Compelling portrait of a vile character

Rating: 7/10 (6 April 2017)

Version I saw: UK cinema release
Actors: 7/10
Plot/script: 7/10
Photography/visual style: 7/10
Music/score: 6/10
Overall: 7/10
I don't think there has been another cinema character in recent years as repugnant as Louis Bloom, as played by Jake Gyllenhaal. His brilliant acting, the screenplay, even the sickly, naturalistic lighting and score, seem tailor-made to vividly illustrate a complete wrong 'un.
He is at the centre of a fairly nuanced story of news media corruption. The message appears not to be about the evil media corrupting a man, or a man corrupting the innocent media, but perhaps the media set-up being dangerously receptive to any monstrous practitioners who might turn up.
There is a great deal to appreciate here, with good work in all areas, but I have to say, I came away feeling somewhat soiled, and can't say I 'enjoyed' the film.