Nightcrawler

Lou Bloom is a thief and a con man. He also has a business plan and an idea as to how he is going to achieve his goals. When he buys a camera after witnessing freelance journalists, he begins to record the events of crime in his locale. All spirals after carjacking footage he shots appears on T V news. Its exhibition will lead to his short term goals being fulfilled but where after. Next up is too buy better equipment and now film more, more blood, more murder all for more money. Will he stop at nothing to get what he wants to be the first?

It has been written about and given well deserved praise everywhere. I cant add much to an over filled discussion other than to highlight the three factors that I feel the viewer will love about this movie. Firstly its the central performances. Jake Gyllenhaal reveals he is a superb actor and one that has been overlooked for far too long. This coupled with his turn in Enemy, should see him catapulted back up the ranks and deservedly so. Riz Ahmed is also excellent as the sidekick with a moral center, so refreshing in the modern film climate to find a yin and yang duo that aren't buddies or friends but have good onscreen chemistry. Rene Russo is excellent as always and looks devilishly hot.

Secondly is that the above would all be so so if not for the exceptional script. Gilroy hasn't just directed this with class but has imbibed the film with words and themes that are far above a simple film maker. We have a film about corruption yes, but we also have a film about consumerism. The idea that news has now become about consumption. The idea that it layers ideas of crimes that aren't there. Agendas that are not even a part of a real societal problem and of course the idea of money and business controlling everything. Consuming everything in its wake.

Thirdly the film is shot in a optically sensitive enhanced visual tone. This is too say that the darkness is sitting on the screen but is punctured by the harsh night lights of street lamps and cars. It adds rich texture and builds notes of fear. This also builds into the idea of a neo noir. Imagine a film like this, say made in the 40s and shot in that beautiful black and white. It would have been harsh light and black, blackness. It sounds weird but looks amazing.

....and finally (I know I said three but..) is the DVD itself. Filled with some great extras. A commentary that is illuminating and offers a well deserved second viewing to the film lover or the film geek. The behind the scenes other extra is filled with information on the job of the journo and the 24 news persons.

All in all a masterwork and one you should own!