Nightcrawler

*Before we get started, please go check out my overview of October films and preview of November films in Coming Soon: November 2014 -- CLICK HERE*

In a brilliant move of marketing, be it purposeful or accidental, Nightcrawler is releasing on Halloween with not much fanfare (I've hardly seen any previews for it) and is sure to capture many people by surprise who might be wandering into the theater thinking that they going to see a new horror/slasher flick based on that title.

That makes me happy because Nightcrawler deserves every accidental (or purposeful!) penny it earns for being one hell of a thriller that has not a single thing to do with Halloween.

The term Nightcrawler refers to the amateur news recorders that chase down big stories in Los Angeles (as well as many other cities I imagine) in an attempt to get solid footage that they can sell to local news stations for a profit. It's a world that I had no idea about before this film which made the overall plot that much more original and interesting, and allows for a biting and deep satire on the current state of the media and how they portray and subsequently sensationalize the "news". 

Without going on a complete tangent about the media in the United States (both conservative and liberal-based) I'll just say that the film focuses less on the politics of the competitive world and more on the ruthless and immoral nature of portraying stories to the public. 

Hey you're not an X-Man!!

The very first aspect about Nightcrawler that should be touched upon is Gyllenhaal's performance. It's my opinion that he is a criminally underrated actor, and this is just another notch in the belt of that argument. He makes Lou Bloom his own, and then some. Bloom is a dark character with a passion and a hunger for what you might call "continuous improvement". It's very clear to the audience that he is a bit unhinged, weird, and possibly even a sociopath, but this is all oblivious to Bloom. Gyllenhaal clearly looks different in the role after some significant weight loss and his gaunt frame mixed with subtle mannerisms make this an instantly memorable character from beginning to end. The character's constant textbook-esque descriptions of business practices are hilarious but also a tinge eerie and Jake balances the line between humor and creepy probably better than I've ever seen it done before. Suffice it to say that Nightcrawler is as good as it is in LARGE part because of the performance by Gyllenhaal and the fantastic screenplay centered around this highly captivating character. 

Is it just me or is that left eye staring directly into your soul?

Gotta get that shot to make that $$!

Praise is also deserved for just about every other aspect of Nightcrawler. The script is fantastic and much like Bloom, it balances the line between creepy thriller and dark comedy effortlessly. The screenplay is one of the more original ones of the year, if only for the awesome character that we get out of Bloom and it creates situations in this LA nighttime world that go to dark places, and ones where the audience may not expect. The plot as whole was captivating and really allows the movie to have a constant, driving force. There are a few hiccups here and there (I wasn't convinced of the forced romance between Gyllenhaal and Russo's characters at all) and the ending is a bit abrupt when it seems like it will keep going, but overall it's a tight package. It also features some gorgeous cinematography throughout, capturing action scenes, Bloom's personality, and the iconic Los Angeles sites all with a smooth and complete touch. 

If I were to pick an issue that I had with Nightcrawler, that breaks my heart a bit, it would be the original musical score. We would be looking at a perfect final score if this had a Drive-like soundtrack, complete with 80s beats and synthesizers (or at least some type of theme). Instead, we get an original score that is both cliched and ill-fitting. The scenes where the film calls for thrilling or mysterious music it suffices, but during the quiet scenes it sounded like a score from Full House or some Disney-created family comedy. Original scores in films are important to me, as I've stated countless times before, and Nightcrawler's really took me out of the moment on several occasions with some poor choices in musical and tonal theme. 

About as Halloween as the film gets right here...

Small nitpicks aside, Nightcrawler is a well-crafted, darkly humorous, and biting thriller that is completely anchored by an iconic performance. It could have done more for me in certain areas, but it earns so many points for the things it does well that many of its faults are overshadowed.

There are likely to be a lot of Halloween horror seekers tricked into seeing this treat this holiday weekend. 

CONS:

• A really odd and unfitting original score for many scenes. This film could have been a classic had it implemented a more appropriate musical accompanyment and it slightly broke my heart in that regard
• Some unnecessary plot directions that don't add much to the story
• An abrupt ending
• Many other characters are barely fleshed out

PROS:

• Gyllenhaal's performance is outstanding and has really impressed me the more I think about it. There are a plethora of mannerisms and quirks that he adds to make the character one that is very complete. Also a very good balance of creepiness and humor with his deliverance of lines
• An amazing original screenplay that creates an iconic character in Lou Bloom. This is supported by the script and the aforementioned performance
• Speaking of the script, it's brilliant and provides an awesome insight to not only this unknown world, but also the mindset of the media with a sad and harsh commentary about the news they seek to deliver to the public
• Great cinematography of the city of Los Angeles 
• Much like the performance, the film balances the line between humor and creep with little to no effort
• A fantastic climax for a thriller that really keeps you interested for its entire duration 

Rath's Review Score: 9/10