Nightcrawler (2014)

Director: Dan Gilroy
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton
Runtime: 117 minutes

Synopsis: When Louis Bloom, a con man desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.

Performances: 5/5
Screenplay: 5/5
Editing: 4/5
Cinematography: 4/5
Score/Soundtrack: 2/5

Verdict:

(+) Serves as a great commentary piece on the lack of empathy of mainstream media nowadays who prioritize good stories over morality.

(+) Also serves as a fascinating character study of Lou Bloom, a neurotic, obsessive sociopath who would do anything to achieve his goals, comparable at time to Travis Bickle.

(+) Jake Gyllenhaal is one of this generation's best actors. His acting abilities peak in this movie. What a performance!

(+) The city of Los Angeles is almost a character by itself. The setting plays an important part in the narrative.

(+) Riz Ahmed and Rene Russo aren't as flashy as Gyllenhaal, but still deliver great and layered performances in supporting roles.

(+) The cinematography is not bad, and the story progresses in a rather smooth way.

(-) The score by James Newton Howard is surprisingly shallow, which is a shame considering how much tension it could've added.

FINAL GRADE: 8.5/10