Whiplash

Parents need to know that although Whiplash is a coming-of-age movie of sorts, it's also a searing, powerful, and -- for younger viewers -- possibly disturbing portrait of a talented young man under the tutelage of a brilliant but seemingly heartless mentor. The older man is smart and almost always right about his advice, but his tactics are brutal, from cruel name-calling (which involves tons of swearing, including "s--t," "f--k," a flurry of homophobic insults, and much more) to relentless nitpicking in his quest for perfection. Other issues to be aware of: There's a massive car accident that causes injuries, a student's suicide is mentioned, and the main character, Andrew, is so involved in his drumming that he literally draws blood. Clearly he's focused, and he works hard to achieve his goals, which is a strong example for teens -- just remind them not to lose themselves in the pursuit of perfection.