Whiplash

Fletcher: Tell me it's not you, Elmer Fudd. [walks over to Metz] It's okay. Play. Fletcher: Do you think you're out of tune? Fletcher: What are you... there's no fucking Mars Bar down there, what are you looking at? Look up here, look at me. Do you think you're out of tune? Metz: [after a long, hesitant pause] Yes. Fletcher: [yelling] THEN WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T YOU SAY SO?!?! [calmer tone] I've carried your fat ass for too long, Metz. I'm not gonna have you cost us a competition because your mind's on a fucking Happy Meal instead of on pitch. Jackson, congratulations. You're fourth chair. Metz, why are you still sitting there? Get the fuck out! Fletcher: [to the band] For the record, Metz wasn't out of tune. You were, Erickson, but he didn't know and that's bad enough. Alright take 10, when we get back the squeaker's on.

Whiplash (2014 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Fletcher: Your parents musicians? Andrew: No. Fletcher: What do they do? Andrew: My, uh, dad's a writer. Fletcher: Oh, what's he written? Andrew: Uh, I guess he's more of a teacher, really. Fletcher: Oh. College? Andrew: Pennington High School. Fletcher: What about your mother, what does she do? Andrew: I don't know, she left when I was a baby. Fletcher: So no musicians in the family. [Andrew shakes his head] Well, you've just got to listen to the greats then. Buddy Rich, Jo Jones. You know, Charlie Parker became Bird because Jones threw a cymbal at his head. See what I'm saying? Andrew: Mm-hm. Fletcher: Listen, the key is to just relax. Don't worry about the numbers, don't worry about what the other guys are thinking. You're here for a reason. You believe that, right? Andrew: Yeah. Fletcher: Say it. Andrew: I'm here for a reason. Fletcher: Cool. All right, man. Have fun.

Whiplash (2014 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Fletcher: Why do you suppose I just hurled a chair at your head, Neiman? Andrew: I... I don't know. Fletcher: Sure you do. Andrew: The tempo. Fletcher: Were you rushing or were you dragging? Andrew: I don't know. Fletcher: Start counting. Andrew: Five, six-- Fletcher: In four, damn it! Look at me. Andrew: One, two, three, four-- [Fletcher slaps him] ...One, two, three, four-- [slap] ...One, two, three... Fletcher: Now, was I rushing or was I dragging? Andrew: I don't know. Fletcher: Count again. Andrew: One, two, three, four-- [slap] ...One, two, three, four-- [slap] ...One, two, three... Fletcher: Rushing or dragging? Andrew: Rushing. Fletcher: So you do know the difference! If you deliberately sabotage my band, I will fuck you like a pig. Now are you a rusher, or are you a dragger, or are you gonna be ON MY FUCKING TIME?! Andrew: I'm gonna be on your time. Fletcher: [points to sheet music] What does that say? Andrew: Quarter note equals 215. Fletcher: Count me a 215. Andrew: One, two

Whiplash (2014 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Carl: I need to look at the music. Andrew: Oh yeah, it's right here. [He turns around to realize the folder is not where he left it] Carl: Why isn't it on you? Andrew: [Confused] Where's the folder? Carl: You're joking, right? Andrew: I- no- no, I literal- no, I s- I swear I just had it here two seconds ago- Carl: I don't know- Andrew: It's gotta be around here somewhere. Did you see- Carl: [Angry] How could you be so fucking stupid? Andrew: I don't know, maybe a janitor came by or something- Carl: A janitor? [Desperate] FIND THE FUCKING FOLDER! A FUCKING JANITOR?! YOU'RE A DUMB FUCK! A DUMB FUCK! FIND THE FOLDER! Andrew: I'm sorry- Fletcher: Jesus fucking Christ, where have you been? Carl: We have an issue. Fletcher: Okay, now is not the time. Carl: I gave Neiman the folder and Neiman lost it. Fletcher: Neiman lost it? Carl: Yes. Fletcher: The folder is your fucking responsibility, Tanner. Why would you give it to Neiman? Right? You give a calculator to a fucking retard he's gonna try

Whiplash (2014 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Uncle Frank: You got any friends, Andy? Andrew: No. Uncle Frank: Oh, why's that? Andrew: I don't know, I just never really saw the use. Uncle Frank: Well, who are you going to play with otherwise? Lennon and McCartney, they were school buddies, am I right? Andrew: Charlie Parker didn't know anybody 'til Jo Jones threw a cymbal at his head. Uncle Frank: So that's your idea of success, huh? Andrew: I think being the greatest musician of the 20th century is anybody's idea of success. Jim: Dying broke and drunk and full of heroin at the age of 34 is not exactly my idea of success. Andrew: I'd rather die drunk, broke at 34 and have people at a dinner table talk about me than live to be rich and sober at 90 and nobody remembered who I was. Uncle Frank: Ah, but your friends will remember you, that's the point. Andrew: None of us were friends with Charlie Parker. That's the point. Uncle Frank: Travis and Dustin? They have plenty of friends and plenty of purpose. Andrew: I'm sure they'll make g

Whiplash (2014 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Andrew: I'm just gonna lay it out there. This is why I don't think we should be together. And I've thought about it a lot and this is what's gonna happen. I'm gonna keep pursuing what I'm pursuing. And because I'm doing that, it's gonna take up more and more of my time. And I'm not gonna be able to spend as much time with you. And when I do spend time with you, I'm gonna be thinking about drumming. And I'm gonna be thinking about jazz music, my charts, all that. And because of that, you're gonna start to resent me. And you're gonna tell me to ease up on the drumming, spend more time with you because you're not feeling important. And I'm not gonna be able to do that. And really, I'm gonna start to resent you for even asking me to stop drumming. And we're just gonna start to hate each other. And it's gonna get very... It's gonna be ugly. And so for those reasons, I'd rather just, you know, break it off clean... because I wanna be great. Nicole: And you're not? Andrew: I wanna be one of t

Whiplash (2014 film), CC BY-SA 4.0