Nightcrawler, 2014
Written and directed by Dan Gilroy
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, Riz Ahmed
SYNOPSIS:
When Lou Bloom, a driven man desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. Aiding him in his effort is Nina, a TV-news veteran.
Dan Gilroy’s directorial debut Nightcrawler was a movie that topped various ‘best of’ lists in 2014, and wasn’t too far behind if it didn’t take first place. And quite deservedly so. Nightcrawler is a visceral and thrilling film with a phenomenal central performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, a man who is etching himself as one of the finest actors of our generation. It’s not without its flaws, but there is a reason why Nightcralwer was loved by many.
Gyllenhaal plays Lou Bloom, a man who believes in the American dream and will stop at nothing to get it. He is a man who wants to work. He wants to take that first step on the corporate ladder so that he can climb his way to the top rung by rung. Sadly, he’s unable to find that work or be given a chance. That is until he discovers the world of nightcrawling, cameramen who film footage of accidents and crime which they sell to the TV news studio that makes them the biggest offer. Armed with a rubbish camera he bought from a second hand store, Lou Bloom has a new goal in life – and will stop at nothing to get it.
The art of nightcrawling is a topic that has not been tackled by many movies which is really one of Nightcrawler‘s biggest strengths. Because we see the movie through the eyes of Bloom, we learn about this world just as he does. His first encounter with veteran of the game Bill Paxton provides us with the groundwork of what the job entails and then an eavesdropping listen on a dealing between a nightcrawler and a studio provides Bloom with the knowledge of how to make his money. It’s not a script that sits its audience down to explain every detail, nor does to expect its audience to accept that Bloom would nail this job on his first try. He makes mistakes, and he learns from them, which allows the audience to see what this world is really like.
To that end, Gilroy’s direction is near-flawless. LA at night is a place many don’t see as they’re tucked up in bed, but Gilroy shoots this city majestically and makes it feel alive. He knows how to frame each shot to get the most from it and holds the same majestic vision whether its a conversation between Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo or a thrilling car chase. Many first time filmmakers often make the mistake of taking on too much, but for Gilroy that’s not an issue. There is a scene of a news broadcasting of a horrific crime, and we see it from the control room with Russo directing traffic which is sublime. It’s the other side of the mirror that we don’t often see, but Gilroy delivers it perfectly.
But even with a great script and near-perfect direction, Nightcrawler needed a performance from its leading actor otherwise it could have all fallen apart. Thankfully, Gyllenhaal is on at the very top of his game. Having impressed back in 2001 with Donnie Darko, Gyllenhaal has always been a talent worth watching, but his recent turns in the last few years have shown that he is an actor who can take on any role and deliver a five star performance. As Lou Bloom, he encapsulates that mad eyed stare, off-kilter demeanour and threatening presence, even when he is incredibly calm. His character is fascinating. He’s a man who has read books and Internet articles on how to succeed in the working world but has never put any of it into practice. He talks the talk and now this is chance to walk the walk – which Gyllenhaal sells perfectly without the script having to stop and explain his actions. The supporting cast all do impeccable jobs too with Rene Russo’s tired news producer being perhaps the best of the bunch, but that’s not to discredit Bill Paxton (who is always great) or British actor Riz Ahmed, who is superb as Bloom’s intern Rik.
The film has a couple of issues however, which have been overlooked by many due to all the positives previously mentioned. Firstly, Nightcrawler has a couple big plot holes regarding the police procedural work within Los Angeles. In one sequence, Bloom moves the corpse of a hit and run victim as it will make his shot better, but none of the police involved seemed to pick up on this fact – despite it being quite clear to any forensics investigator that the body had been moved post-mortem. In another scene, Bloom sabotages a competitor’s vehicle to make his work more valuable, but this is again never looked into by the police. It just seems baffling in a script that it so meticulous with its story that these snafus were overlooked. Furthermore, Bloom is the sort of character that could talk his way out of these situations, so it’s not like he would have been caught. Secondly, Nightcrawler is a touch predictable which often detracts from the impact of its moments. Certain aspects of its story are telegraphed quite clearly, which again seems odd in a script this good.
Neither of those points however take away the fact that Nightcrawler is an exceptional film. A lot of first time filmmakers can only dream of putting together something this good, and this is a flick that has put Dan Gilroy on a map. Ignoring his publicly hypocritical stance on comic book movies, Gilroy is on the rise in this industry and his next work will be watched with great interest. Gyllenhaal once again proves he is a force to be reckoned with and it’s always wonderful to see Russo and Paxton shine in supporting roles. While not the masterpiece some are claiming, Nightcrawler is a fantastic film and well worth your time.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Luke Owen is the Deputy Editor of Flickering Myth and the host of the Flickering Myth Podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @LukeWritesStuff.
