Nightcrawler (2014), R, ★★★★

Jake Gyllenhaal as a freelance cameraman at the scene of the crime.

Many people watch the news to be informed on what's going around domestically and internationally to learn to see if we could prepare for ourselves for the present and also for the future. And, sometimes, people do not take the initiative to learn what happens to innocent people or thieves regarding a crime or a robbery. Heck, for example, what's going on with the Ebola virus? In my opinion, it seems that the news about the virus is slowing down a bit. But, when it comes to shooting the events of something unique, cameramen and journalists sometimes sacrifice their time and lives to report the event because they would have no idea if the killers would strike against them or if danger itself will strike against them, most particularly, in the middle of a war. This movie follows a disturbed character around and we witness what he loves and does best and it is a hell of a ride.

Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a former thief and is looking for a job after getting out of prison. As he is looking for a job, he meets with a yard's owner and ask if he is hiring. And, Lou says that he is ambitious and can work very hard and places his motto saying, "If you want to win the lottery, you have to have the money to buy a ticket." The owner rebuffs him and says that he does not hire petty thieves.

While he is walking on the road, Lou witnesses a car on fire and some people inside the car and a van of night crawlers, guys who record violent crimes or coverage for profit, led by Joe Loder (Bill Paxton). Lou approaches Loder and asks for a job and if they are going to use it on the news. Loder replies that "if it bleeds, it leads" and also responds that it is a "flaming a**hole of a job" and declines. 

Lou manages to get a camera and a police scanner and tapes some graphic footage on his camera interfering another night crawler's business. He goes to the Channel 6 news station to show the footage to news director Nina Romina (Rene Russo) and Frank Kruse (Kevin Rahm), another station producer. Nina says he has "a good eye" for the footage and pays Lou $250 and still asks for a job or an internship to no avail. 

Lou meets another young man named Rick (Riz Ahmed) and interviews for a spot on the job of seeming that he's heading another news station. Rick is practically homeless and is struggling to find a job and has very little experience on the field. Lou asks if he has GPS on his phone and Rick replies positively and is hired on the spot. They are off to go film these crimes as Lou maniacally drives and Rick giving him directions. 

Lou (Jake Gyllenhaal) meeting Nina (Rene Russo).

Let's get this out of the way: HOLY CRAP! This is an insane movie! It's one of the most ambitious films regarding crime I have seen in a while. But, it also looks at crime from another angle and that angle from the position of the media. We witness how hard it is to get great news coverage and footage to support the story one way or another. It factors how competitive it is for cameramen to be first on the spot and how lousy the money is worth, but somehow, it is worth for very little. The media dramatizes the graphic violent images of innocent people or guilty people real well that they just don't care. They want higher ratings. 

Jake Gyllenhaal gives the best performance of his career as a maniacal and unlikable character that scares you with his skeletal and physical presence trying to provide the best intentions to earn a place in the world of crime journalism. He tries to have the American dream but in the wrong way. He reminded me of Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver, who shows his carelessness and vulnerability but to himself especially in a scene where he gets real upset in a room with just a mirror in front of him and breaks it when he is screaming furiously. Rene Russo is fine as the also unlikable news producer who is on the verge of losing her job and wanting to boost the ratings. Riz Ahmed is fantastic as Lou's helper and it could have been cartoonish easily, but it was particularly difficult. And, Bill Paxton, in a small role, is great.

I did compare Gyllenhaal to De Niro in a way, because I think that Taxi Driver would be a great double bill with Nightcrawler. Lou Bloom almost has similar characteristics as Travis Bickle which I cannot emphasize more because I would have to spoil the movie. But, let's just say, if you have seen the great 1976 Martin Scorsese film, let's just say one character ends up likable and the other does not. They also both set in dark places and L.A. seems like another character and it is another great addition to those LA films such as Heat, Collateral, and L.A. Confidential.

This film is unpredictable from beginning to end and most movies you can see where this is going from 10 minutes away, but not in this film. It has excellent performances, skillful cinematography by Robert Elswit, stylish chasing and action sequences, and a riveting finale. This is a dark and skillful movie directed by Dan Gilroy in his directorial debut and it is a great first film. It is a great character study about an ominous character who does unorthodox deeds to get what he wants in a forlorn state of mind. This is one of the best movies of the year. 

****