Excellent Gyllenhaal Performance, Okay Movie.

Rating: 7/10 (7 November 2014)

Lou Bloom will inspire you to look deeper inside of yourself and reach a little higher for the goals in your life. He is a committed lifetime learner, quick to catch on, neat, and organized man with a quiet, calm demeanor. Bloom maintains a high attention to detail and always carries himself in a professional manner, yet has a dark side hidden beneath it all, almost like an update of Patrick Batman, the American Psycho. After realizing his new career aspirations as a "Nightcrawler" he uses his resourcefulness and skills as a master of manipulation to start up his own company, hire an employee, and get to the top of the game, but not without riding a line of what is moral versus what is "legal."
The concept and plot line of the movie were very interesting, but not executed in the best way. Jake Gyllenhaal's portrayal of Louis Bloom was convincing and, in my opinion, a job well done, but I did not think this was the case for most of the other actors. They didn't seem quite authentic, almost as if you could tell that they were acting, making it all come across as a little forced. I expected Lou Bloom to be a much more disturbed and tormented character, but they only scratched the surface. The audience knew there was a monster hiding inside of him but never really saw it come out in full force. The creature only emerged showing its teeth a few times, with the biggest being the memorable looking in the mirror scene. I think they should have delved deeper into his character showing more of his psychotic maniacal side, personal life, and background, as it would have helped to reinforce his actions in the main plot of the movie. The music of the film struck me as odd and distracting. It is something I usually don't notice in a film that much, but it was a strange choice and did not fit the tone or go with what was happening. A good score should add to the emotions that are being played out on screen and set the tone as well as the scenery and lighting are supposed to.
Overall, I thought the film was just descent. If it was not for Gyllenhaal's performance I would have rated it sub-par. Would I say that this is a "must see"? No. Would I say that you shouldn't waste your money or time? No. It is an interesting story that takes you through a non typical scenario that I don't think you will regret.