An Oscar worthy performance in a thrilling plot.

Rating: 10/10 (27 June 2018)

There are a lot of elements to consider when categorising a movie as perfect. This movie is personally what I think to be one of the most original, well shot and directed, and of course well acted films I've ever seen. On my first watch I had no idea what I was getting into, and by the point of climax I was left astounded. There's not much to be said without giving away a lot of the movie so this'll have to be kept brief in terms of plot.
It has to be said that Jake Gyllenhaal gives an Oscar worthy performance in this film, and it's so very tempting to give the film a rating of 10 for this alone. His character is portrayed with so much ambition, desperation, assertion, I could go on. He is literally gripping in this movie and I'm now persistent in watching him in previous and forthcoming roles. His character is the sole foundation of the plot and many of the themes and morals derive from himself. Riz Ahmed should also not go unmentioned due to an exceptional supporting role. I sometimes felt like his character somewhat serves as a vessel for the audience, which I noticed when seeing his reactions to events and actions caused by others throughout the story.
Like I said the story is one of the most original I've ever seen, and so interesting. The film constantly has you guessing who the protagonist and antagonist are, which I find is smart. You're also always wondering how far certain characters will go to achieve their goals, the extreme decisions made certainly live up to the thriller theme of the film. The way characters behave throughout the story actually remind me of Bryan Cranston's portrayal of Walter White in Breaking Bad. The way the line of morality and villainy are crossed is excellently depicted. While the plot moves forward, each chapter is bigger than the last giving a true sense of escalation, and giving you a reason to stick around till the end.
This movie wouldn't be complete without it's character's playground that is nighttime Los Angeles in all its darkness. I mean that physically and metaphorically. This is definitely a dark film, and the director perfectly captures that through violent crime, and the corrupted news stations that report it. The darkness works in favour of the tone of the film, and gives it a noir like feel which is a nice touch. Another cool thing I took away from the movie was an insight into the industry of cameramen and how assertive they have to be in that line of business in order to not only tell a story, but to earn a living.
Nightcrawler to me is a great example of a flawless movie. It isn't action packed and not every scene is suspenseful, though thanks to such Oscar worthy acting and greatly written dialogue the film never feels slow or boring. The film is insightful and interesting yet retains it's noir, crime and thriller aspects which all work in harmony. The characters feel real and grounded, and any interaction main star Jake Gyllenhaal has with anyone is captivating. If you're looking for a small scale film with a character driven plot and many great qualities, then Nightcrawler is a perfect candidate.