By ALEXANDER WHEELER
Features Editor
and
JOSEPH CONWAY
Staff Writer
—
Is a film made to entertain or to win awards? Does it happen to be entertaining and also award worthy? Alexander Wheeler and Joseph Conway are here to answer those questions in this week’s edition of
“Award Great or Award Bait”
In Dan Gilroy’s directorial debut, Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Louis Bloom – a sociopathic Nightcrawler. A Nightcrawler is a freelance recorder who attempts to travel to crime scenes and record gruesome scenes for news stations.
Alexander’s Opinion
Gyllenhaal almost went on to play Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, in Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” trilogy. There are some days when I wonder what that would have been like, and then there are days that I’m thankful that the job went to Christian Bale so Gyllenhaal could stick to films like this. After watching a countless number of his films (Jarhead, Donnie Darko, Brothers, Prisoners, and most recently, Enemy) Gyllenhaal has easily solidified himself as one of my favorite actors, and I’m rooting for a potential nomination for last year’s impressive Prisoners. This is the year that I think he could score a Lead Actor nomination. While it is still early in the circuit, Gyllenhaal carries the film with assurance, charisma and a wickedness that is deeply rooted.
While I admired the film’s stance on media exploitation and its subtly aggressive message about capitalism, the rest of the film doesn’t measure up in comparison to Gyllenhaal’s starring performance.
That isn’t to say that the film is bad – I loved it more than almost everything else at the theater this year – but Gyllenhaal is the reason why this film tops my list. While Gyllenhaal has played a perfect second to the likes of Heath Ledger, Hugh Jackman, Mark Ruffalo, and even himself (please watch Enemy), he finally packs one hell of a punch in a lead role.
This isn’t the boy we met way back in Donnie Darko. This Gyllenhaal is an assured star, hungry for his spot at the top. His Louis Bloom is an aggressive antihero who storms the screen every time we see him. There are more than a handful of truly engrossing monologues he gives throughout the film that are worthy of praise for his delivery – but the tool that Gyllenhaal uses to his utmost benefit throughout the film is his gaze. His expressions are hollow, tired and empty.
In a pool of actors that seems thick this year (Carell for Foxcatcher, McConaughey for Interstellar, Cumberbatch for The Imitation Game, Keaton for Birdman, Cooper for American Sniper, Oyelowo for Selma) it seems like perhaps Gyllenhaal’s performance in a film released mid- October might go overlooked. I’m opting to think the other way, and I predict that Gyllenhaal will sneak his way into the final list and score his first Lead Actor nomination.
Joseph’s Opinion
Nightcrawler is a thriller directed by first-timer Dan Gilroy and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, who puts on a performance that may just define his career. Gilroy’s film takes us to a land rarely explored, with Gyllenhaal making us care about it and maybe even fearing it.
When we consider whether this movie is an award great or award bait, we must keep in mind that this is Dan Gilroy’s first attempt at directing a film, and with that consideration I must say, he directed a truly enchanting film.
The movie features music by James Newton Howard, and through his music, the film’s creepy and thrilling tone is truly enhanced. The cinematography, by Robert Elswit, provides audiences with some truly breathtaking, heart-pumping, hair-pulling moments. With his crew supporting him, this rookie director truly hit a home run.
Though Gilroy’s first performance as a director was spectacular, if anyone is walking away with Oscar gold come the big night, it is going to be Gyllenhaal. He has been in great movies in the past (End of Watch, Brokeback Mountain and Prisoners come to mind) but this performance may give him a chance at the Oscar for Best Lead Actor.
Throughout the movie, Gyllenhaal doesn’t just act with his voice. He acts with his face, his eyes and the expressions throughout his whole body. Gyllenhaal’s Louis Bloom is both creepy and irritating in the best way possible. Throughout the film Gyllenhaal delivers monologues that give audience members goose bumps; he makes you feel uncomfortable, and to some extent, even scared.
Gyllenhaal’s character is the kind of person you meet on a bus, have one conversation with and remember them forever, because they were weird to an extent that terrified you. I believe that with this performance Gyllenhaal will have a chance at victory come award season, and due to Rosamund Pike’s fantastic performance in Gone Girl, we may just have the creepiest Oscar character pairing of all time.
Our final verdict bestows Gilroy’s film with the title of Award Great.
Alexander’s Predictions
Best Actor
Joseph’s Predictions
Best Director, Best Actor
