An engrossing thriller about an unemployed, part time thief who rises to become an owner of the most competitive business in the American television industry.
Every night, while the city sleeps, motley crews armed with fast cars, expensive video cameras and blaring police radios prowl the sprawling Los Angeles basin in search of a story. These freelance stringers, known as nightcrawlers, hunt for crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem in hopes of selling the footage to local TV news. Pin-balling from one police scene to the next, they are driven by a simple equation that converts crime and victims into dollars and cents.
An unemployed man Loius Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) turns a petty thief stealing wire meshes and other metal scrap which he sells at half the price. This thief has the inclination to turn ethical in life. But who would give a job to a thief?
Driving around the streets late in the night, he witnesses an accident, and notices a guy with video camera filming the post incident state of things, which are then sold off to local Television channels for hard cash.
Louis Bloom’s ascent in the realm of TV news is a classic American success story, with a dark twist. He starts off searching for work and ends up being the owner of a growing business.
His ascent in the world of nightcrawling is aided by Nina, played by Rene Russo, best known for her scorching performances in The Thomas Crown Affair and Get Shorty.
Lou is always observant, soaking up things like a sponge and learning. These are relatable human qualities as is his fundamental quest to seek and climb. It creates empathy for his cause as he seeks a job and seeks a relationship.
Lou’s assistant is a street-smart wingman Rick (Riz Ahmed) a homeless man desperate for a job.
Lou Bloom comes across as a sociopathic stringer who embodies an extreme version of their own approach. In reality, unlike Lou, the stringers rarely blur the lines when it comes to the law and wouldn’t do most of what this character does in the film.
It is a thriller with superb performances from Jake Gyllenhaal, especially Riz Ahmed who ought to be nominated for the Oscars, atleast. Rene Russo is the perfect lady for this role.
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Cast:
Jake Gyllenhaal as Louis Bloom
Rene Russo as Nina Romina
Riz Ahmed as Rick (Lou’s assistant)
Bill Paxton as Joe Loder
Credits:
DAN GILROY – Director / Writer
MICHEL LITVAK, DAVID LANCASTER, JENNIFER FOX, TONY GILROY – Producers
GARY MICHAEL WALTERS, BETSY DANBURY – Executive Producers
ROBERT ELSWIT, A.S.C. – Director of Photography
KEVIN KAVANAUGH – Production Designer
JOHN GILROY – Editor
AMY WESCOTT – Costume Designer
JAMES NEWTON HOWARD – Composer
BRIAN ROSS, NIC RATNER – Music Supervisors
MINDY MARIN, C.S.A – Casting Director
NIGHTCRAWLER – Hollywood film review
