Rapid Review: Nightcrawler (2014)

“What if my problem wasn’t that I don’t understand people but that I don’t like them?”
– Lou Bloom

SYNOPSIS: NIGHTCRAWLER is a thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a driven young man desperate for work who discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling – where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by Rene Russo as Nina, a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news, Lou blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. – via IMDB

I was so stoked about finally getting to see this. I have been itching for it and reading spans of rave reviews, and I think Jake Gyllenhaal is awesome and can certainly carry a film, so Nightcrawler was totally bound to be my scene. I thought it was a really good character study. Lou Bloom was one seriously reprehensible toolbag, and had absolutely no endearing qualities to him. The story progresses slowly, but knows exactly where it is going, so every scene has a part to play in what is to happen, as well as his character development. Gyllenhaal’s performance was absolutely amazing, and he (scarily) made Lou Bloom his own. The rest of the supporting cast was great, they all brought their parts to the table and drew you in. As I said, this is a slow burn that catches, though you sort of still expect some more action and what not to come up later on. The camera work was really good, and the pacing was decent, too. Nightcrawler looked lovely, and kept you wondering all the way through. It is like you know what he is bound to start doing, because morals don’t mean much to him, yet it is still a thrill to see how Lou starts changing the game. I liked Rick’s character, and while I wish he got more screen time, I knew that this movie was Gyllenhaal’s show. He plays an awful character and carries the movie, and you listen to him, though you don’t necessarily side with him or agree with him – his portrayal rivets you and disgusts you. Listening to his frame of mind, either with his insane discussions with himself or his creepy discussions with those around him give you a look into a real polluted and different mind – a mind with no qualms. Nightcrawler certainly has a lot going for it, and it is an interesting movie to check out, no doubt.