Grade: 96/100
The line between what is ethically wrong and what is illegal is something a journalist occasionally encounters in his or her work.
Jake Gyllenhaal’s character in his latest film “Nightcrawler” disregards this line completely and, throughout the film, builds a sadistic monster that delivers deliciously appealing video for a local Los Angeles news station.
Gyllenhaal’s impeccable performance gives a unnervingly realistic angle to the depiction of a man who is truly insane.
Tampering with crime scenes, purposely inciting murder and sex extortion are but a few of the terrible things Louis Bloom (Gyllenhaal) in the pursuit of professional success.
Writer and director Dan Gilroy’s incredibly realistic filming approach places the audience within each scene as though they were eyewitnesses to Bloom’s heinous crimes.
Gyllenhaal flawlessly displays the terrifying result of loneliness, boredom and intellectual genius. Bloom’s character presents arguments and rationalizations in such a logical way that he constantly escapes the heavy hand of the law and escalates his video work to an almost statewide level, as opposed to the local graveyard airtime it usually illuminated.
Probably the most horrifying aspect of Bloom’s personality is how oddly likeable he is, and that only a couple of people know his true self and his dark intentions.
“Nightcrawler” is also an interesting view inside the everyday routine of a small, local news station, and depicts a dark representation of how some broadcast media outlets operate. To the station’s editors, the need for sensational content and jaw dropping video almost justifies the means of which Bloom has gathered his clips.
The only aspect of this film that is slightly exaggerated is the short time period that Bloom acquires so much wealth. After about two months into his career, the video journalist is seen driving brand new sports car carrying the thousands of dollars worth of equipment he has purchased for his midnight escapades.
While Gyllenhaal clearly steals the most of the attention in his meticulously detailed acting style, the film is packed with notable supporting roles including that of Bill Paxton and Rene Russo.
Riz Ahmed as Bloom’s poor, basically homeless filming assistant, Rick, complements Gyllenhaal’s intensely neurotic personality and provides a more lovable character in an otherwise shark-infested business.