Rent Nightcrawler on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Dan Gilroy
Directed by:Dan Gilroy
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A petty thief desperate for work delves into the world of crime journalism and becomes the star of his own story as he blurs the line between observer and participant.
Verdict
Just like the news craves stories from which we can't turn away, this
movie creates the same experience. Lou's exploits keep building
and we can't look away despite the horrors. Lou is an opportunist and news presents an avenue. With no morals, he can intrude to create and augment stories to boost his profile and thus his payout. News stations don't ask questions because they don't want to know. When horrific stories are what draw the audience to a station, that creates a temptation from top to bottom to get the most shocking images at any cost. When you throw a sociopath like Lou into the mix, there are no boundaries or safeguards.
Watch It.
Review
Nightcrawler refers to what freelance journalists do, capturing the news at night.
We're introduced to Lou (Jake Gyllenhaal) late one night while he's stealing from one construction site to sell to another. He then asks for a job and is rebuffed. The foreman tells him they don't hire thieves.
Lou happens upon a car accident where a news camera films the event. Lou sees an opportunity to capture footage and sell it. He gets the equipment from a pawn shop and goes to work. Initially he struggles, unaware of police codes or what kind of content stations want. He talks like someone that's read a self help book and just recites text. Nothing seems genuine, he's just trying to fit in and fake it.
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| Jake Gyllenhaal plays Lou Bloom |
Gyllenhaal does such a great job acting smarmy and fake. He seems like a weasel which fits Lou. Gyllenhaal always does a great job of assuming a different persona in every role, from this to Prisoners to Road House to Brothers.
The underlying assertion is that the news isn't here to inform viewers, the goal is gain viewers. That creates an opportunity for unscrupulous people like Lou that are scraping by. Lou becomes successful enough to hire an assistant. Rick (Riz Ahmed) knows that Lou isn't quite right, but Rick needs the job. Then we jump cut to the future where Lou has upgraded his car and equipment. This is where we see the pivot, or at least a turning point. Lou moves a body at a car crash for a better shot. He's not there to help or provide aid. He wants good footage. While we knew Lou was unprincipled, this goes beyond. He's always been odd. I have to imagine if you looked into his eyes you'd see nothing behind them. The question becomes how far will he go for a scoop. By establishing he has no empathy, it's scary to imagine.
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| Jake Gyllenhaal plays Lou Bloom |
The question the movie generates is whether this is happening in reality. How do news stations get footage? Lou is this avatar, a generation that has grown up on the internet, can learn anything from the web, and in turn lacks social skills. His method of small talk is citing facts about social situations. You apply Lou to someone trying to find a job in a difficult market, that person will keep going further. In Lou's case, he wants better footage and he doesn't care who he endangers or what it takes to achieve that. He has this drive that is wholly misplaced. It's one thing to be driven, another to embrace collateral damage. He finds a way to put himself in the story.
News is entertainment, and this takes it to an extreme. News stations don't want to know how footage is obtained. They just want ratings, and that allows people like Lou to find a foothold. Now the gig economy is even more prevalent with people desperate to make ends meet. What will you do for an extra dollar? Lou is the bad guy, you want him to face consequences, but he's an exaggeration of a gig worker and of what the news does, always trying to be sensational.
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