MovieChat Forums > Whiplash (2014) Discussion > would've been better without the slappin...

would've been better without the slapping...

posted 3 years ago by filmgeek99 (617)
6 replies | jump to latest

At that point, the character of Fletcher becomes undeniably abusive and irredeemable. If the film just showed him pushing the students really hard while never once laying a finger on them, it would've made for a far more complex and morally grey film. If they didn't show him physically abusing Andrew or purposely setting him up to fail at the end, there could've been stronger debates on both sides as to whether Fletcher was an asshole or not.

As is, Fletcher is undeniably a villain, which takes away much of the ambiguity Chazelle intended.

Who's with me?

[–] Moonglum9 (10831) 3 years ago

I am. This scene is just gratuitous violence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKRhxvmtass

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

It's funny, but the only South Park I've watched and loved, at all, is the Bigger, Longer and Uncut movie, and I couldn't care less if I never ever see one more second of anything else in the franchise. Ever.

[–] filmgeek99 (617) 9 months ago

bump

[–] JFZ (1459) 9 months ago

yea but it worked.

[–] hitfan (216) 8 months ago

I liked the film and I liked the concepts that it explored regarding the price of success, but the slapping was not realistic. Such behavior would have been deemed a fireable offense as soon as word got out. I even found the loud screaming would take me out of the movie. That being said, I was more entertained than not.

I agree that a more subdued Fletcher would have made him a far more interesting villain. He already has the power to give prominent positions that his students are competing for.

At the other end of the spectrum, think of Nurse Ratchet in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" in terms of what a nuanced and effective villain/antagonist is like.

[–] liscarkat (17042) 7 months ago

This movie is ridiculous. This isn't how people become musicians.