An excellent film that serves as a cracked-mirror version of last month’s ignored gem “Kill the Messenger.” Whereas that film was all about good journalism (and journalists) getting buried by a lazy, defensive media, this is the polar opposite as we watch a sociopath climb up the ranks of ridiculously voyeuristic “news” more interested in sensational murders than real investigative work.
What Works: I loved how the film pulls back the layers of how rotten local “news” has gotten, as TV stations chase lurid, race-baiting stories (they want stories of how black crime seeps into the white suburbs) and violence over any real information, but that also mirrors the central character, a deceptively harmless creep named Lou Bloom who we only gradually realize is more dangerous than a lot of the stories he’s after.
Jake Gyllenhaal gives an all-time best performance as this wormy opportunist, a man who cloaks craven immorality in the self-helpish neo-business speak a young Wall Streeter might use. Renee Russo and Bill Paxton give strong supporting turns and remind you that they need more work. Riz Ahmed expands on his lightly comedic doofus persona from Four Lions (an underrated jewel about screw-up jihadists people should check out) as Gyllenhaal’s clueless “intern.” And the style of this film is excellent from editing to cinematography; it’s the best film since “Collateral” at capturing the neon-danger of L.A. streets.
What Doesn’t: There are times that feel a little anachronistic, and I’ve heard some people say “Is this movie set in the 90’s?” because it is a little hard to place the era in some spots, and others won’t like the ending, although I think that’s one of the strongest parts.
What I Would Have Done Differently: Go see this movie.
Jake Gyllenhaal did an amazing job! Great review