A Story Without a Hero

Rating: 8/10 (7 March 2015)

Monomyth be damned! Who needs a hero when a villain's journey is as compelling.
Jake Gyllenhaal, as Lou Bloom, portrays a sociopath with a survival instinct in high gear. He has the wits and intelligence to carry him through. After going through multiple trades (well, only one is shown in the movie, but I am assuming Lou does try his hands at multiple career choices) he finds his calling in free-lance journalism. With raking in the money and uplifting his business high on the agenda, and ethics pretty low down, we are set up for a drama, which is unexpected, and dark.
This movie is unique in the sense that it really doesn't have a hero. Lou Bloom, make no mistake, is a villain. He is compellingly played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Not much back story is given about Lou Bloom. I have so many questions on how did Lou Bloom end up being the bad guy he becomes? Troubled childhood? Abusive Father? You know, the usual suspects. But not all stories can be told in 2 hours. So we make do with ones that are told. And the one told here, the present of Lou Bloom, is a gripping tale.
While Jake Gyllenhaal steals the show with his stellar portrayal of Lou Bloom, the real star of the movie is the fantastic dialogue. Lou Bloom spews venom and menace without uttering a single swear word. His negotiations will make your blood curl, and you wouldn't want to be across the table from him, when he has the leverage. You wouldn't want to be his coworker, or boss, or competition, and certainly not his employee.
The movie is paced pretty well, with not a dull moment in between. At times it feels hurried, because some plot points are glossed over, but nothing that wrecks the story. The climax is fantastic because of it's sheer uniqueness... it has the bad guy chasing the cops! When did you ever see that. Some might complain, that the story did not end. But you have to understand that in this movie, there is no hero who ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder. Therefore, there is no decisive victory to be had. But the tale, nonetheless, is captivating.