Nightcrawler

The Gist: A morally ambiguous, unemployed man suddenly discovers the world of crime journalism and has no qualms in undermining the competition, breaking the law, lying, threatening, or bending the rules in order to establish himself.

Jake Gyllenhaal turns in a mesmerizing performance and shows a willingness to shed his stunning attractiveness in order to prove he's a good actor. I believe the point has been made.

One of the most striking things about this movie is how much it likely reflects reality in the way that news are obtained and produced. I have no difficulty believing it's a cutthroat environment where unscrupulous individuals often rise to the top faster than more conscientious ones.

The Bottom Line: Nightcrawler is not a movie for the faint of heart. It's high-octane entertainment peppered with unethical choices and a good dose of suspense. All that to say that it's a really good movie.

Grade: 8