Rudderless

Rudderless is a 2014 American musical drama film which was the directorial debut of William H. Macy, and stars Billy Crudup, Anton Yelchin, Felicity Huffman, Selena Gomez and Laurence Fishburne. The film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2014. The film was released in theaters and through video-on-demand beginning October 17, 2014. Plot Josh Manning (Miles Heizer) is a college student recording his own songs in his dorm room, but gets interrupted by one of his floor mates. He stops recording, annoyed at the interruption. Meanwhile, his father, Sam Manning (Billy Crudup), has succeeded in landing a large account at his advertising firm, and calls Josh to celebrate with him. Josh tells him he cannot make it but his father insists. Sam continues to wait at a bar for Josh, who has apparently stood him up, but becomes distracted by a news report of a school shooting incident at Josh's college. Later, a memorial wake is held at Josh's home by his mother and Sam's ex-wife, Emily (Felicity Huffman). It is inferred that Josh was one of the victims in the shooting, and media coverage of the shooting is Sam to have a difficult time grieving. At the memorial, Sam is then confronted by Kate Lucas (Selena Gomez), who tells Sam that she and Josh had been dating the year prior. Afterwards, Sam goes home and finds the media coverage is interfering with his daily life, and he eventually succumbs to alcoholism. Due to Sam's erratic behavior, his employer advises him to take time off to better cope with the situation.