​FILMS

nightcrawler

Nightcrawler: (Drama/Thriller): 77 out of 100: Throughout movie history there have been many actors who have undergone a physical transformation to play a role. You can add Jake Gyllenhaal to that list with his eye-catching performance as Lou Bloom, a self-absorbed man desperate for work who discovers the world of crime journalism in Los Angeles.

Gyllenhaal has shed many kilos to play this driven character who runs his own company called "Video Production News" after seeing the money these first on the crime scene people make as freelance cameramen. He is a nightcrawler, someone who uses a police scanner to track down crimes in progress at night. He sells his video footage to Nina (Rene Russo), a TV news producer. Together with his partner Rick (Riz Ahmed), Lou becomes embroiled in a home invasion that may lead to serious repercussions.

This interesting and mostly engaging crime film has been intelligently written and directed by Dan Gilroy who is making his directing debut. He has a great sense of creating atmosphere and is helped by his cinematographer (Robert Elswit) in creating the night scenes of LA. The music score by James Newton Howard also adds to the tension. The film is brilliantly edited, especially during the car chase scenes.

After an invigorating start that shows how Bloom began in this line of work, the movie sags in the middle due to some lengthy bantering between characters before being re-energised by a home invasion which becomes the main subject of the story. The scenes that follow are exciting and occasionally thrilling, highlighting the extremes that news people go to to pursue a story.

"Nightcrawler" should be satisfying to both action and drama fans. It's a clever take on how the media affects our lives and it's a fascinating insight into the world of news broadcasters.

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo
(117 minutes)
Parental Advice: Coarse language, violence and adult themes
Additional scene during or after credits: No
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8kYDQan8bw (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Thursday 27th November, 2014)