Nightcrawler Reviewed!

Glib Reviews Of Recent DVD Releases

Nightcrawler
- Directed By Dan Gilroy

Everybody talks about how great Jake Gyllenhaal is in this very 70’s vibed flick. They are right to do so, but longtime screenwriter and first time director Dan Gilroy deserves a lot of credit for a tight noir script and masterful direction that make this one of the better LA Noirs in ages. Renee Russo also brings the hot older News lady who has survived on nothing but grim cynically derived urban crime’ stories, with the kind of non cliched femme fatale vibe we are hoping for when we hear the name Renee Russo. 

One of the best shot at night (if it was ‘day for night,’ it does not look it) movies I have seen. The ‘ambulance chasing’ scenes are well choreographed and edited. The whole film has such a creepy vibe, which matches Gyllenhaal’s masterful and very award worthy performance. I doubt he will beat Redmayne’s ‘transformative’ part in the Theory Of Everything, as those kinds of stories dominate awards shows.

Gyllenhaal is channeling a character noir like conducting a symphony of tweaks, creepy dialogue, and passive aggressive slogan filled monologues. Rick Garcia also merits some attention, as does Bill Paxton for their part of the ensemble. Paxton brings the old hand at this game vibe that is needed, while Garcia oozes self loathing and fear as Lewis’ stooge, and obviously doomed navigator.

The screenplay hits all the right notes, eschews the modern obligatory sex scenes that often slow down if not ruin the pace of these kinds of thrillers. There is some deft use of montage that pushes the story forward rather than slowing it down, a rare thing from a Hollywood movie. In my awards vision this film would be nominated for best picture along with it’s star for best actor, and cast for best ensemble.

I can’t really find any flaws to bother knocking this story down. there are some points where Bloom’s ability to creep around crime scenes while cops are there is a bit much, but the story moves so well, these things are part of the suspension of disbelief which hold tight throughout the picture, or at least it did for me. See this movie now!


9.5 handsome creeps who talk you into stuff outta 10



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