Nightcrawler

Movie Name: Nightcrawler
Year of Release: 2014

Director: Dan Gilroy

Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, Anne Cusack, Riz Ahmed, Kevin Rahm, Michael Hyatt, Marco Rodriguez
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

Dan Gilroy's directorial debut with "Nightcrawler", follows a very diverse career as a screenwriter, which has seen him tackle projects as Tarsem Singh's "The Fall", Shawn Levy's "Real Steel" and Tony Gilroy's "The Bourne Legacy". The story follows Lou Bloom, an eloquent young man, who lives in Los Angeles, and who makes a living through whatever process he can (that includes theft). When Lou realizes that there's money to be made by selling footage of crimes that is captured in real time, he slowly but steadily starts risking more and more to satiate his ambition. He stops at nothing, staging situations, and not revealing murder suspects (that he has shot with his camera), in a clear bid to keep selling his footage and accomplish his goals.
Dan Gilroy's "Nightcrawler" is a chilling view of the type of television programs that are presented to audiences, and the lack of scruples that dominates this type of business. Much like Sydney Lumet's "Network", it focuses its attention on the quest of television channels/networks, for ratings and audiences, and the type of footage and stories they will run to satiate that need. This blood lust, is equally found by the character personified by Jake Gyllenhaal, a young man who stops at nothing to achieve his goals, including robbery and even murder. His lack of scruples and his drive, is matched by the character portrayed by Rene Russo, the ambitious head of the television channel who enables his behavior. The film is a parable for our current times, where the ends justify any means that people employ to pursue their ambitions. Both actors are fantastic in their roles, particularly Gyllenhaal who embodies the physicality of a hungry predator and simultaneously the verbose quality of an arrogant young wannabe professional. The film also boasts the beautiful cinematography from Robert Elswit and a great soundtrack from James Newton Howard. A great film worth watching.