Miles Teller plays an ambitious jazz drummer pushed to his limits by an abusive instructor, Terence Fletcher, portrayed by J.K. Simmons, in which 2014 psychological drama?

The 2014 psychological drama where Miles Teller plays an ambitious jazz drummer pushed to his limits by an abusive instructor, Terence Fletcher, portrayed by J.K. Simmons, is "Whiplash (Review)." The film centers on Andrew Neiman, a nineteen-year-old jazz drummer attending the prestigious Shaffer Conservatory in New York City, who dreams of becoming one of the greats. His ambition catches the eye of Terence Fletcher, the conductor of the conservatory's top jazz ensemble, known for his terrifying and relentless teaching methods.

Fletcher's abuse, both verbal and physical, pushes Andrew to extreme lengths, leading him to practice until his hands bleed and isolating him from his personal life in his obsessive pursuit of musical perfection. The film explores themes of ambition, dedication, and the cost of greatness, raising questions about whether Fletcher's cruel methods are justified in forging a legendary artist. J.K. Simmons's performance as Fletcher earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, among numerous other accolades, for his chilling portrayal of the tyrannical instructor.

"Whiplash" was written and directed by Damien Chazelle, drawing inspiration from his own experiences as a drummer in a highly competitive high school jazz band. Chazelle aimed to capture the intense dread and anxiety he felt during those years, though he notes that his own teacher was "a little less of a monster" than Fletcher. The film initially began as an 18-minute short that garnered acclaim at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, which helped secure funding for the feature-length production. Despite its intense and polished final product, the movie was filmed in a remarkably short period, taking only 19 to 24 days to shoot. Miles Teller performed much of his own drumming, enduring blisters and even bleeding during the rigorous filming process.