A lead actor so off-putting, yet mesmerizing

Rating: 8/10 (13 March 2015)

There are good performances from others in the cast of "Nightcrawler" (Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed and Bill Paxton), but this is Jake Gyllenhaal's show, without a doubt. His character is all platitudes and fake corporate speak, and his gaunt appearance really ratchets the creep levels. But it's his shrewd opportunism as a DIY one-man camera crew - not just in strong arming the news outlet to buy his footage, but also beating the police to a murder suspect - where he devolves into a sociopath. Indeed, this might just be the most unlikable character I've seen from him. Its sheer menace hidden beneath awkward social graces that makes this guy so riveting. The whole movie, for that matter, which maintains its high levels of watchability even in the quiet moments.
I imagine the ending will turn off many, but it's a delightfully absurd way to go out.
8/10