A connection between Whiplash and Lala Land



It's been more than three years since these movies came out and I really just need to talk about these two movies in particular: Whiplash(2014) and Lala Land(2016).
The amazing connection between the movie Whiplash and Lala land was that in the movie Whiplash, J.K. Simmons (The bald guy), was a die-hard jazz musician who would go through any lengths to ensure that his protegees would become extremely successful; with the movie culminating in this final scene in which Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) snaps and plays "Caravan"; finally facing off against his abusive mentor, Terrence Fletcher. The movie ends with the both of them reconciling and giving off perhaps the best Drums-Jazz performance ever played.
Andrew Neiman (Left - Played by Miles Teller) and Terrence Fletcher (Right - J.K Simmons) face off in the final scene of Whiplash (2014)
In Lala Land, J.K Simmons' character (unnamed) in the film hated jazz -- Not just hated it: He hated it with a passion, going as far as firing Sebastian (played by Ryan Gosling) heartlessly on a Christmas day when he disobeyed his orders and played Jazz.
J.K. Simmons and Ryan Gosling's Christmas scene in the movie "La La Land"
And perhaps this might be a breaking the fourth wall moment, but during the time, Whiplash had been a notable success in the film industry, and J.K Simmon's iconic character is now perhaps attributed to someone who was a die hard Jazz fan.
Anyone who had watched Whiplash would be surprised at how the two movies seemed to work together to create alternating personas of the characters played by J.K Simmons in both movies.
But here's a fun fact: DAMIEN CHAZELLE DIRECTED BOTH MOVIES!
In what seemed like an easter egg for the movie "Whiplash" Damien managed to connect these two movies as if they were in one universe all along!
What's even more amazing was that Terrence Fletcher (The character that J.K. Simmons played in the movie whiplash) and the boss in Lala land had the same mannerisms and personality! In the movie Lala land, Simmons' character isn't even assigned a name.
A fan theory was floated around then that both Whiplash and La La Land happened in the same universe! The theory goes like this: After getting fired from his job at the School, Jazz left a bad taste for Terrence Fletcher, causing him to hate Jazz and move to Hollywood where he started a restaurant -- where he eventually fired Sebastian (Ryan Gosling).
It may be a theory, but if it's true then it certainly would be mind blowing! Check both movies yourself and see the weirdly perfect connection between the two.

Whiplash ending scene:

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