Mise-en-Scene of Whiplash (2014)

 

Welcome back bloggers! In this post, I will be analyzing the mise-en-scene in the movie Whiplash (2014) based off of a few key scenes! 

 

Scene 1: Fletcher and Neiman meeting for the first time 

 

 

Scene 2: Whiplash Rehearsal  

 

Scene 3: Family Dinner 

 

 

Scene 4: Fletcher’s Piano Performance 

 

Scene 5: Caravan Final Performance 

 

    Whiplash is one of the best examples of mise-en-scene being used effectively. To begin, the actor element is the single biggest contributor to the mood of the film. The dynamic between Simmons' authoritarian portrayal of Fletcher and Teller's transformative portrayal of Neiman is a big reason as to why their characters are so well-developed. The element of costume is best shown in the scene where Fletcher and Neiman meet for the first time, where Fletcher’s all-black outfit gives him a dominating presence. Fletcher dresses like this for most of the movie, except for his piano performance where he finally wears a light blue shirt. This specific scene makes use of costume well because it’s right after Fletcher lost his instructor job, making viewers think he has changed his ways. The location element is best shown in the final scene, which takes place in Carnegie Theater, NYC. This adds to the climatic tension since Neiman is now playing in front of a real crowd as a musician, not a student.

One of the best examples of setting is back in the practice room scene, where Neiman is practicing in an empty room when Fletcher walks in. The room’s blankness establishes a clear mentor-mentee relationship between Fletcher and Neiman that remains in place until the end of the film. This same scene also makes excellent use of scenery and props in how the room is designed. The dim lighting combined with the dark green hue gives a tense atmosphere before Neiman is shown. The atmosphere is intensified with the only visible prop in the scene being a drum kit, symbolizing Neiman’s laser focus on his passion before we learn anything about him. This scene already made great use of lighting, but in my opinion the family dinner scene uses it even better. Everyone’s faces at the table except Neiman’s are either fully or partially lit by a light source, while Neiman seems to only be lit by background sources. This contributes to the scene’s plot, where Neiman’s family members put him down for his musical passion and brag about their own accomplishments. Finally, the rehearsal scene is a great example of framing contributing to the mood of the film. Fletcher is at the front of the camera, while Neiman is in the back partially blocked off by the rest of the band. This portrays Neiman as insignificant compared to the rest of the band and emphasizes his beginner status at this point in the film.