DISCLAIMER: This is going to be a different kind of post – filled with links and videos that you may or may not want to view…but let’s try it, shall we?
Whiplash was one of those movies that I was like, sure I’ll go see it, whatever. It’s an art film, so I know short-attention Stefi might have a problem with it. But I gotta say, this movie is fantastic in its subtly and pacing, and all around greatness. And the score doesn’t hurt either.
I heard about this movie way back in the Sundance Film Festival days, when this wonderkid who had been writing horrific horror scripts just to pay the bills decided to make a short. Well, actually, he had written the feature movie, but he needed financing, so he shot 18 minutes of the feature so he could shop it around. Little did he know that he would stir controversy and pit the Writer’s Guild against the Academy a year later…but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Read this for the story of the beginnings of Whiplash (it looks long but it reads fast…even short-attention span me got through it easily) – and then come back to the blog…
How a 20-something shot in 19 days
Don’t you want to say, “Fucking overachievers!!” while secretly marveling at their sheer genius? To have that kind of passion for something…it’s incredible and inspiring and – ugh – just no words. I wish I had that kind of passion again. I used to! But alas, life gets in the way. Oh, to be twenty again…but I digress…
Now, watch this – (and then come back to the blog) – this one’s 10 minutes, and has many scenes from the movie…but it’s the interview’s that are my favorite. I love hearing from actors. It’s always entertaining…
And today – Oscar noms are out and here is where the fun part of this movie come into play. Not only is J.K. Simmons nominated for an Oscar – but Damien Chazelle is up for ADAPTED SCREENPLAY…even though it’s an original screenplay….say what?! – yeah, that’s what I thought too…so I do what I always do – and googled. Found this article that explains it in detail…
Academy and WGA at odds Whiplash
…but here’s the gist: Because he made a short to find funding (and shopped that short around the film festivals, where it won mad prizes), the feature film is considered an adaptation, therefore, the script is an adaption of the original screenplay that he wrote…I know, confusing. But interesting. One of those things that can only happen in Hollywood.
All this post is really saying is – go see this movie. It’s slow and deliberate. It’s suspenseful and will make you cringe. It’s got a great jazz score and it’s just one of those movies that – while not “blockbuster entertaining” – will leave you thinking about it eons after you’ve seen it.
For once, the critics got it write (see what I did there?). Whiplash is the underdog of the Oscars, and I hope it wins every single one of its five nominations.
