Excellent Look at Sociopathy

Rating: 8/10 (15 March 2015)

One of the better movies of 2014, Dan Gilroys "NightCrawler" succeeds nicely. It is fairly simple linear story bolstered by strong direction, a superior performance by Jake Gyllanthal, and great supporting acting from Rene Russo, Rick Garcia, and Bill Paxton. At the core, the writing for Gyllanthal slimy character is superb. It paints a pathetic, base, immoral, and mentally ill sociopath bent at nothing to gain money and power. We've seen these kinds of stories before where a character will stop at nothing to attain something he or she desires. Indeed the storyline is retrodden, but Gyllanthal and Director/Writer Gilroy have hit their marks so well, that the cliché doesn't matter. Gyllanthals' ultra polite verbosity and rapid fire cadence are dead on and worth the watch. Renee Russo's news director's character is layered and sympathetic, Bill Paxon lends a newsy chipper demeanor as a competitor. The movie had solid camera work and music to add. It stretches believability sometimes but is nonetheless a great watch. 8/10