'Do you know what fear stands for? False Evidence Appearing Real'

Rating: 10/10 (16 February 2015)

Dan Gilroy both write and directed this very disturbing yet very successful film. The story is so close to reality (paparazzi, manufactured crime stories that blast out on the 11 PM news to give us nightmares, shady reportage, the extents to which some people will go for money and fame, etc) that at first the story is painful to watch unfold, but the performances by every actor in the film are so credible and exact and memorable that the film deserves to be high on the list of awards.
When Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal in a brilliant performance), a driven man desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. Aiding him in his effort is Nina (Rene Russo), a TV-news veteran and his 'hired intern' Rick (Riz Ahmed, in a career making performance). Lou is a guy who's a thief and hustler. He wants to do something else only thing no one wants to give him a chance. One day he witnesses an accident and while the CHP helps the driver, some men (Bill Paxton) show up and record the whole thing. He learns that they intend to sell the footage to a TV news program. So Bloom decides to get into it. He starts small. Eventually the station where he sells his footage to, is impressed with him. Later he comes across a murder and gets there before the police do and records the dead bodies. But he also manages to get the killers on tape but doesn't give it. Instead he intends to wait till he can call the police and record them being arrested. But it doesn't exactly work out that way.
The cinematography by Robert Elswit, the musical score by James Newton Howard, and the brilliant direction by Gilroy coupled with the tremendous cast make this hard to swallow film a winner on every level. Grady Harp, February 15