Fast paced, thrilling and well done! Nightcrawler is a surprise!

Rating: 9/10 (18 December 2014)

The story behind the footage branded with the warning: "What you are about to see is extremely graphic, viewer discretion is advised." Nightcrawler is a surprise of a film. Though not a narrative demanded by audiences, it is a compelling and fast-paced film that commands your undivided attention and viewership.
Lou Bloom is a hustler, a driven man eager to make his mark while making a living through a career. He muscles his way into being a Los Angeles freelancer filming the horrific crimes that make up the evening local news. Inspired by the prospect of forging forward in life, Lou crosses the line of morality and past the role of bystander.
Dan Gilroy perfectly captures the abhorrent and callously detached nature of LA local news through his direction and writing of Nightcrawler. People watch local broadcasts to gain information about their neighborhood, be it education, transportation or politics. Instead they are bombarded with story after story of local crimes that are sensationalized, blatantly fabricated, misinformed and embellished. "If it bleeds, it leads," states one character.
Gilroy writes a unique character in Lou Bloom, burying soundbite observations of the world in his dialogue, that comes to life through Jake Gyllenhaal. Jake Gyllenhaal physically transforms into the eager vulture-like Lou Bloom. Bloom is a fast-talker, he is self taught, he is smart, and he is willing to cross the morality line to make a name for himself. Had Bloom been portrayed by any other actor he would have been a dislikeable punk. Gyllenhaal brings a fierce light within him to the role and the viewer can't help but feel Bloom is just playing the hand he was dealt.
There is nothing bad about Nightcrawler. The notable original score by James Newton Howard is complementary and eerie and quite frankly a surprise he wasn't recognized by the Globes. The film itself is dramatic, it is engaging, it is original and it is well shot, an extraordinary feat for Gilroy's directorial debut. Even as the plot builds toward the interesting and unexpected climax, there is never a lull.
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