Nightcrawler Review

Jake Gyllenhaal brings some serious crazy in his new flick Nightcrawler directed and written by Dan Gilroy.

Gyllenhaal plays the creepy loner Louis Bloom, an ambitious man who is desperate for success and isn’t afraid to work hard.

The film begins with Lou robbing a construction site, and he proceeds to sell the goods along with a cheesy pitch for a job. However he is unsuccessful as the boss isn’t interested in ‘hiring a thief’. When it looks like all is lost Lou has a ‘light bulb’ moment after discovering that there’s good money to be made filming Los Angeles’ car accidents and crime. In TV news Blood sells!

Lou embarks on a new career as a freelance video crime journalist with a cheap camera, police scanner and his intern, a homeless man named Rick played by Riz Ahmed.

His pursuit of perfection takes us on a dark journey which sees Lou puppeteer some macabre news footage, with no remorse and little social awareness of the consequences of his actions.

Lou’s obsessive nature is exasperated by the lack of morality of news boss Nina, excellently portrayed by Rene Russo, whose desire for ratings makes the pair a deadly combination.

Early on it’s clear that all is not quite right with Lou. His overly false smiles and polite conversation are all a little too rehearsed, he unravels to be a cool, calm and collected psychopath that will do anything to film a ‘good’ story. Like other loner film protagonists, we the viewer watch him sink deeper into his obsession, like Robin Williams in One Hour Photo, or Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle in Taxis Driver.

Gyllenhaal is great a Lou, and you find yourself mesmerised by his inability to ‘feel’ for the subjects he films. One of the most disturbing things about Lou is he keeps he cool throughout and we only really see him lose control once, despite his questionable behaviour.

Overall the film keeps you hooked and Gyllenhaal is great a looney Lou, but it does lack the the type of intensity needed for it to be a new modern classic. Nightcrawler is an enjoyable watch which provokes further discussion after viewing.

The film questions the morality of the TV News. Their L.A crime coverage ‘shock and awe’ style satisfies the blood lust of the editors, and indeed the viewers. It also has a strong message around capitalist society, with Lou’s desire to succeed no matter who gets in his way.

A thrilling ride that glimpses into a macabre world that is both creepy and addictive.

Nightcrawler is out in NZ cinemas now.

Reviewed by Ingrid Grenar

4 stars -

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