Nightcrawler

my sixth perfect 10 so tough to choose just four favourites now, and I can’t believe I’ve already given this many 5-star ratings so early in my journey to watch more movies.  I had no idea Jake Gyllenhaal was in so many amazing movies. I absolutely loved Prisoners, Zodiac and even his performance as Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far From Home. His performance as Lou Bloom however, is now one of my favourites of all time. He is electrifying yet unsettling, embodying the characters obsessive ambition and lack of ethical boundaries, drawing myself into the disturbing mindset of the character. Throughout, Gyllenhaal balances a sense of vulnerability and aggression, making Lou both sympathetic and terrifying. Even the look of his character and mannerisms are perfect. The stiff way he speaks, intense wide-eyed stare, and skeletal look, mirror Lou’s eerie, alien-like presence.  I love the chilling social commentary of this film also. The exploration of the media’s role in exploiting tragedy, the moral compromises people make in the pursuit of success, and the dehumanisation of both victims and individuals in a profit-driven world. All these aspects coalesce to expose the darker side of human nature, really highlighting the depravity of our kind. I think the cinematography perfectly enhances the feeling of moral decay and detachment this movie successfully portrays. The sleek, moody, and often voyeuristic shots, using stark lighting and intimate framing, reflects the unsettling world of crime journalism exceptionally.  “What if my problem wasn’t that I don’t understand people, but that I don’t like them?”