By: Film Critic Crystal Redemann
In today’s world, where there are so many movie releases that it is hard to keep up with every film, Jake Gyllenhaal starring in Nightcrawler could be the best movie that viewers have never seen.
With a budget of only $8.5 million, which is in stark contrast to the average $139 million, the typical moviegoing audience may have had this movie slip completely under the radar, but what it lacks in advertising and special effects, it makes up for with the brilliant acting, story and cinematography.
Few big-name actors are on display in the movie; however, each character acts realistically and fully embodies the role they were given – Gyllenhaal alone steals the movie with his creepy, coyote-like appearance and his complete disregard for life. He is the image of a misanthrope, putting other lives at risk of harm for the sole purpose of becoming rich and famous off his freelance journalism. This is not Gyllenhaal acting as a sociopath; it feels completely legitimate, like watching a live display of insanity, and yet the movie paints him in such a positive light that viewers cannot help but love his character, Lou Bloom. Bloom is so eerily likable that viewers might feel unsettled after watching this movie, finding one’s self relating a little bit too much to the guy who just tampered with a crime scene.
Other actors starring in the film are: Rene Russo, known for her role in the Thor movies, Riz Ahmed, a British actor and rap artist, and Bill Paxton, most famous for his roles in Titanic and Apollo 13.
Without giving too much away, the story focuses on a young man named Lou Bloom who, like many in his generation, struggles with the economy and often takes to committing crimes in order to earn a dollar or two. This all changes when he finds out about the dangerous and high-paying life of a nightcrawler – a freelance journalist that videotapes crime scenes and submits the footage to local news stations. He pours all of his money into purchasing a camera; thus, he begins his career as he spirals down the rabbit hole, leaving all ethics behind. Bloom is a man who will do anything to be on top, such as tampering with a crime scene to make it a more “dramatic” shot, withholding evidence from investigators specifically so he can make more money over time as the news reports the story in-depth, or even putting innocent lives at risk. To quote Open Road Films, “Lou blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.”
As the story focuses on Bloom’s own “cinematography” career in journalism, the film’s use of the technique appears masterful. Not a single shot exists in the entirety of the movie where viewers feel like nothing important is being displayed – the set pieces, angles, lighting, framing, etc. All exist for a purpose that furthers the message behind the movie. One particular scene of note is near the end of the film where Bloom staring menacingly at a criminal with camera in hand, completely unafraid of any immediate danger as he takes photographic evidence of the crime. The scene is so Kubrick-esque while retaining originality, perfectly showing the skill of first-time director Dan Gilroy.
In short, Nightcrawler is easily one of the best films of 2014, and it just managed to slip under the radar of many students going to NHS, making it one of the best movies never seen. With luck, it will re-appear at the discount theater, and if not, then viewers will just have to be patient and wait for it to appear on Netflix – the movie is definitely worth the wait.
