2014 has been a fascinating year for Jake Gyllenhaal. His first movie of 2014 was a head trip of a film called Enemy that got to me so much that I couldn’t figure out how to write a review for it. It’s a film that warrants a second viewing and that’s exactly what I could say for his second film of 2014, Nightcrawler. Written by Dan Gilroy, who also makes his debut as a director, this film is a tense crime thriller that, while not confusing in any way, is a brilliant thriller that audiences should eat up if they’re looking for something devious in their lives.
In Nightcrawler, Jake Gyllenhaal plays Louis Bloom, a middle aged guy looking to fulfill his potential, attempting to find a career should someone give him the opportunity to pursue one. He earns money by stealing and selling scrap metal until and learns everything he knows via the internet. One day, on his drive home, he sees an accident and watches a few guys record the incident on video and sell it to a news station. Enthralled by how easy it looked and how much he enjoyed it, Louis decides to buy a camera and pursue his career in freelance crime journalism. Though at first an amateur with poor equipment, Louis is able to get great shots that producers are looking for and eventually hires an assistant to help him grow. Louis is very ambitious, particular, honest, serious, creepily-smart and is willing to do whatever it takes to put himself in a better position which leads to some interesting encounters.
How far will you go to achieve your goals and succeed in life? When you get to the end of the film that’s the question you’d expect to hear from Louis Bloom. Giving a dynamic, dynamite and intensely creepy performance, Jake Gyllenhaal is mesmerizing in Nightcrawler, delivering one of my favorite performances of the year. You can’t take your eyes off him and you can’t stop listening to what he says because while it’s potentially bullshit it could also be very relevant, should you miss something there’s a chance he’ll give you a disappointed look and it’s look you don’t want to get. Everything is a matter-of-fact even if it sounds like a joke, that’s what makes his character intriguing, nail-biting and disturbing. There’s always something going on in his head, there’s an endgame with another endgame in mind and you never seem to know when that final one will arrive or how it will all end up.
On paper, Nightcrawler sounds decent. For all you know it could very well be the regular news version of that 2004 thriller Paparazzi, but rest assured that is not the case. Rather than explain, all I ask is that you watch the trailer and tell me it doesn’t look like a good flick (embedded below). Almost everything about this movie is awesome and people compare it to Network (which I haven’t seen). It’s captivating, it drags you to the edge of your seat, its original but, most importantly, Gilroy has done a terrific job finding the perfect lead for his film. The directing, the camerawork, the score, pacing and writing is all solid, but this film rests on the lead’s shoulders and it’s because of Gyllenhaal that this film was elevated from good to damn terrific.
Outside of a few little acting miscues from the supporting cast, I absolutely loved this movie. There’s a good chance Nightcrawler will land on my Top 10 of 2014 list and, if not, it’ll surely be an honorable mention. Dan Gilroy’s film is the type of thriller I’ve been waiting a long time to see and features a performance that should be recognized but will likely be overlooked come awards time. It’s a smart and completely enthralling film yet it has the ability to make you want to re-watch it again right after you finish it and, for me, that’s the sign of a film with staying power.
Rating: An excellent, captivating and creepy thriller that’s bound to make a lasting impression (8.8/10)
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