Nightcrawler (2014) Movie Review
R | 117 min
Director & Writer: Dan Gilroy
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton
Genre: Crime | Drama | Thriller
Plot: When Lou Bloom, 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, a TV-news veteran.
Nightcrawler is probably the most interesting movie I've seen this year, when I walked out of the movie, I initially didn't like it. But as I thought about it and really looked at what I had a problem with the film, it ended up being what is positive about the film.
The performance that Gyllenhaal gives is probably one of the most memorable in the past few years. Not only is the character he portrays both frightening and interesting, he makes it so that someone like this is believable. On the technical side, this movie looks fantastic. From the shots of LA and the Car chase scenes the cinematography is a stand out of the movie. It services the story by adding scenes that would actual show up on the news and puts you in the moments that really matter.
Not the film is not short of problems, but they aren't so much in the narrative, but on the things around it. One thing I noticed most and bothered me throughout the film was the score and music used. The music just didn't seem the fit right with the film and the music used in Gone Girl wouldn't fit into the movie perfectly. The creepy feel that the score in Gone Girl gave me is something that this movie need. With the character being to different the movie, if used properly, would've made it easier to see the character as a dark villain than a fascinating person.
Another problem that would've easier had added another letter grade from me was the editing. Now I don't mind when movies are a bit long, but when they are smaller more quieter films its hard to keep track with something unless you are keeping it interesting. With Nightcrawler that is what happened. Many scenes especially with dialogue went on for a bit too long, and could've been cut short for most effect on the in action scenes. I would say a good 20 min. cut would made this film borderline perfect. Especially if they had cut the entire intro of the character.
The intro of the character made us automatically hate this character. If the intro was cut, and started around the point where he is walking in asking for a job at the news station, we would've had complete mystery from the character and only know background from him from what ever he tells someone through dialogue. Similar to the Joker from The Dark Knight. Unless we are to root for the character, its sometimes best to let there be some mystery to the person unless they are going to have some sort of character arc through out the story.
Overall Nightcrawler is a one of the better movies to come out in 2014, and with the Great performance by Gyllenhaal and the fact that this was a first time director, I can't wait to see where they go next. The problems are there but can easily be fixed, and the its a movie that has grown on me the more I have though about it.
Rating:
