Plot
Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a thieving loner who roams the streets of Los Angeles in search of a job. After witnessing a cameraman recording an unfolding car crash and selling the video to a local news company, Lou realises a potential career opportunity as a ‘Nightcrawler’.
Review
Similar to Robert De Niro’s portrayals of Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver) and Rupert Pupkin (The King of Comedy), Lou is an ambitious individual who is prepared to go to sickening lengths to fulfil his deranged dreams. He holds no ethical concerns for what is right, but is driven by his hope of becoming a powerful businessman, whom eclipses all others.
It is preposterous enough that Lou refers to his “company” so highly, especially considering that it only consists of a video camera, a radio scanner and an “employee” by the name of Rick, who is nothing but a young man in urgent need of money. As Lou dives into the darker underworld of Los Angeles the scene is set for an obscure adventure into a ridiculing view of broadcasting companies. True to the stereotype of news organisations, we are introduced to Rene Russo, the tough head-honcho editor of the local news station. She describes her desire for grotesque leading news-stories that viewers …show more content…
From Gyllenhaal’s role as disenchanted teenager Donnie Darko, to his unexpected supporting role in Brokeback Mountain, he delivers a unique quirky vibe to his character. Yet in Nightcrawler, his transformation literally Blooms as he takes on the role of Lou Bloom, the freelancing techno-wiz from L.A. Despite Gilroy’s ambiguous lack of backstory for Lou, Gyllenhaal’s nail biting performance by itself conveys ideas about his past in such a way that we don’t have to know – and instead just to feel the hideous ambience that his character
Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a thieving loner who roams the streets of Los Angeles in search of a job. After witnessing a cameraman recording an unfolding car crash and selling the video to a local news company, Lou realises a potential career opportunity as a ‘Nightcrawler’.
Review
Similar to Robert De Niro’s portrayals of Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver) and Rupert Pupkin (The King of Comedy), Lou is an ambitious individual who is prepared to go to sickening lengths to fulfil his deranged dreams. He holds no ethical concerns for what is right, but is driven by his hope of becoming a powerful businessman, whom eclipses all others.
It is preposterous enough that Lou refers to his “company” so highly, especially considering that it only consists of a video camera, a radio scanner and an “employee” by the name of Rick, who is nothing but a young man in urgent need of money. As Lou dives into the darker underworld of Los Angeles the scene is set for an obscure adventure into a ridiculing view of broadcasting companies. True to the stereotype of news organisations, we are introduced to Rene Russo, the tough head-honcho editor of the local news station. She describes her desire for grotesque leading news-stories that viewers …show more content…
From Gyllenhaal’s role as disenchanted teenager Donnie Darko, to his unexpected supporting role in Brokeback Mountain, he delivers a unique quirky vibe to his character. Yet in Nightcrawler, his transformation literally Blooms as he takes on the role of Lou Bloom, the freelancing techno-wiz from L.A. Despite Gilroy’s ambiguous lack of backstory for Lou, Gyllenhaal’s nail biting performance by itself conveys ideas about his past in such a way that we don’t have to know – and instead just to feel the hideous ambience that his character