Film Review: “Nightcrawler”

Dan Gilroy makes his directorial debut with Nightcrawler, which he also penned, starring Jake Gyllenhaal. A gripping psychological thriller, Nightcrawler follows Louis Bloom (Gyllenhall), a persistent young man eager to break into the world of L.A. crime journalism. Having first screened on the Toronto International Film Festival, Nightcrawler claims a Halloween release date, a fitting day for this twisted insight into the mind of sociopath.

Louis Bloom seems like everyone else. He's handsome, well-read, driven, generally a normal guy trying to make money where he can. Louis scrapes up cash here and there. He commits a string of petty burglaries in lieu of a steady job. When he happens upon a car accident on the interstate Louis discovers his passion: the whirl of excitement, the flutter of suspense and the thrill of crime reporting in the heart of Los Angeles. He decides to buy a video camera and police scanner and throw himself into the action. It takes time for him to get on his feet but soon he shoves his way to the head of the pack, beating even the police to the crime scenes. Louis is highly motivated and tenacious, but he does have flaws. He's a high-functioning sociopath highly skilled in manipulation. He lacks empathy and a sense of right and wrong. Pretty much, he drags dead bodies across asphalt so his shot will be more balanced. He “charms” his pseudo-coworker Nina, played by Rene Russo, and establishes an exclusive relationship with her news station. His footage is the best because he goes to insurmountable lengths to get it, filming crimes as they happen and withholding evidence from the police in order to break the story first. His obsession with power and recognition would become too much for most people, but not Louis. Nightcrawler is a journey into the mind of a sociopath and the cutthroat nature of success.

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Louis speaks matter-of-factly. Often the things he says seem prepared or as if they're being read off out of a self-help book for aspiring entrepreneurs. He mentions that he spends a lot of time on his computer, researching all kinds of things. It only makes his character more convincing. His interactions with others are well-rehearsed and calculated. He uses others to his own benefit, to the extreme, threatening and blackmailing with a subtle charm that convinces you that there's no choice. He clearly doesn't feel regret or form any real connections with other characters.

Gyllenhaal's performance is by far the most riveting aspect of this movie. He balances the characteristics of a sociopath so well; acting irrational when he's after something, laughing things off when most would cringe, and using is charming craziness to manipulate others. Often threatening others or bargaining when he has no leverage, but always coming out the victor. Gyllenhaal gives a stunning performance. His dialogue is sharp and his movements, unnerving. The best way to describe his character is unsettling; a guy who's not quite weird enough to turn heads, but weird enough to send a chill down your spine. His portrayal is strangely hypnotic, balancing empty stares with endless rambling while charming his prey. He's backed up by solid performances from Rene Russo and Bill Paxton, who plays a fellow driver, as well as Riz Ahmed who plays his assistant. Although the performances put this film over the top, the rest of the production was quality. There were a few car chase scenes that could have come off hokey, but were done in such a way as to emphasize the protagonist's unpredictability. For a first-time direction, Gilroy did an incredible job.