Nightcrawler

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, Riz Ahmed, Michael Papajohn, Ann Cusack
Directed by: Dan Gilroy
Rating: R
Genre: Thriller
2014

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A man (Jake Gyllenhaal) enters the world of filming crimes in Los Angeles. His ambition leads him to blend the line between legal and illegal actions

Review:

Tim: While I thought Nightcrawler looked interesting, I have to say I'm surprised by how much I liked this film. The fact that Dan Gilroy was making his directorial debut with this movie didn't give me a ton of confidence. Despite some obvious challenges, Gilroy and the team surpassed my expectations, delivering a truly great movie. This film has its flaws, but it's easily one of the most unforgettable films of 2014.

I really liked this look into the world of L.A. stringers- those crime journalists who race to the scene of a crime or accident to capture gruesome footage to sell to local news stations. While I think the film pushed the boundaries of realism a bit, it was a wonderfully damning look at the culture of blood, violence, and sensationalism that pervades local newscasts. I loved the look into this world. The story was fascinating and thought-provoking.

While those pieces were in place, the performance of Jake Gyllenhaal is what truly sets this movie apart. I've always been a fan of Gyllenhaal, but have been blown away by his choices as of late. If he continues to take on these meaty, challenging roles, he could end up one of the all time greats. His portrayal of Louis Bloom is nothing short of mesmerizing. I couldn't tear my eyes off him in this film. He delivers this unhinged, insane performance packaged in a mostly polite, clearly intelligent person. Bloom has certain admirable qualities- he's well-read, persistent, and a hard worker. However, he has something broken inside of him, below the surface. I've never met anyone quite like Bloom, but I'm met people with serious issues that quite frankly, scared me. I felt that same level of unease watching Gyllenhaal as this morally bankrupt, sick person with something completely unhinged in his psyche. This is one of the most chilling, disturbing performances I've seen, because this isn't an over-the-top psycho. Bloom is like many people in this world- on the surface, harmless enough. However, there is this inner turmoil that can lead to devastating actions. It's an unforgettable, unsettling performance. I was really disappointed Gyllenhaal didn't receive an Academy Award nomination (the only nomination was Best Original Screenplay). He deserved one.

Rene Russo added in a good supporting performance. I've always been a fan of her and wished she appeared in movies more. She's a talented actress and does good work here. I also love Bill Paxton. I really appreciated his presence here, although I do wish he had a bit more to do. Riz Ahmed was a great addition, too. He's not a big name, but he delivered a powerful performance.

There were a number of tremendous moments throughout the film. Gilroy did a good job of maintaining a high level of quality throughout the film, holding our attention firmly. There were just these moments that stand out to me- the broken mirror scene, the incredibly awkward proposition scene between Gyllenhaal and Russo, a few just jaw-dropping creepy mentoring moments from Gyllenhaal, the shocking and horrible climax. These were powerful moments that elevated this film above the average.

Nightcrawler isn't a feel good movie. It's unsettling, challenging, occasionally horrific. It's a movie that you will not soon forget. While the Academy mostly overlooked this film, I think that was a huge oversight. This is easily one of the best films of the year.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



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