"Nightcrawler" is a fantastic movie and definitely one of the best from a terrific year for film: 2014. While practically every aspect of the movie is done perfectly and with impeccable thrill and feeling, the thing that stands out the most without a doubt is the performance of Jake Gyllenhaal in the titular “protagonist” role of Lou Bloom.
Bloom is the best kind of psychopath: he works hard, is oddly charming and does whatever it takes to get what he wants. But Rene Russo’s character Nina knows exactly why to stay away from Gyllenhaal’s Frankenstein of shifty looks and plethora of emotions. No one is desperate enough to tackle Lou’s psychosis except for his homeless assistant, because Bloom is surely crazy, and he has it all bottled up ready to burst through the shrouds of sleepless nights and shocking acts.
Obviously, because of the questionable practices he puts forth in his journalistic endeavors, like not calling the police to crimes, sabotaging his competitor, staging accidents and even setting up his own scene for multiple murders, Bloom is seen, obviously, as what a man crazy enough to do anything for the advancement of his career interests is capable of. He represents the glorious sensationalism of the modern news media, being the source of vivid, graphic crime videos that, realistically, an audience would not be able to get enough of. In many ways, it is terribly sad that crime sells over the more pressing issues of the day, but that is besides the main point here, because Bloom does not care what needs to be sold. Whatever it is, he will get it in order to make a profit both extrinsically and intrinsically.
If Lou was just a one-dimensional source of corruption posing as a typical antagonist, we would not be drawn to him the way we are. He may most aptly be considered the protagonist of "Nightcrawler;" he is the entire film’s focus after all. This fits because, whether we would like to admit it or not, we are impressed with his dedication to his work, his passion for what he does and his audacity to force himself into the profession that he wants. He commits all of these actions, things that generally we all strive for in trying to get the dream career of our lives as well. Hopefully, we would never even think of going to the extents that Lou does in the film, but we are definitely able to understand his character and the motivations therein because, for adults, one way or another, we have all felt the urge to do something drastic to get us out there. While those personal measures may be appropriate and acceptable (or maybe not so much) for us, the ones for Bloom definitely are not so, and we shun those activities even though we may be nearing those same sorts of actions, short of a mental breakdown or two.
In conclusion, the character of Lou Bloom is one to be fascinated with, whether you respect the fictionally realistic man or are just shocked by what he does. Odds are, you probably represent a mixture of both feelings, and that is normal because Gyllenhaal really deliver a memorable performance that has the ability to evoke respect, mystification, shock, horror and disgust among, other emotions. The acting and themes present in "Nightcrawler" have even made me want to reconsider my future in the world of news and ethical journalism, or at least want to evaluate my moral stances and what I want for my life in the near future.
