original product and the changes, edits, and cuts that were made to reach the final product, the feature film. It's also evident how this is just a guide for the camera and actors because, although the words are here, the descriptions lack the performance and direction that turns it into a great work. But ultimately, the guide with plot points is where they should be, and it feels like something compact that happens in recording studios for the band and concerts, nothing else exists, and this makes it so focused on what it wants to convey.
March 11, 2018
The story moves at a break-neck pace, never losing its momentum nor narrative tension. The dialogue is crisp and effective and the intensity of the story is almost fantastical. I've heard before that reading a script can be hard or tiring, however with one as beautifully written as this, it's as exciting of a page-turner as any novel, if not more so.
August 28, 2024
seething and foaming rn.
this was basically same as knowing information from a book when watching its movie. chazelle includes so many stage directions and blunt character emotions and parenthetical(s) that make the growth (bad) for andrew so much more drastic and insane — it’s demolishing my brain
this was basically same as knowing information from a book when watching its movie. chazelle includes so many stage directions and blunt character emotions and parenthetical(s) that make the growth (bad) for andrew so much more drastic and insane — it’s demolishing my brain
January 29, 2024
I don’t typically log screenplays that I read, but I read this quite closely alongside the film tonight. Lots of wise decisions made in turning the script into a film. See my review on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/5I65ZL
August 12, 2019
Fast paced screenplay building up two very intense characters!
September 20, 2019
Read this script without having watched the movie. The quality of the writing, the ability of the writer to convey what he wants on the screen is... astounding.
February 18, 2020
I remember loving the movie when I saw it a few years ago, so when I happened upon the screenplay I figured why not. It was fantastic, even better than the film.
April 17, 2020
Stunning.
May 18, 2020
My favorite movie of all time :)
February 3, 2021
An amazing story about a young drummer and all the difficulties he is faced with on his way to become extraordinary in what he does!
January 13, 2023
i’m nothing if not a whore for screenplays
March 13, 2025
Writing was concise and directions were clear
Read
October 30, 2025This. Is. A. Fantastic. Movie.
September 10, 2023
*Spoiler alert*
As someone who doesn't read a whole lot of fiction, this book didn't disappoint. I saw the movie many years ago but the book is way better, as with most books turned movies. Whiplash is one of those rare gems, it's as much inspirational as it is tragic. It's also one that's worth writing a review for. At the beginning, Andrew was obsessively driven, disciplined and introverted, all the traits of an Olympic athlete in the music world. As Fletcher begins to grind away at his confidence and sanity, he withdraws further, leaving close people in his life in robotic fashion and behaving more erratically until suffering a mini-nervous breakdown. As much as we've regarded Fletcher with horror throughout the book, Andrew's ultimate achievement is that he finally impresses him and got validation that he didn't get from his family. He went as far as purposely misplacing his competing drummer’s notes to get ahead. Andrew is tragically wasting his effort on this sociopathic void of a man, but you can't help but be stirred by his superhuman effort and the need for Fletcher’s approval all the same. All the ego validation and attention that’s missing in other areas of life, he got it through drums. Unfortunately, Fletcher has really won as Andrew's ever-supportive dad and girlfriend discover when the boy they love is transformed into a self-important jerk. At the end, as the audience watches its hero furiously bang out Fletcher's perfect tempo, the teen’s spirit is also broken. Great art has been achieved, but at the total cost of his humanity. Overall a good book, intense, passionate and fat free writing by Damien Chazelle, with an ending that will totally take you of your feet.
To me, the ultimate message is some people choose greatness, while others choose happiness. Intelligence and talent can never beat wisdom in the greater scheme of things. I can't help but wonder, perhaps this doesn’t just happen in the world of art and music, perhaps Silicon Valley Syndrome does exist after all.
As someone who doesn't read a whole lot of fiction, this book didn't disappoint. I saw the movie many years ago but the book is way better, as with most books turned movies. Whiplash is one of those rare gems, it's as much inspirational as it is tragic. It's also one that's worth writing a review for. At the beginning, Andrew was obsessively driven, disciplined and introverted, all the traits of an Olympic athlete in the music world. As Fletcher begins to grind away at his confidence and sanity, he withdraws further, leaving close people in his life in robotic fashion and behaving more erratically until suffering a mini-nervous breakdown. As much as we've regarded Fletcher with horror throughout the book, Andrew's ultimate achievement is that he finally impresses him and got validation that he didn't get from his family. He went as far as purposely misplacing his competing drummer’s notes to get ahead. Andrew is tragically wasting his effort on this sociopathic void of a man, but you can't help but be stirred by his superhuman effort and the need for Fletcher’s approval all the same. All the ego validation and attention that’s missing in other areas of life, he got it through drums. Unfortunately, Fletcher has really won as Andrew's ever-supportive dad and girlfriend discover when the boy they love is transformed into a self-important jerk. At the end, as the audience watches its hero furiously bang out Fletcher's perfect tempo, the teen’s spirit is also broken. Great art has been achieved, but at the total cost of his humanity. Overall a good book, intense, passionate and fat free writing by Damien Chazelle, with an ending that will totally take you of your feet.
To me, the ultimate message is some people choose greatness, while others choose happiness. Intelligence and talent can never beat wisdom in the greater scheme of things. I can't help but wonder, perhaps this doesn’t just happen in the world of art and music, perhaps Silicon Valley Syndrome does exist after all.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews