‘Whiplash’ With Bill Simmons and Sean Fennessey
February 21, 2023 · Whiplash (2014) · Drama · Music · 1:34:25
Categories
Hall of Fame Plaque
Bill SimmonsAgrees on Chazelle being the first person mentioned from the under-40 generation of directors, along with Coogler as the standout talents▶ 20:33
Sean FennesseyJ.K. Simmons achieving cultural recognition - going from mostly unknown but appreciated actor to winning every award, and Damien Chazelle being recognized as one of the most virtuosic under-40 American filmmakers▶ 19:04
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsThe opening scene - 'all of a sudden, he's just banging the drums. There's JK. Now the camera's going back and forth and we're off'▶ 41:44
Bill SimmonsFletcher gets rid of the Happy Meal kid scene - the 'rushing or dragging' sequence▶ 44:12
Bill SimmonsThe dinner scene where Andrew argues with his family about Charlie Parker vs. his football-playing cousins▶ 47:01
Sean FennesseyAgrees with the opening and supports the 'rushing or dragging' scene as iconic, noting it's what gets parodied and quoted most▶ 45:47
Great Shot Gordo Award
Bill SimmonsMultiple shots: opening scene, bloody hand in ice water, and the ending with cross-cutting between drumming and JK Simmons getting excited▶ 1:11:09
Sean FennesseySeries of reaction shots showing faces and insert shots of drum details, describing it as 'a movie of faces'▶ 1:11:31
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsMissing a scene between the main character and his girlfriend to establish their connection, though likes both actors▶ 1:12:02
Sean FennesseyThe mean-spirited insults aging poorly in modern context, and criticisms about jazz accuracy being misplaced▶ 1:13:04
Is There a Better Title?
Bill SimmonsNo - likes 'Whiplash' because of the double/triple meaning, though mentions 'Caravan' as a possibility▶ 1:16:46
Sean Fennessey'Drummed Out' - though acknowledges it might be too obvious about what the movie is about▶ 1:16:52
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsMoisa Benoist must hate Emma Stone because Emma Stone keeps taking roles that were supposed to be hers▶ 1:18:09
Sean FennesseyWhiplash is still by far Chazelle's best movie and is better than La La Land despite La La Land's greater success▶ 1:18:19
Overacting Award
Bill SimmonsChris Mulkey — Mentions Happy Meal Kid and Chris Mulkey as possibilities for overacting▶ 1:19:08
Sean FennesseyChris Mulkey — Acknowledges it's tough because the movie is about overdoing it, provides background on Chris Mulkey's other roles▶ 1:19:03
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsDamien Chazelle — Tower hasn't had Apex Mountain yet but will have something bigger coming. Chazelle's is La La Land.▶ 1:21:34
Sean FennesseyTom Cruise — Tower's Apex Mountain is probably Maverick for now, but he'll have a bigger moment. Chazelle's is La La Land.▶ 1:22:01
Racehorse Name Award
Bill SimmonsSuggested multiple options: Caravan, Happy Meal, Pick and Nits, and noted that all jazz titles work as racehorse names▶ 1:23:52
Best Double Feature
Bill SimmonsTár — Mentions Tar as obvious but grueling choice, suggests Officer and a Gentleman as good combo for different eras▶ 1:30:15
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsDamien Chazelle — Agrees with Chazelle pick, noting he emerges as a major director and acknowledges 'we got one'▶ 1:31:44
Sean FennesseyDamien Chazelle — Damien Chazelle - calls it the ultimate calling card movie that put him on the map as one of the big directors in Hollywood▶ 1:31:37
Movies Referenced (50)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La La Land (2016) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 21:59 |
| Boyhood (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 23:13 |
| Babylon (2022) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:24 |
| Boogie Nights (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 26:57 |
| First Blood (1982) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 48:36 |
| Juno (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 7:28 |
| American Sniper (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 23:10 |
| Divergent (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 31:25 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 29:42 |
| Project X (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 5:14 |
| Spider-Man (2002) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 7:19 |
| Taxi Driver (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 21:55 |
Directors Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Reitman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Up in the Air, Thank You for Smoking | ▶ 7:27 |
| Paul Bellany | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Stardust | ▶ 24:33 |
| Sidney Lumet | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | 12 Angry Men | ▶ 48:58 |
| Taylor Hackford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 57:04 | |
| Todd Field | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Tár, Little Children | ▶ 1:08:08 |
| Wes Anderson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Royal Tenenbaums, Isle of Dogs | ▶ 24:06 |
Actors Referenced (79)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles Teller | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 25 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Whiplash | ▶ 5:19 |
| J.K. Simmons | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Whiplash, Juno, La La Land | ▶ 2:21 |
| Charlie Parker | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 47:34 | |
| Paul Reiser | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Aliens, Whiplash | ▶ 58:27 |
| Buddy Rich | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Whiplash | ▶ 14:22 |
| Diane Keaton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Annie Hall, Something's Gotta Give | ▶ 24:23 |
| Al Pacino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather | ▶ 3:51 |
| Bradley Cooper | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | A Star Is Born, Silver Linings Playbook, American Sniper | ▶ 20:03 |
| Chris Mulkey | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Captain Phillips | ▶ 48:20 |
| Chris Schillinger | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 5:08 | |
| Connie Britton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 18:05 | |
| Ethan Hawke | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Training Day, Before Sunrise, Before Midnight | ▶ 23:41 |
Writers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damien Chazelle | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 41 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Whiplash, La La Land, First Man | ▶ 2:34 |
| Justin Hurwitz | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | La La Land, First Man, Whiplash | ▶ 1:09:11 |
| Kurt Warner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 6:00 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons | The Other Guys | ▶ 3:22 |