Whiplash

This clip is from the movie Whiplash which won Best Film Editing.

In this clip, we see the protagonist, Andrew, practising his drumming. Andrew literally brings to life the phrase "blood sweat and tears"as he pours his heart and soul into his drumming. This is conveyed through a range of aspects varying from cinematography, sound and editing.

In terms of cinematography, the camera repeatedly zooms in to a close up shot of Andrews hands as they begin to bleed from the intensity of his drumming.This highlights the physical price that he must pay in order to reach perfection. He is slowly damaging himself as he obsesses with the idea of perfection. As his hands keep bleeding, the quick cuts and close-ups make it feel like the situation is reaching a breaking point. His performance becomes both a victory and a loss, showing how the desire for greatness comes at a heavy cost. There are many close ups of his face as he pushes himself to drum at an immense speed. It's clear that he is suffering throughout this performance however his passion for perfection overrides this pain. Instead of stopping, Andrew continues to conceal and mask his pain by putting plasters on. The extreme close up of his bleeding hand forces us to focus on the dark side of success and how trying to reach perfection can have a massive impact on your well-being.

There is a fast paced montage of Andrew drumming. The fast pace creates a very tense atmosphere and builds up tension as we anticipate a breaking point to be reached. As he begins to drum with such speed at the end of the scene, the pace is slowed. The shot is in slow motion as we see the plaster rip of his hand and blood drips onto the drums. This forces us to realise the sheer intensity and physical toll that his body endures as a part of his quest for perfection.The editing cuts between Andrew's hands, face, the blood on his drumsticks. This creates a lot of tension and disorientation and makes the audience wonder if Andrew will give up or keep going. 

The sound in this scene demonstrates how focused Andrew is. While his hands bleed, the drums sound quieter, as if he's blocking everything out except music.The quiet moments, when the drums are almost gone, build tension, making the loud music that follows feel even more intense. There is an intense lingering sound in the background of the scene. Andrews drumming is diegetic sound and is extremely fast paced, keeping us on edge.

In the room where Andrew is drumming, the lighting is harsh and almost clinical. The spotlight is placed on Andrew and emphasises how lone he his during his practice. This scene is dimly lit emphasising the sense of exhaustion and relentlessness. Dim lighting helps create a mood of fatigue and desperation, reflecting Andrew's physical and mental state as he pushes himself to the limit.  This environment emphasises the gruelling, isolated nature of Andrew’s journey. The walls are bare, and the lighting is harsh, often casting shadows that suggest an oppressive atmosphere. The room feels almost clinical, like a space where Andrew is subjected to relentless testing, similar to a soldier in boot camp or an athlete in intense training. In the scene, the practice room becomes a battleground. The narrow, cramped space makes the audience feel Andrew’s claustrophobia and the crushing pressure of having to perform at such a high level.

Andrews facial expressions effectively portray the pain that he feels, we see his face in repeated medium close ups.The drums themselves are central props, representing Andrew's obsession with achieving perfection. The way he plays them—often with frenzied, aggressive energy—symbolises the violence he’s willing to inflict on himself in his quest for greatness. The drumsticks are the tools which Andrew expresses himself and seeks validation. They are also the tools which harm him. The drumsticks are present in most scenes of his suffering, usually when Andrew is in pain from overplaying or bleeding. When his hands are bloodied, the sticks act as instruments of self-inflicted punishment.

His sheet music almost acts as a pathway, a guide, a map that leads him to success. The only way that Andrew views success is in his efforts to perfect his drumming, he ignores everything around him, his health and well being. This is further seen when he  goes on to break up with his girlfriend as he believes it is interfering with his drumming. No human could ever live up to the feelings and passion he holds towards drumming.