Nightcrawler (2014)
If you want to win the lottery, you have to make the money to buy a ticket.
THE SUMMARY: A petty thief finds success in filming breaking news, and breaks personal relationships and morality itself to build his business. Nightcrawler is unique and memorable in many ways: its critical look at the news industry, its sociopathic protagonist, and its reminder that many people have no rules other than the rules others set for them.
FROM MOVIE-PICKER NICK: A terrific popcorn flick with a deeper undercurrent that keeps you riveted to Jake Gyllenhaal's performance the entire time. Nightcrawler takes you on a wild journey as Jake Gyllenhaal's con man character goes further and further for the money and recognition he thinks he deserves. The movie is beautifully shot and very well acted. Hopefully this can give Blonde an appreciation for Gyllenhaal she was previously lacking.
JAMIE AND JEANNE’S AI FACESWAP ART:
We definitely don’t have a fancy control room…
…or an interrogation room. But the duct tape is a nice touch in both.
What even happened to both of these faces?
I don't beg for superchat scraps.
This is not a date. This is a negotiation.
THE BEST:
The ulterior motives of ‘the news’: Nightcrawler is an excellent exploration of the ulterior motives behind any ‘news’ presentation. These days we most often suspect political agendas, and there certainly are plenty, but to this movie’s theme, there’s a plain business reality too. Ratings are the game, and sensationalism brings ratings. That can lead to subtle dishonesties like prioritizing certain stories over others, or glossing over inconvenient facts, or it can lead to the major dishonesties presented in this movie: moving a body to stage a scene, or refusing to follow up on a story because new information makes it less ‘scary’ than it originally was. Or even attempted murder on the competition.
The point is not that it’s all fake, though a lot is - the point is to consume news with a critical eye. Ask questions, compare reports, and through that process, the facts can be reliably separated from the nonsense.
My favorite part of the media bias in this story is it’s only 10 years old, and already outdated to the point it’s backward. Nina says only stories about white victims do well - those days are long gone. See George, Michael, Breonna, and the rest of the colorful ‘victims’ of the last decade who have prompted news coverage so inflammatory the flames became actually real, though of course, mostly peaceful.
Beware those for whom morality is an obstacle, not a guide: There’s a great moment where Nina is debating the ethics of airing Lou’s footage of the home invasion triple homicide. She’s asking her staff about the rules, and one of them replies ‘you mean legally?’ Nina responds dismissively and sarcastically ‘no, morally - of course legally.’
What does that response actually say? Nina has no rules within her or above her. There’s no moral compass of her own that she actually obeys. She will operate within the rules that the law enforces on her, but she has no limitations on herself for good or bad behavior.
This is a very dangerous type of person we should all avoid, and unfortunately, this is the sort of person who brings big government into creation. They can’t or won’t control themselves, so they need someone else to do it for them. This person will either backstab you or get you in trouble, and I don’t mean just with the law. I mean with God himself. Watch out.
Gyllenhaal is legit good: Jake Gylenhaal gets a lot of hate, perhaps because he rose to fame in part for having simulated buttsex with Heath Ledger, but his acting in this movie is legitimately very good. The character has antisocial personality disorder, or sociopathy, and even though I’m not convinced that condition is vital to the story, Gyllenhaal’s presentation of it is impressive and memorable: methodical, strategic, totally without concern for others, and ruthless in his ends. Gyllenhaal is believable throughout, despite the character’s absurdities, which is no small feat.
If it bleeds, it leads.
He's not even that gay in this role - well done.
THE WORST:
Why is the grandma thirst necessary?: I get that thirsting for Nina was part of his business strategy, and a guy with Lou’s condition probably does have trouble with women, so this is just a way to succeed in business and romance simultaneously, but I don’t think the pursuit of Nina added much to the story. It’s mostly just bizarre. Worse still, they don’t even give us the cringe of an awkward sex scene. Don’t build it up if you’re not gonna commit. Lame.
And actually, why is the personality disorder necessary?: I appreciate Gyllenhaal’s presentation of Lou’s character - it’s very Joker-esque. But, the character is a strange man who isn’t very relatable. Does the personality disorder actually serve serve the story? I suppose his ruthlessness is a key part of it, but I think his ruthlessness could have been even better served if he wasn’t so… weird (not the Tim Walz way, the real way). If he was a more sociable or charismatic person, people would trust him more, and he could possibly achieve even darker things.
I don’t hate the character or the story, but I’m left with a little bit of… why? What did the weirdness actually achieve? Even if it’s well-acted weirdness?
The bad guy wins: If you’re looking for a movie with moral clarity or justice in the end, this ain’t it. Lou lies, deceives, abuses, and outright murders his friend by proxy, and in the end… he has a booming business. I guess that’s the point, though - be skeptical of those at the top of journalism. They probably lied or cheated their way there. I hate to be so cynical, but these days you might find more personal integrity in the mafia.
THE SUMMARY: 4/5 Wickies. Even if it’s not ‘feel good’ in its ending or its moral exploration, it’s a unique movie in story and setting - one that kept me thinking for days afterward.
C'mon, let's see how the night ends.
Lie and cheat to the top.
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NEXT WEEK: Enemy at the Gates (2001). Enemy at the Gates is Matt’s September pick.
AFTER THAT? YOU PICK - VOTE! September’s nominations come from listener Nick.
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