La La Landis one of Damien Chazelle’s most acclaimed works, and a wild theory connects it to another one ofChazelle’s best moviesthrough one actor. Damien Chazelle made his directorial debut in 2009 with the romantic musicalGuy and Madeline on a Park Bench, and though it was a critical success, he got worldwide recognition in 2014 forWhiplash. This psychological drama was a critical and commercial success and gave Chazelle his first Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Chazelle’s next project was the musical rom-comLa La Land, also written by him and starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.La La Landwas also a critical and commercial success and gave Chazelle his first Oscar for Best Direction. Although he has made more movies since then,WhiplashandLa La Landcontinue to be Chazelle’s best works, and despite their differences, some viewers have found some similarities between them – and through one actor they have in common, a theory has linkedLa La LandandWhiplash.
La La Land And Whiplash Take Place In The Same Universe – Theory Explained
Maybe Fletcher Found A New Lifestyle
A theory shared onRedditsuggestsWhiplashandLa La Landtake place in the same universe thanks to J. K. Simmons’ charactersin each movie. Simmons starred inWhiplashas Terence Fletcher, a jazz instructor and the conductor of the Shaffer Conservatory Studio Band. When jazz drummer and Shaffer student Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) is recruited by Fletcher to play in the Studio ensemble, he quickly finds out that, although initially encouraging, Fletcher is aggressively strict, and goes as far as to be verbally and physically abusive to his students.
Despite this, Neiman becomes determined to impress Fletcher and pushes himself beyond his own limits to achieve it. Fletcher is eventually fired from Shaffer due to his abusive behavior and methods, and atthe end ofWhiplash, Neiman and Fletcher have one final confrontation on stage, though not a physical one this time. Chazelle and Simmons reunited inLa La Landtwo years later, where Simmons played Bill.
Is Whiplash Based On A True Story? Damien Chazelle’s Real Inspirations Explained
The 2014 movie Whiplash stars Miles Teller as an aspiring drummer and J.K. Simmons as his ruthless teacher. What was the inspiration for the film?
La La Landfollows jazz musician Sebastian (Gosling) and actress Mia (Stone), who fall in love while continuing to pursue their dreams in Los Angeles – Sebastian wants to have his own jazz club, while Mia wants to succeed as an actress. Bill is the manager of the restaurant Sebastian works at and who ends up firing him. The theory, then, saysFletcher and Bill are the same person, withLa La Landtaking place some time after the events ofWhiplash. According to the author of the theory, following his firing, Fletcher moves to Los Angeles and becomes the manager of the restaurant.
Fletcher/Bill now also has a dislike toward jazz after Neiman almost ruined his career.
Fletcher continues his passion for music and jazz at the restaurant, but when Sebastian doesn’t follow his rules of playing a specific setlist,Fletcher remembers his days at Shaffer and, fitting with his undying perfectionism, decides to fire Sebastian. Fletcher/Bill now also has a dislike toward jazz after Neiman almost ruined his career, so it’s yet another reason for him to get rid of Sebastian.
The Problems With La La Land And Whiplash Taking Place In The Same Universe
It’s Not Fitting With Fletcher
While the theory is a fun way to connect Chazelle’s best movies, and there are some basic similarities between Fletcher and Bill, it doesn’t make sense thanks toWhiplash. Fletcher is abusive, that’s undeniable, but he’s also very passionate about music and jazz. Bill doesn’t have that same passion, and saying that Fletcher stopped liking jazz after what happened with Neiman doesn’t fit the character.
At the end ofWhiplash, after getting his revenge on Neiman on stage, Neiman returns to the stage, cuts Fletcher’s introduction to the next song and leads the band into playing something else. Neiman then goes into an improvised solo, and Fletcher, impressed with what he just did, nods in approval.Neiman proves himself to Fletcher and the latter brings the best out of Neiman, so he really can’t have reasons to hate jazz, and especially not because of Neiman.
La La Land Is A Great Companion To Whiplash (Despite How Different They Are)
Two Very Different Musical Experiences
J. K. Simmons’ characters inWhiplashandLa La Landaren’t connected and there’s nothing that can suggest these movies are part of the same universe, but they are still a great double feature. WhileWhiplashis a psychological drama (with Fletcher being one of the most terrifying villains of the decade) andLa La Landis a more lighthearted but still dramatic musical,they are connected by their characters’ love for music.WhiplashandLa La Landoffer two very different musical experiences, withWhiplashbeing one rooted in trauma and obsession, andLa La Landbeing rooted in romantic love.
La La Land Ending Explained (In Detail)
La La Land’s ending is an emotional conclusion to Damien Chazelle’s musical, bringing a fitting (if surprising) close to Mia and Sebastian’s romance.
In just two movies,Damien Chazelle showed two very different sides to music and where love for it can lead– one is a destructive path, while the other is a more optimistic but still potentially heartbreaking path.WhiplashandLa La Landare great companions to each other, but they don’t belong to the same universe.
Source:Reddit.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a drama that delves into the intense relationship between a young jazz drummer and his ruthless music instructor, exploring themes of ambition, perfectionism, and the costs of success.
La La Land
La La Land follows aspiring actress Mia and jazz musician Sebastian in Los Angeles, portrayed by Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. As they pursue their dreams amidst a series of auditions and gigs, their love story is tested by the pressures of ambition and success in the entertainment industry.
