Nightcrawler

UK Release Date: 31 October 2014

Certification: 15

Director: Dan Gilroy

Cast: Riz Ahmed, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton

Rating: 93%

One of the best movies of the last decade.

Review: 

Dan Gilroy's directorial debut is a phenomenal thriller depicting the life of an unreliable narrator who has the occupation of a crime journalist (Louis Bloom played extraordinary by Jake Gyllenhaal) who becomes sadistic and starts creating his own stories to earn money. 

I don't know how Jake Gyllenhaal didn't win an Oscar or even get nominated for his role, as Louis Bloom, in Nightcrawler because it's one of the best performances in the last decade. He's able to make the audience care for a psychopath and his slow but inevitable downfall. He also has some dialogue heavy scenes where he's able to carry the movie all on his own. His form of method acting also goes quite unnoticed but he lost thirty pounds for the role by eating only kale salad and chewing gum whilst also running fifteen miles a day, saying that he always felt hungry. If his weight loss wasn't impressive enough he genuinely lost himself in the role by punching a real glass mirror and slashing his hand whilst filming. Nightcrawler, whilst by no means being Gyllenhaal's first incredible performance is one of his best, firmly solidifying Jake Gyllenhaal as one of the best actors of modern times. 

The supporting cast is fine but it's primarily Louis Bloom's movie which makes it difficult to judge. I did enjoy Nina (Rene Russo) and Louis' relationship as it wasn't particularly physical but more of a mental connection. It was implied that they had had sex together off-screen but I feel it didn't have to be seen on-screen because it kept that aspect of their relationship mysterious. However, not a romantic relationship Rick (Riz Ahmed) and Louis' interactions are always interesting. Seeing Rick think that he's made a friend whilst the audience knows that Louis is just using him for his own personal gains is particularly sour. The only real complaint I have about Nightcrawler is that I don't see the point in Bill Paxton's character. He doesn't help move the plot forward and is forgotten about as soon as he moves off screen. 

Jake Gyllenhaal's performance is by far the best part of Nightcrawler however I surprisingly really enjoyed the movie's plot. It's quite a simple idea based on a real life job but it's executed superbly. The story flows superbly becoming more intriguing as it progresses before climaxing in the final act. 

One of the best first time watches I've seen in a while, I highly recommend it.