Nightcrawler – Psycho shooting, but with cameras

Rating: 9/10 (16 November 2014)

Quickie Review:
Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) while desperate for work crosses upon the world of crime-scene journalism. Finally finding his talent in the nightcrawling business, Lou is driven to rise to the top. On his path to success he makes questionable decisions and commit acts of crime just to aid his rise to fame. This is by far the best performance in Jake Gyllenhaal's career and one of the best of the year. You will not see the actor because you are so captivated by the character. Nightcrawler is suspenseful, brilliantly acted, well- structured, and gripping. Experiencing this man's psychotic nature unfold should not be missed.
Full Review:
When I first saw the trailer for Nightcrawler, I wasn't really sure what to think. Trailer didn't reveal too much but it seemed like it would at least be a suspenseful movie. Also I was surprised to see Gyllenhaal's change in look. However, I was glad to find out that the transformation went beyond the physical appearance.
Gyllenhaal disappeared into the role completely, fully embodied the character of Lou Bloom. There are moments where Lou is actually quite charming, then all of sudden he becomes terrifying and intimidating. He plays that drastic switching in personality really well, it feels like a very natural transition despite its abruptness. Even though he is committing crimes for capturing the perfect crime scene footage for news, you are somehow still rooting for him at times. It is strange how you will see him as both the antagonist and the protagonist, and I think the vastly different personalities of the character helped a lot in making that effective.
To me there is nothing scarier than a crazy person who doesn't think he/she is crazy, because at that point there no moral line to hold them back. You get to see that lack of morality throughout the movie. It is more obvious in the footage capture of the crimes and accidents, but more interestingly it is also present in the way Lou interacts with rest of the cast. These were some my favorite parts of the movie. It is completely apparent that he will do and say whatever is needed to get what he wants. This when the supporting cast excelled, because they mirrored how the audience felt. They, like the viewers, know how manipulative Lou is being and yet they still want to believe him and trust him. So even a conversation between two people was just as intense and enticing as a high speed road chase with the cops.
I am certain this will be one of the top movies I will remember for 2014. It has stuck with me even after I left the cinema. It's a shame that it's only out on limited release (at least in EU), so it's not accessible for everyone. But if you have chance, go to the theater and support this movie, if you can't then don't miss it when it's release for home video.
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