Making it's way through the murky world of L.A. free lance crime journalism, Nightcrawler sets its stylish lens on Louis Bloom (Jake Gyl...
Making it's way through the murky world of L.A. free lance crime journalism, Nightcrawler sets its stylish lens on Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a down on his luck nobody who believes he is destined for bigger and better things, and is fully intent on achieving them no matter what the cost. When he stumbles onto a car accident, he glimpses the world of 'nightcrawlers', free lance film crews who stalk the night capturing the aftermath of violent accidents or crimes (the more gruesome, the better), selling the footage to the highest bidder. Acquiring a video camera and police scanner, Louis jumps into this seedy business with both feet, finding his lack of a moral code helps him to no end.
Terrifyingly gaunt, with a emotionless mask for a face, Gyllenhaal owns the role of Louis Bloom. He is an absolute morally bankrupt monster, cold, articulate, and endlessly manipulative. We shouldn't feel for him, but Gyllenhaal makes the role utterly compelling, and you find yourself completely wrapped up in his world. Numerous character traits, from tying his hair up whenever he does something not entirely above board (in retrospect, he should have had his hair tied up for the entire movie) or his soft spoken manner of speaking, just add to a fantastically rounded character, one Gyllenhaal seems completely lost in. Any of his other roles wash from your memory as soon as he opens his mouth. He is surrounded by a fantastic supporting cast, including Rene Russo as the morning news director for a struggling t.v. channel and Riz Ahmed as Blooms intern, who seem as morally dubious as Bloom. In fact, just mere contact with our 'hero' seems to warp these characters, his confidence and charisma almost infecting them, Russo's Nina especially, who Louis expertly manipulates as the story moves forward.
Writer/director Dan Gilroy delivers a visual masterpiece, sickening neon filling almost every frame. The scenes of Louis on the job can be sickening at times, no punches pulled when it comes to documenting the gruesomeness that makes up his bread and butter. It moves forward at a fantastic pace, and the story is so full of twists and turns, that the audiences will be kept rapt as Louis' twisted world is explored in uneasy detail. It's not an easy watch by any means, but it's an utterly compelling one that is not afraid to tell the story it wants to tell.
With an amazing lead performance form Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler is a dark and totally entertaining must see ride.
Terrifyingly gaunt, with a emotionless mask for a face, Gyllenhaal owns the role of Louis Bloom. He is an absolute morally bankrupt monster, cold, articulate, and endlessly manipulative. We shouldn't feel for him, but Gyllenhaal makes the role utterly compelling, and you find yourself completely wrapped up in his world. Numerous character traits, from tying his hair up whenever he does something not entirely above board (in retrospect, he should have had his hair tied up for the entire movie) or his soft spoken manner of speaking, just add to a fantastically rounded character, one Gyllenhaal seems completely lost in. Any of his other roles wash from your memory as soon as he opens his mouth. He is surrounded by a fantastic supporting cast, including Rene Russo as the morning news director for a struggling t.v. channel and Riz Ahmed as Blooms intern, who seem as morally dubious as Bloom. In fact, just mere contact with our 'hero' seems to warp these characters, his confidence and charisma almost infecting them, Russo's Nina especially, who Louis expertly manipulates as the story moves forward.
Writer/director Dan Gilroy delivers a visual masterpiece, sickening neon filling almost every frame. The scenes of Louis on the job can be sickening at times, no punches pulled when it comes to documenting the gruesomeness that makes up his bread and butter. It moves forward at a fantastic pace, and the story is so full of twists and turns, that the audiences will be kept rapt as Louis' twisted world is explored in uneasy detail. It's not an easy watch by any means, but it's an utterly compelling one that is not afraid to tell the story it wants to tell.
With an amazing lead performance form Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler is a dark and totally entertaining must see ride.