What is super creepy and flies around Los Angeles at night? Lou Bloom, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, as a crazed wannabe who inspires to become the paparazzi of death in Dan Gilroy's, Nightcrawler. Quickly learning the nuances of high-speed news reporting, Lou Bloom takes us on a hellish journey of contemporary America and the dreary realism of the media and our failing culture.
Just in time for Halloween, this fright-fest of human behavior at its' worst was released last evening. Gyllenhaal delivers in what just might be his best acting performance, yet. Lou Bloom is a lonely character - unable to procure a position of employment not matter how hard he tries. He is gaunt, ugly, introverted, and very jealous of what those in the world around him have that he does not. This serves as a both a recipe and lesson for what we can produce, here in America. Sure, it happens everywhere. It just happens a lot more, here. Happy Halloween.
Finding quick success in capturing burning fires, dying people, blood and gore, Lou Bloom quickly catches the attention of an aging newscaster of a local, LA station. Played by the gorgeous at 60, Rene Russo, they form a very interesting relationship. Lou Bloom quickly learns how to succeed in the game. Soon enough, it is not only his purple flowers in his window that represent the only beautiful thing in his life. This is where this film gets very eerie.
Nightcrawler took a while to get a hold of me but, 3/4 of the way through, it finally, did. My thoughts are that I am just too exposed to violence and realism in our country - stuff that we hear about and see, everyday - no big deal, right? As the film presented itself, I was only carried along in a mind of melancholy until the plot, really, kicked into gear. Gyllenhaal's acting is what, truly, propels this story and leaves the viewer no choice but to be absorbed into his big, brown, bulging eyes erected over the top of his unhealthy and, almost, sickly frame(I'm talking Mathew in Dallas Buyer's, skinny). At best, he has abandonment issues exude and he represents those who have been lost in the American dream and the American economy. At worst, he is one very chilling human being to watch act on the screen. I'm calling it now....he would be a great villain in the next, Batman.
My favorite selection of wine to pair with Nightcrawler? I must go with something, American - dark and from California - heavy and deep and full enough to warm the soul on this creepy Hallow's Eve. My choice is the full-bodied, deep and lush, red with hints of fall spice - the 2012 Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon Block 007 from the Dry Creek Valley. This wine is perfect for the dark....take a sip, alone on your front porch while you hand-out candy..... a small candle in the corner that lights the way just enough for kids to approach....scare the shit out of them....then, have another sip.....Outstanding film....Press Democrat's wine of the week with, perhaps, this year's film of the year?
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