Long before there was "fake news" there were odious newsmen...

Rating: 7/10 (18 February 2020)

Jake Gyllenhaal is superbly charismatic and worryingly plausible in this story about a failed con man who discovers there is a living to be made from tapping into police communications and then getting to the scene of the crimes to film and sell on the incidents to the constantly avaricious news organisations. He finds one such character in Rene Russo, the editor of an under-performing news channel. Together they form a relationship that fuels both of their almost psychopathic needs for attention and success, with little regard for the truth - indeed he soon loses perspective between reacting to crimes and starts to create opportunity. Riz Ahmed is good, too, as his sidekick. It's a bit on the long side, but sharply directed.