I got 40 minutes into this movie before coming to the sad realization that there would be no teleportation being done by our title character. Fortunately the film is all the better for it.
Nightcrawler follows the workings of Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal)- a socially awkward nobody who has plans of achieving the American dream by any means necessary- as he works his way up the social ladder doing work as a stringer/Nightcrawler, filming accidents and crime scenes at night and selling the footage to news station so as it can make the morning news.
During his work as a stringer he comes across the scoop of a lifetime that could really put him on the map in the news media business. He sticks to this story as he knows it is his ticket to living his dreams, but as he gets closer and closer to his goal he begins to feel less and less human as his sociopathic tendencies start to take over.
Writing/Directing
The film is written and directed by Dan Gilroy who is known for writing other films such as 'Real Steel' and 'The Bourne Legacy'. His writing style is very smooth with a sometimes dark and satirical edge. I couldn't help but be reminded of 'American Psycho' whilst watching the movie and particularly Gyllenhaal as he plays this very professional and slick business sort of person but who just simply doesn't quite grasp fully human interaction leading to some rather uncomfortable, detached (in a good way) and sometimes quite hilarious scenes of dialogue between him and the other characters in the film.
This is actually Gilroy's directorial debut, which you wouldn't pick up on from watching it. He takes you on a beautifully stylized and very memorable tour of the Los Angeles landscape as you race through red lights and charge through the suburban backstreets with Lou and his assistant Rick (Riz Ahmed) looking for stories to cover. You rarely see a movie directed with this level of understanding and deliberation of where the plot is, where it needs to get to and the exact way in which it will get to that point, even from many veteran directors this level of control is rarely a sensation you get to experience. You feel as though you are in good hands, and that is the best way to feel in any movie.
NB: This movie has one of the best car chase sequences I've ever seen. Cardiac arrest sort of excitement.
Characters/Acting
The Characters in 'Nightcrawler' epitomize the dark LA nightlife that the writing and directing set up, showing just how desperate, dark, and disturbing people can really get to whilst still keeping a smile on their face and a twinkle in their eye.
Gyllenhaal leads this Cavalry (in the best performance of his career) with his chilling yet lovable portrayal of Lou, a character you just can't help but root for no matter how questionable his actions are.
He is contrasted in the film with his assistant Rick, Played by Riz Ahmed, who you tend to see as a disloyal employee who isn't 'in it to win it' simply because he isn't able to be as detached emotionally whilst working as Lou and therefore his emotions and morals get in his way. Which should be a good thing but you feel like it isn't in the movie. I'm telling you, it messes with your brain... in the best way.
Similarly, the character of Nina played by Rene Russo is intent on getting the best rating for her news channel and she knows the most effective way of doing this is using scare tactics. It is only when her chief editor Frank, played by Kevin Rahm, intervenes and gives perspective on what she is doing that you realize it is morally wrong. But who needs morals when you've got money?
The whole cast does a stellar job on-screen, being lead by Gyllenhaal and Russo. The overall performances become even more impressive once you realize also that the rest of the characters are less likeable for a reason, in order to glorify our leads even more.The Verdict
Nightcrawler is a truly remarkable film, not only because of the amazing performances supported by an equally impressive screenplay, but also because of it is the directorial debut of Dan Gilroy and it is in fact one of the best directed films of 2014 with some of the best live action choreography in years. This is a must see.
Rating: 9.5/10
Great review, Jesse. I agree entirely. I love that this film happily runs against the idea that characters need to change over the course of a narrative. Bloom doesn't change in the slightest, but the film becomes all the more addictive and sadistically pleasurable as a consequence. This will no doubt become one of those classics which not enough people will see (See: Sorcerer (1977)) and will only fill the conversations of film enthusiasts who reflect on the awesomeness that 2014 brought to us. Either way, good work on the review.
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