Nightcrawler: What's It Really About?

What is the meaning of success? And how far would you go to be successful? These are just some of the many questions I'm left with after watching Dan Gilroy’s directorial debut film- Nightcrawler. A film that packs many questions and shockingly few answers as intended by the filmmakers behind it. It’s a movie that is firmly planted in “literally me” culture with a main character who is equal parts interesting and terrifying- yet strangely observable at the same time.
For a riveting viewing experience that is sure to entertain you (and leave you heavily reflecting on your own morals)- Nightcrawler may be what you’re looking for as we follow Lou Bloom, a shady L.A loner who gets by on low-level schemes and odd-jobs. But when he discovers the dark and dangerous world of freelance crime scene photography- Lou becomes obsessed with rising to the top of the food chain as a professional stringer. Along the way, we’re taken for a ride complete with breakneck speed, back ally deals, blackmail, betrayal, manipulation (mentally AND physically), and even murder while we watch the unlikely success of a truly despicable person.
But what can we learn from this movie and the brilliant first-time filmmaker behind it? What does the character of Lou Bloom say about the news industry and what does that say about us for watching it? These are all questions I hope to unpack in today’s episode where we take a thrilling look back on Dan Gilroy’s film and try to determine once and for all- What is Nightcrawler REALLY About?
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#nightcrawlers #jakegyllenhaal

[@johnr.7906]

When ambition, mental illness and the 24 hour news cycle collide! JG should of won the Best Actor Oscar for this. Absolutely incredible!

[@StimParavane]

Mental illness? Psychopathy more like.

[@williamjackson6705]

This movie sat on My shelf for 10 years & I never watched. I finally watched it last week & was totally mesmerized by it. It's scary because this is probably how things actually work. Jake deserved an Oscar.

[@TheNervousnation]

Glad you finally watched it, it must have been a gift. Great film!

[@BALAAABOYYYY222]

How come it was just sitting there for 10 years?

[@paulcarpenter7844]

Rip Bill Paxton

[@judahofjudea4601]

It is, there are a lot of sociopaths in CEO positions and they get rewarded because they are ambitious. They also pretty much run the USA.

[@ECKohns]

Weirdest X-Men Spin Off ever.

[@seandeangelis7849]

😅😅😅

[@mattblom3990]

It's really about...One of the best, least talked about movies ever made. Jake deserved an Oscar nod.

[@oldpunker885]

This is his best performance by far in my opinion. He transformed himself into this soulless nonhuman.

[@johnkarakash]

"I would never ask you do anything, that I wouldn't do myself." Damn, I still love this line!

[@myrnalaboy2840]

i watched it only once and in my viewpoint, this is how the human spirit gets devoured by the dark side of fame and fortune.

[@Deathstroke4200]

I've watched this film one time. To me it's about someone who will do absolutely anything to get ahead.

[@edwardsanchez3708]

I've always said the problem with that is, it is called ill-gotten gains. It will either bite the perpetrator or their children there are no shortcuts.

[@jliller]

If you're willing to truly do anything to get ahead or survive then you don't deserve to. This film is a great example.

[@kendallevans4079]

I watched it once also and that was one time to many!

[@isessogroup]

Being so hungry for success that youre relentlessly prepared for any opportunity to pounce on it and eat... Lou was alot of things but his grindset is legendary... "im gonna go home and do some accounting"

[@snickel2584]

Hollywood should make more movies like this.

[@Brianvanmoustache]

I don't think you touched on something I always thought bout with this movie. Having him & other people be unlikeable in a profession where likability is maybe the most important part to it's success. Showing what these people think & act like behind the curtains.

[@Grinnar]

Fun fact: Feeling two conflicting emotions at the same time is called "ambivalence." You're welcome for this tidbit (and no, it does not mean neutral like a lot of people use, or others say it as either/or, it's two conflicting emotions at the same time).

[@ginofrancejr555]

One of my all time favorite movies

[@dpglounge4900]

Jake perfected this sort of acting in zodiac nobody talks about how obsessed his character robert was in finding who zodiac was no matter who gets hurt even his own family in publishing his book still very underrated

[@zackisrael7372]

I think there's a point that you don't throw in there that I think is definitely being made with this movie. People that are willing to do the things that he does are the people that succeed.

[@Aragorn7884]

bruh, that ending! 😮😮😮

[@DNOstalgia]

Fantastic Kier as always! Magnicient movie!

[@briansinger5258]

I can't watch this without Rooting for Lou. Society let that guy down.

[@CollinThomasEverett]

My top favorite movie.

[@arifhussain-dl1vp]

JG is one of the most underrated actor.

[@Omar-wq9dz]

I didn’t see the film when it first came out, but I should have since I enjoyed it when I finally got around to seeing it

[@JayTeeAyy]

Literally me

[@kurtbarlow5408]

Brilliant movie Modern day Taxi Driver

[@jrreedve2825]

I was rooting for Lou to go down.

[@TheSilverDubberII]

I knew JG was a very good actor; this film made me realise he is an amazing actor. ❤

[@Woozlewuzzleable]

Wow that was directorial debut.

[@Woozlewuzzleable]

Movie is close to perfect…..yes I’m replying to my own comment.

[@heroperseus007]

​@@Woozlewuzzleable Very quirky 😅

[@thespicemelange.1]

I remember watching this movie when it first came out on cable thinking where the hell is this movie come from. After I watched it I was like damn that movie fucked me up. That shit showed me stuff that I didn't know what's going on in the background and made me realize that people are fucked up. And I cannot watch his movie a second time because of that.

[@Woozlewuzzleable]

He was such a good psychopath.

[@shawnbell3468]

This character is way more creepy than Donnie darko, Jake is really good in that roll, almost too good, you'd think we'd hear about him in the news doing Ezra Miller type shit.

[@craqeheadmusic]

Wow I never thought about this film in this way

[@TheFilmmad]

I love ❤️ this film.

[@edwardsanchez3708]

When I first heard about nightcrawler I was like Oh wow, I need to check this out It must be a new marvel movie I haven't heard of yet. I started watching it and was very confused lol Turned out to be pretty decent movie though

[@MrCarloszod]

Yes, this is one of those original gems that emerge in the middle of an ocean dominated by superheroes and comics, this is one of those that when you see it you say... wow, so lucky I picked it, I found a treasure, and yes, This seems to be a recurring site where Mr. Donnie Darko takes us from time to time, Jake definitely has good cinematographic taste.

[@AGoodJoe]

Loved this film. Saw it in the theater.

[@domwalker6526]

One of my favorite films ever

[@ckotcher1]

I could listen to this to documentaries about this movie all day. I can’t believe this Director. This was his first film! He knocked it out of the park… But of course, with Jake Gyllenhaal, he had the perfect leading man. I find him similar to Ryan Gosling (when he’s not being “Ken” 😑) Jake is the perfect actor who can be funny… Handsome… But incredibly intense and unhinged all at once. Such an underrated actor, and such a brilliant film.

[@zillsburyy1]

its his best performance

[@Woozlewuzzleable]

It’s great but I also love Donny Darko.

[@dpglounge4900]

He's underrated good in zodiac

[@CaesarJayL]

Still not sure how Jake didn't win an award for this performance.. dude was freakin creepy throughout definitely a sociopath.

[@GEMINIEARTHWALKER]

In my mind this movie is a sequel to Showtime, Russo's character is the same one from Showtime, corrupted by her time as a media producer.

[@SkarrGaming]

This film reminds me of the Tool song "Vicarious". I mean just look at the lyrics - Eye on the TV, 'cause tragedy thrills me Whatever flavor it happens to be like "Killed by the husband" "Drowned by the ocean" "Shot by his own son" "She used the poison in his tea" "Then kissed him goodbye" That's my kind of story It's no fun 'til someone dies Don't look at me like I am a monster Frown out your one face, but with the other Stare like a junkie into the TV Stare like a zombie while the mother holds her child Watches him die Hands to the sky crying, "Why, oh why?" 'Cause I need to watch things die From a distance Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies You all need it too, don't lie Why can't we just admit it? Why can't we just admit it? We won't give pause until the blood is flowin' Neither the brave nor bold Nor brightest of stories told We won't give pause until the blood is flowin' I need to watch things die From a good safe distance Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies You all feel the same, so Why can't we just admit it? Blood like rain come down Drum on grave and ground Part vampire, part warrior Carnivore and voyeur Stare at the transmittal Sing to the death rattle La-la, la-la, la, la, la-lie La-la, la-la, la, la, la-lie La-la, la-la, la, la, la-lie La-la, la-la, la, la, la-lie Credulous at best, your desire to believe in Angels in the hearts of men Pull your head on out your hippy haze and give a listen Shouldn't have to say it all again The universe is hostile, so impersonal Devour to survive, so it is, so it's always been We all feed on tragedy It's like blood to a vampire Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies Much better you than I

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

The film comes at a point in class history wherein if anyone can rise without nepotism, without pedigree, and without "saintly" benefactors then that person is a working class hero. He hasn't killed anyone (assuming he didn't when I was in the bathroom at the theater). He is as flawed and weird as the rest of us. And he wins like how we want. Grab an in and go for it.

[@amberjulia123]

He kills Joe (his rival). He also manipulatively kills Rick (bc he doesn’t want to share the bounty with him). But most importantly- this film shows that being a murderer isn’t the only way to be evil. He is pure evil in many other ways throughout the film.

[@hal90001]

Inspired by corporate executives.

[@dawnfmEnthusiast]

❤❤❤

[@alexthelizardking]

Just when this movie finally becomes interesting, it ends.

[@Sos4R4y]

Some of his personality puts me in mind of Denzels character in Training Day

[@Revitalizejourneys]

I love that music

[@bananess_]

great vid

[@WVLFRVN]

Whenever I see Riz Ahmed in anything, I get instantly transported back to when he used to battle rap obese people

[@chadhendershot3519]

Deep movie Jake play good character he gave me creep

[@gypsydildopunks7083]

I love this flick. But you keep saying we are rooting for him, I do not understand your statement. I was waiting for him to become dead or arrested or just something bad to happen to him. This is, by far, Jake Gyllenhaal's best movie. He should have won the best award for his performance

[@Highostrich]

You giving Rebel Moon 8/10 has me not trusting anything you critic, ever.

[@gogogreengeneration]

Political media now similar, whatever it takes to stimulate the choir I mean preach.

[@samracchumi5315]

Why can Jake do more movies like this an when he did enemy it was great . Why does he have to do stuff like roadhouse , like I feel like Jake is a complex actor an doesn't do basically mcu movies which I got wrong cuz he literally joined mcu. It's depressing cuz I want Jake to do more movies like this , character study movies. He has so much talent being wasted on brainless movies like the mcu .

[@Revitalizejourneys]

1:24 music

[@Uber-baby]

I knew that.

[@Revitalizejourneys]

1:17 music?

[@paulcarpenter7844]

Lou is Michael Myers without the mask 😅

[@Zombiesnyder13]

WTF happened to Dan Gilroy?

[@kendallevans4079]

The fact that he hasn't done anything with a large studio might be saying something. The power brokers might not have liked what they saw.

[@5050clown]

fertogerphy

[@paulcarpenter7844]

Damn I miss bill Paxton

[@jar5520]

You mean "What IS IT really about" how u mess that up JoBlo

[@JayCie-v3p]

"Should repulse us"? You mean you were'nt? WTF!?

[@tomlichnofsky.7048]

😒How Does it Go Again?? 🤔 - You Have to Make The Money! To Buy A Ticket!? - The Ticket!?! ✊😊👊😆👍👌😂🍁

[@Imhotep-the-7th]

It's a horrible movie, no wait.. it's a great movie about a horrible horrible human being!! just like nocturnal animal!!

[@Aragorn7884]

hidden. gem.

[@Omegared_o]

If i could tell woke media uncle i would brudda

[@tkskagen]

Without wtching a trailer or preview of this film, I would have assumed that this was a film of the X-Men character "NIGHTCRAWLER". Sadly I am disgusted with this title and film!

[@kendallevans4079]

LOL.....Disgusted it wasn't a comic? You must be 8 years old

[@allanlomas5133]

Capitalism is so sociopath, socialism is way gooder cause you love the animols and staff

[@MetalMew2]

I always thought it was obviously a crap commercial for the telemarketing, tech bro's, amoral clout or monied virtue for personal protection from the angle of "Taxation isn't theft, I pay less" when stealing or profiting from the zeitgeist of "Bruh, but I forgive women and people of colour only if they fight the system becoming me more passive than passionately" There's those who are not in control and desperate to extricate themselves of their demands to allow innocent people to get by without helpful people who are just better at trying to logically or emotionally resolve social issues instead of profit from inflation of troubles...or argue that they got fucked for the money and enjoy the wholesome paying experience.

[@crakatoot5480]

It’s a terrible film. Just a fairly obvious commentary about people’s fascination with violence. Plus Jake doing a subpar Hannibal lecter impression.

[@kendallevans4079]

Agree. So many plot holes too. Looks and feels like JG had some free time and didn't need to leave Los Angeles for the shoot, why not pick up a few extra million

[@globalnomad1221]

It reminds me of contemporary America

[@TheSilverDubberII]

I knew JG was a very good actor; this film made me realise he is an amazing actor. ❤