Art is pain! Or something like that.

Rating: 9/10 (7 January 2017)

Nightcrawler is a film about seeking for media attention gone too far. Up-to-date subject, yes. The production value is good too: the movie is very beautifully shot and what one sees on the screen, pleases one's eyes. A well-shot film it also should be, after all the movie is mostly about filming anyways...
However, no matter how beautiful Nightcrawler looks, it cannot hide the fact that the story is very ugly, almost repulsive. The main character Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a sociopath for whom empathy towards human life seems to be totally beyond comprehension. He doesn't care if people lose their lives, he just wants to get them on the film. Actually he wants people to die so he could film them. The truth, however, is revealed to the viewer only gradually. Many signs fit to the diagnosis of psychopathy, though. I mean, Louis can be a very slim, clever and charming person when he wants to. He can also lie to anyone with a perfect poker face. This pretty much reminds me of another psychopath main character in film, Patrick Bateman (American Psycho).
As the film progresses, the viewer sees Louis' progression from a courageous-seeming self-made-man to a psychopath with no boundaries. For me, this made the watching increasingly harder simply because I started to feel more and more scorn towards Louis. I guess that is a good sign, most likely I possess some sort of morale. This must also be the objective of the filmmakers and I must say that the film is truly impressive, it left its mark on me.
I was very much sucked into the events of the film and for all the credibility and immersion I must thank the film crew. Nightcrawler is made very well and Jake Gyllenhaal delivers his role magnificently (he didn't even get an Oscar nomination?!). Also his counterpart, the main character's employee Rick (Riz Ahmed) is a big part of the film. Rick is, well, maybe a little pathetic and failed in life but he still has that morale and suspicion that the viewer wants to hear said out loud. He is the voice of reason. Too bad that his boss is too crazy to hear him. All the same, I love these two characters and how their performances complement each other.
Once the viewer is done with the movie, he/she is probably quite anguished. This movie is dark and intense. At this point, some people may decide that they don't like the film because it "didn't make them happy" or something like that. Think again, my friend! I think a good movie makes a difference and IS provoking. Nightcrawler is a stand- out piece.
9/10