Whiplash

Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, the 2014 psychological drama film Whiplash follows the life of the enthusiastic music and jazz student, Andrew Neiman, essayed by Teller, who longs to make a name for his own and leave a legacy to the world. He joins a music school where he meets his hardheaded instructor, Terence Fletcher, essayed by Simmons, who stops at nothing to harness a student’s potential. He quickly learns his mentor’s methods are somewhat untraditional and tries to navigate his life to protect his sanity. The film’s cast includes Miles Teller, J. K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Paul Reiser, Austin Stowell, Nate Lang, and Michael D. Cohen, among many others. The film won 3 Oscars and received critical acclaim.