Nightcrawler (film)

Nightcrawler

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Dan Gilroy
Produced by
Written by Dan Gilroy
Starring
Music by James Newton Howard
Cinematography Robert Elswit
Edited by John Gilroy
Production
company
Distributed by Open Road Films
Release dates
  • September 5, 2014 (Toronto)
  • October 31, 2014 (United States)
Running time
 117 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $8.5 million[2]
Box office $38.7 million[2]

Nightcrawler is a 2014 American neo-noir crime thriller film written and directed by Dan Gilroy in his directorial debut. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a former thief who starts shooting footage of accidents and crimes in Los Angeles and selling it to news channels. It features Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed, and Bill Paxton.

The film had its world premiere at the Special Presentations section of the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.[3] It was released theatrically by Open Road Films on October 31, 2014.[4] It received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay at 87th Academy Awards.

Plot

Caught stealing from a Los Angeles construction site, Louis "Lou" Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) attacks a security guard and steals his watch. After negotiating a price for the stolen material at a scrap yard, Bloom asks for a job, but the foreman tells him he will not employ a thief.

Inspired by a freelance film crew led by cameraman Joe Loder (Bill Paxton) working the scene of a car crash, Bloom steals a racing bicycle and trades it for a camcorder and a radio scanner. That night, Bloom shoots the aftermath of a carjacking, moving up close and filming the victim's death to compete with Joe Loder's higher quality footage. Lou's actions get him and Loder kicked off the crime scene, and they become rivals.

The morning news director of a local TV station, Nina Romina (Rene Russo), buys the footage and encourages Bloom to continue his work. She stipulates that the station is most interested in footage of violent incidents in affluent neighborhoods since these attract the most viewers. Bloom hires an assistant, Rick (Riz Ahmed), a young man desperate for money, and begins his career as a stringer.

To get better footage, Bloom alters crime scenes, in one case moving the body of a car crash victim to make a better shot. Loder beats Bloom to several important stories and has better equipment. As Bloom's work begins to gain traction, he buys better equipment and trades his 1985 Toyota Tercel for a Dodge Challenger. Bloom threatens to end his business with Nina unless she has sex with him, knowing her job depends on his footage. The next day he turns down a business offer from Loder, who beats him to an important plane crash story later that night. Nina explodes in anger at Bloom, demanding he get footage that viewers "can't turn away from" and keep his end of their bargain. Bloom sabotages Loder's van, causing him injury in a crash.

Later that night, Bloom and Rick arrive at the site of a home invasion in an affluent neighborhood before the police. Bloom records footage of the gunmen leaving in their SUV and of the murder victims in the house. The news staff worry that airing the footage is unethical, but Nina is eager to break the story. In exchange, Bloom demands public credit and more money. The police become suspicious of Bloom and ask for his footage of the home invasion. He gives them an edited tape, withholding footage identifying the gunmen, then locates the gunmen himself. With Rick, he stakes them out at a restaurant, planning to tip off the police and film the confrontation. Scared, Rick demands half the money Bloom stands to make, threatening to tell the police about Bloom's illegal activities. Bloom agrees, but demands Rick get out of the car to shoot a supporting angle. Fearing a dangerous confrontation between police and the suspects, Rick refuses to leave until Bloom threatens him with violence.

The police arrive at the restaurant and exchange gunfire with the gunmen. One is killed and the other escapes in the SUV. The police give chase, with Bloom and Rick tailing and recording. After the gunman's SUV crashes, Bloom urges Rick to film the gunman, claiming he is dead. The wounded gunman shoots Rick and tries to escape but is shot by police. As Rick lies dying, Bloom films him and tells him that he cannot work with someone he does not trust.

Nina is awed by the footage and expresses her devotion to Bloom. The news team discovers that the "home invasion" was actually a drug deal gone wrong; Nina omits this information to maximize the story's impact. Police try to confiscate the footage for evidence, but Nina defends her right to withhold it. Interrogated by police detective Fronteiri (Michael Hyatt), Bloom fabricates a story about the men in the SUV following him; Fronteiri suspects he is lying, but she cannot prove it. Bloom invests in two vans and hires a team of interns to expand his business.

Cast

Various Los Angeles news anchors either appear as themselves, such as KCBS' Pat Harvey and Kent Shocknek, or as lightly fictionalized versions of themselves, such as Sharon Tay, Rick Garcia and Rick Chambers.

Production

Gyllenhaal was the first actor to sign on, in April 2013.[5] The film was not one of the 31 projects originally selected by the California Film Tax Credit program June for $100 million in credits via a lottery from 380 applications, but it did receive a $2.3 million allocation.[6] Bill Paxton and Rene Russo signed for the film in September 2013,[7] followed by the casting of Riz Ahmed as Gyllenhaal's "driver and protege".[8] Kevin Rahm joined the cast as a News Channel editor in October 2013.[9] Principal photography began on October 6, 2013 in Los Angeles and lasted 27 days.[10] Gyllenhaal lost 20 lb (9.1 kg) for his role.[11] The full production process took approximately 27 weeks from first shot to picture lock. [12]

Reception

Critical response

Nightcrawler received critical acclaim, with many praising Gyllenhaal's performance and Gilroy's script. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a score of 95%, based on 214 reviews, with a rating average of 8.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Restless, visually sleek, and powered by a lithe star performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler offers dark, thought-provoking thrills."[13] On Metacritic, another review aggregator, the film has a score of 76 out of 100, based on 45 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[14]

Reviewers call Gyllenhaal's character a "charming sociopath" and his performance "a bravura, career-changing tour-de-force."[15][16][17] Christy Lemire of the Chicago Sun-Times called Gyllenhaal's performance "supremely creepy" and praised the film's themes and messages.[18] Christopher Orr of The Atlantic compared Gyllenhaal to a young Robert De Niro and his performances in the films Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy, feeling Gyllenhaal's character harbored traits shared by De Niro's characters in the two films. Orr called Gyllenhaal "tremendous" in the role and stated that the actor is learning to "channel an eerie, inner charisma, offering it up in glimpses and glimmers rather than all at once." He also declared the role as Gyllenhaal's "best performance to date."[19] Ben Sachs of the Chicago Reader said, "For a first-time director, Gilroy demonstrates an uncommon assurance, not only in his audacious tonal shifts but in the stellar work he elicits from his cast and crew."[20]

Conversely, Richard Roeper gave the movie a C+, calling Gyllenhaal's performance "brilliant", but ultimately saying, "[I] didn't buy the ending and there were just too many broad jabs at the TV news business."

Box office

Nightcrawler opened on October 31, 2014 in 2,766 theaters and grossed $10.4 million, with an average of $3,775 per theater and ranking #2 at the box office. By December 30, 2014, the film had earned $32.1 million in the United States and Canada and by November 16, 2014, $9.1 million in other countries.[2]

Accolades

For his performance as Louis "Lou" Bloom, Jake Gyllenhaal received praise from critics, including nominations for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role.

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref(s)
Academy Awards February 22, 2015 Best Original Screenplay Dan Gilroy Nominated [21]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists January 12, 2015 Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated [22]
ACE Eddie Awards January 30, 2015 Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic John Gilroy Nominated [23]
American Film Institute December 9, 2014 Top Ten Films of the Year Nightcrawler Won [21]
Art Directors Guild January 31, 2015 Excellence in Production Design for a Contemporary Film Kevin Kavanaugh Nominated [24]
Austin Film Critics Association December 17, 2014 AFCA 2014 Top Ten Films Nightcrawler 6th place [25]
Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Won
Best Original Screenplay Dan Gilroy Won
Best First Film Nightcrawler (Dan Gilroy) Won
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts International Awards January 31, 2015 Best International Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated [26]
Boston Society of Film Critics December 8, 2014 Best New Filmmaker Dan Gilroy Won [27]
British Academy Film Awards February 8, 2015 Best Original Screenplay Dan Gilroy Nominated [28]
Best Actor in a Leading Role Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Rene Russo Nominated
Best Editing John Gilroy Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association December 15, 2014 Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated [29]
Most Promising Filmmaker Dan Gilroy Nominated
Critics' Choice Movie Award January 15, 2015 Best Picture Nightcrawler Nominated [30]
Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Dan Gilroy Nominated
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association December 15, 2014 Top Ten Films of the Year Nightcrawler 10th place [31]
Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated
Denver Film Critics Society January 12, 2015 Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated [32]
Best Supporting Actress Rene Russo Nominated
Detroit Film Critics Society December 15, 2014 Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated [33]
Best Supporting Actress Rene Russo Nominated
Dublin Film Critics' Circle December 17, 2014 Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Won [34]
Florida Film Critics Circle December 19, 2014 Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Runner-up [35]
Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association March 1, 2015 Film Performance of the Year – Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated [36]
Georgia Film Critics Association January 9, 2015 Best Picture Nightcrawler Nominated [37]
Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Won
Best Supporting Actor Riz Ahmed Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Rene Russo Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Dan Gilroy Won
Golden Globe Awards January 11, 2015 Best Actor - Drama Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated [38]
Gotham Awards December 1, 2014 Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award Dan Gilroy Nominated [39]
Breakthrough Actor Riz Ahmed Nominated
Houston Film Critics Society January 10, 2015 Best Picture Nightcrawler Nominated [40]
Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Won
Best Original Screenplay Dan Gilroy Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards February 21, 2015 Best First Feature Nightcrawler Won [41]
Best Male Lead Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated
Best Supporting Male Riz Ahmed Nominated
Best Screenplay Dan Gilroy Won
Best Editing John Gilroy Nominated
Las Vegas Film Critics Society December 18, 2014 LVFCS Top 10 Films of 2014 Nightcrawler 4th place [42]
London Film Critics' Circle January 18, 2015 Film of the Year Nightcrawler Nominated [43][44]
Actor of the Year Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated
Supporting Actor of the Year Riz Ahmed Nominated
Screenwriter of the Year Dan Gilroy Nominated
Los Angeles Film Critics Association December 7, 2014 Best Supporting Actress Rene Russo Runner-up [45]
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild February 14, 2015 Best Contemporary Make-Up Donald Mowat and Malanie Romero Nominated [46]
National Board of Review January 6, 2015 Top Ten Films Nightcrawler Won [47]
National Society of Film Critics Awards January 3, 2015 Best Supporting Actress Rene Russo 2nd Runner-up [48]
New York Film Critics Online December 7, 2014 Best Debut Director Dan Gilroy Won [49]
North Texas Film Critics Association January 5, 2015 Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Won [50]
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle January 5, 2015 Best Picture Nightcrawler 6th place [51]
Best First Feature Nightcrawler Won
Online Film Critics Society December 15, 2014 Best Picture Nightcrawler Nominated [52]
Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society December 16, 2014 Breakthrough Performance Behind the Camera Dan Gilroy Won [53]
Producers Guild of America Awards January 24, 2015 Best Theatrical Motion Picture Jennifer Fox, Tony Gilroy Nominated [54]
San Diego Film Critics Society December 15, 2014 Best Film Nightcrawler Won [55]
Best Director Dan Gilroy Won
Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Won
Best Supporting Actor Riz Ahmed Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Rene Russo Won
Best Original Screenplay Dan Gilroy Won
Best Cinematography Robert Elswit Won
Best Editing John Gilroy Nominated
Best Score James Newton Howard Won
San Francisco Film Critics Circle December 14, 2014 Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated [56]
Satellite Awards February 15, 2015 Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated [57]
Best Original Screenplay Dan Gilroy Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards January 25, 2015 Best Male Actor in a Leading Role Jake Gyllenhaal Nominated [58]
Southeastern Film Critics Association December 22, 2014 2014 SEFCA Top Ten Films Nightcrawler Won [59]
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association December 15, 2014 Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Won [60]
Best Original Screenplay Dan Gilroy Nominated
Best Cinematography Robert Elswit Nominated
Best Art Direction Nightcrawler Nominated
Toronto Film Critics Association December 15, 2014 Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Runner-up [61]
Best First Feature Dan Gilroy Runner-up
Utah Film Critics Association December 17, 2014 Best Original Screenplay Dan Gilroy Runner-up [62]
Best Cinematography Robert Elswit Won
Vancouver Film Critics Circle January 5, 2015 Best Actor Jake Gyllenhaal Won [63]
Writers Guild of America Awards February 14, 2015 Best Original Screenplay Dan Gilroy Nominated [64]

References

  1. ↑ "NIGHTCRAWLER". British Board of Film Classification. October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Nightcrawler (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Toronto Film Festival Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Nightcrawler (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  5. ↑ Guidry, Ken (26 April 2013). "Jake Gyllenhaal To Star In Dan Gilroy's Directorial Debut 'Nightcrawler'". The Playlist. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  6. ↑ McNary, Dave (19 September 2013). "Jake Gyllenhaal's 'Nightcrawler' Gets California Incentive (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  7. ↑ McNary, Dave (7 September 2013). "Toronto: Bill Paxton Joins Jake Gyllenhaal in 'Nightcrawler' (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  8. ↑ Franklin, Garth (17 September 2013). "Casting: Ahmed, Tamblyn, Harris, Lowe". Dark Horizons. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  9. ↑ Kroll, Justin (4 October 2013). "'Mad Men' Actor Kevin Rahm Joins Jake Gyllenhaal Pic 'Nightcrawler'". Variety. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "Beginner's Pluck". Deadline.com. January 7, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Jake Gyllenhaal Looks Super Skinny On Nightcrawler Set—See the Pic". E! Online. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  12. ↑ Wooding, Andy (24 February 2015). "In Conversation: John Gilroy (Editor of Nightcrawler)". Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "Nightcrawler (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  14. ↑ "Nightcrawler". Metacritic. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  15. ↑ Monk, Katherine (October 31, 2014). "Nightcrawler, reviewed: Jake Gyllenhaal’s charming sociopath anchors tale of morality in the City of Angels". nationalpost.com. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  16. ↑ Lumenick, Lou (October 30, 2014). "Gyllenhaal stuns as a sociopathic TV cameraman in ‘Nightcrawler’". nypost.com. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  17. ↑ Baker, Jeff (October 30, 2014). "'Nightcrawler' review: Jake Gyllenhaal is a violent sociopath who finds a rewarding career in TV news". oregonian.com. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  18. ↑ Lemire, Christy (November 5, 2014). "Nightcrawler". ChristyLemire.com. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  19. ↑ Orr, Christopher (October 31, 2014). "Nightcrawler: A Breakthrough for Jake Gyllenhaal". The Atlantic. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  20. ↑ Sachs, Ben (October 29, 2014). "In Nightcrawler, if it bleeds, it leads". Chicago Reader. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Oscar Nominations 2015: The Complete List - The Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter. January 15, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  22. ↑ "2014 EDA Awards Nominees". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Nominees for 65th Annual ACE Eddie Awards". American Cinema Editors. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Nominations Announced For 19th Annual Art Directors Guild Excellence In Production Design Awards" (PDF). Art Directors Guild. January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  25. ↑ "‘Boyhood’ is Austin Film Critics Association Favorite in 2014". Austin Film Critics Association. 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  26. ↑ "4th AACTA International Awards Nominees". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  27. ↑ Burr, Ty (December 8, 2014). "'Boyhood', 'Birdman' lead 2014 Boston film critics' awards". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  28. ↑ "BAFTA Nominations: ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’ Leads With 11 – Full List". Deadline.com. January 8, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  29. ↑ ""Birdman" Leads 2014 CFCA Nominations". Chicago Film Critics Association. 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  30. ↑ "2015 Critics Choice Awards". Rotten Tomatoes. December 15, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  31. ↑ "DFW Film Critics name "Birdman" as top film of 2014". Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association. 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  32. ↑ "DFCS Nominates ‘Birdman,’ ‘Boyhood’ for Group’s Major Awards". Denver Film Critics Society. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  33. ↑ "The 2014 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards". Detroit Film Critics Society. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Dublin critics award 'Boyhood,' 'Frank,' Jake Gyllenhaal and Marion Cotillard". HitFix. December 17, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  35. ↑ "2014 FFCC Award Winners". Florida Film Critics Circle. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  36. ↑ Banks, Alicia (January 12, 2015). "Dorian Awards: ‘Birdman’ and ‘Transparent’ Lead Nominations for Gay and Lesbian Critics (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  37. ↑ ""Boyhood," "Nightcrawler" Win Big as Georgia Film Critics Split the Board". Reel Georgia. January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  38. ↑ Johnson, Zach (December 11, 2014). "Golden Globes 2015: Complete List of Nominees". E!. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Gotham Independent Film Awards 2014 Nominations". Rotten Tomatoes. October 23, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  40. ↑ "The Houston Film Critics Society Award Winners for 2014". Houston Film Critics Society. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  41. ↑ "Independent Spirit Award Nominations 2015:Full List of Nominees". Deadline.com. November 25, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  42. ↑ "'Birdman' and genre love from Las Vegas film critics". Kristopher Tapley. HitFix. December 18, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  43. ↑ "35th CC Film Awards Nominations". London Film Critics' Circle. December 16, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  44. ↑ "London critics award 'Boyhood,' 'Under the Skin'". Hitfix. January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  45. ↑ "2014 Los Angeles Film Critics Awards:'Boyhood' and 'Grand Budapest Hotel' Big Winners". Brad Brevet. Ropes of Silicon. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  46. ↑ McNary, Dave (January 8, 2015). "‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ ‘Into the Woods’ Lead Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  47. ↑ Thompson, Anne (December 2, 2014). "National Board of Review Names 'A Most Violent Year' Best Film of 2014". Indiewire. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  48. ↑ Chang, Justin (January 3, 2015). "‘Goodbye to Language’ Named Best Picture by National Society of Film Critics". Variety. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  49. ↑ "NYFCO Awards". New York Film Critics Online. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  50. ↑ "'Boyhood,' Gyllenhaal, Pike tops with North Texas film critics". Hitfix. January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  51. ↑ "OFCC Awards BOYHOOD Best Picture and Director; Rosamund Pike Wins Best Actress". Collider.com. January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  52. ↑ "2014 Awards (18th Annual)". Online Film Critics Society. 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  53. ↑ "Phoenix Film Critics Society 2014 Awards". Phoenix Film Critics Society. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  54. ↑ "Theatrical Motion Picture, Animated Theatrical and Long-Form TV Nominations Announced". Producers Guild of America. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  55. ↑ "2014 San Diego Film Critics Award Nominations". San Diego Film Critics Society. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  56. ↑ "2014 SAN FRANCISCO FILM CRITICS AWARDS:Full List of Nominees". San Francisco Film Critics Circle. 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  57. ↑ "Satellite Awards (2014)". International Press Academy. IPA. December 4, 2014. pressacademy.com. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  58. ↑ "Full list of Screen Actors Guild Award nominees". MSN. December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  59. ↑ "'Grand Budapest Hotel' named year's best by Southeastern Film Critics Association". Kristopher Tapley. HitFix. December 22, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  60. ↑ "2014 Winners of the St. Louis Film Critics Awards Announced!". St. Louis Film Critics Association. 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  61. ↑ "2014 Winners of the St. Louis Film Critics Awards Announced!". Toronto Film Critics Association. December 15, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  62. ↑ "‘Birdman’ takes Best Picture from Utah Film Critics Association". The Salt Lake Tribune. December 17, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  63. ↑ "Vancouver critics go with 'Boyhood,' Gyllenhaal, Swinton". Hitfix. January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  64. ↑ "2015 Nominees". Writers Guild of America. Retrieved January 7, 2015.

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