#11: Nightcrawler What if it isnt that I dont understand people, but that I just dont like them? That is the most telling line from a movie this year that while it is possessive of flaws (I dont always believe how Jake Gyllenhaal can logically get away with a couple of his acts in this movie), contains one of the best character studies Ive seen in this or any other recent year. It is an examination of a success-focused society: one that capitalistically profits on every day tragedy in order to elevate those who are motivated for personal gain at the cost of basic morality. And there is no better face of that then the greased up salamander of a human being called Lou Bloom in the directorial debut called Nightcrawler. While this movie has its share of success in both its dialogue and its cinematography, the real reason to see this movie is Jake Gyllenhaals transformative performance: a one man show of sinister self-esteem and absolute motivation. This is a monster unlike any other of 2014: a culmination of American business ideals and cut-throat commercialism. He is very much the little brother to someone like Alex DeLarge: someone we identify with for his charm and his resourcefulness but who we also despise for his duplicitous acts and manipulation. There is no point of weakness that escapes the attention of this bug-eyed sociopath and no depths he would not sink to get ahead. In a modern time that is characterized by selfish gain and the burning need for success, there is no monster or movie this year that is more of a reflection of that than Nightcrawler. Sure it has a couple of missteps, but what it achieves is accomplished so damn well that I cant help but name it as one of the best, most thrilling movies of 2014.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 03:05:49 +0000
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