Nightcrawler Review

So I finally got to see Nightcrawler

SPOILER FREE

Let me start off by saying I am a fan of Jake Gyllenhaal. I think he produces a solid trackrecord of films and churns out strong performances in them such as October Sky, Donnie Darko, The Day After Tomorrow, Jarhead, Brokeback Mountain, Zodiac, Rendition, Brothers, Love and Other Drugs, The Source Code, End of Watch, and Prisoners. As you can see, his body of work is very impressive and he's got the acting chops to back it up. I also really like Rene Russo, enjoying her work in Lethal Weapon series, Ransom, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Outbreak. The combination of these two with a solid script equals a quality film in my eyes. Going into Nightcrawler, I expected nothing less than that and in the end I got just that.

The plot for Nightcrawler deals with Lou Bloom, a driven man played by Gyllenhaal whose desperate for work, finds himself in the world of L.A. crime journalism. Here he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. Aiding him in his efforts is Nina, a TV-news veteran played by Rene Russo. The plot is solid enough to where it allows the movie to be exciting and thought provoking posing some very ethical questions. Examples are what would you do if you were in Gyllenhaals shoes if you had an opportunity to record a story or be apart of one for career advancement. His character is well aware of the power he holds on the news station because he is able to capture footage of crimes no one else can, and uses that to his advantage. Right off the bat, you can tell his character is off and that's further proven when he tries to make passes at his much older boss. The two strongest aspects of this film is are the performances from Gyllenhaal and Russo, and the script. The directing from Dan Gilroy, gives the film a slick atmosphere, allowing for plenty of nightly scenes and dark atmospheres in newsrooms or restaurants. What holds your attention with this film is the synopsis, and the wondering of what Lou is gonna do next. The suspense with his character continuously builds up until the shocking climax. He is such an interesting character that you find yourself wondering what his motives are ultimately. It is the performance of Gyllenhaal that makes this one thrilling and restless. You are captivated by his character and at times on the edge of your seat. Add with that the visual style of the film and a script that allows deep thought provoking questions, and Nightcrawler is one of the more intelligent films of the fall season. Here's hoping that Jake Gyllenhaal receives some Oscar nominated love come this award ceremony.

                                                                                                                                                    8/10