Nightcrawler

                Sometimes you get a film that is so good, yet it gets absolutely snubbed at the Academy Awards in the worst ways, and for absolutely no reason. This is such a film. Why this film did not get the recognition it deserved, I have no idea. Still, just because it was not all over the red carpets and award ceremonies does not mean that it was not a good film, because this was a phenomenal film, and it features one of the best and most snubbed performances in a leading role by Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal is simply masterful in his performance, and it will be one of the defining performances of this generation. Jake Gyllenhaal has always been a good actor, but lately, he has completely transformed and elevated his game to elite levels, and, as a fan of his, I am having a great time watching his films. He is among the five best actors in the game today, and he carries this film to terrific status. Make no mistake, though, there is a lot to love about this film, so let us just jump right in.

            This film starts us off by introducing us to Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a petty thief who steals raw materials so that he can sell them off for profit. The first encounter that Lou has with another individual tells you a lot about his character. He is smart, driven, conniving, slick, and a little off when it comes to people. On his ride home, he drives past an automobile accident, and there is where he learns about “nightcrawling”, a profession where you go around recording tragedies on camera and then sell them to the news. Infatuated by the idea, and the idea of making more money, he begins his own career into the field. The rest of the film revolves around Lou’s choices while in this profession, and just how far he is willing to go to be successful. When I first watched this film, I had no idea what it was about. I simply was walking the aisles of Target when I saw Jake Gyllenhaal on a cover and decided to go for it, and I am glad I did. Aside from the great lead performance, this film has a tremendous pace to it. The near two-hour runtime just flies by. One of the other reasons for this is the beautiful cinematography. Director Dan Gilroy and director of photography Robert Elswit create some wonderful shots with a crisp look, and an attention to detail and lighting. Where this film really shines, though, it is in the screenplay, which is the only thing that this film was recognized for at The Oscars. Yes, somehow Jake Gyllenhaal got snubbed. But, as I was saying, the screenplay for this film is absolutely fantastic. The dialogue between characters just flows right off the tongue. It is clever, witty, interesting, and helps the flow of the film.

            I can go on and on about how this film is underrated, and how it should have been nominated for more awards, but that would not help you truly understand the greatness of this film. You simply have to go out and watch it for yourself. I cannot guarantee that you will not regret it because we may have different taste, but I am certain that there is a decent enough chance that you will enjoy this film. Look, just go watch it, okay? Just trust me this one time. Am I just going off on a tangent because my brain is fried, and I do not know what else to write? Maybe. Welp, anyway, time for the overall score. Official Rating: 5 Stars.