If I chose one word to describe my experience after this film, it would be: disturbed. This film reaffirms that Jake Gyllenhaal is one of Hollywoods’ best working actors today. Not only that, but this is director Dan Gilroy’s first film. I find that extremely impressive, and cannot help but wonder where he will go after this remarkable accomplishment.
If You Want to Win The Lottery…
I’ll leave Jake’s performance for last, first I will focus on the actual plot of the film. You follow a clearly psychopathic character as he finds a job that he excels at. The film did a great job establishing Gyllenhaal’s character within just a few minutes into the film. After that, the film just kept escalating until its’ big finale. Every scene not only reenforces the Gyllenhaal’s initial characterization, but adds to his insanity. I will say, the last 40 or so minutes had me on the edge of my seat. I was completely focused on what was happening on the screen, and I was accompanied by an uneasy feeling shortly afterwards. I only had two problems with the plot. The first is that there were several conveniences.Nothing major, but it took me out of the film for a brief second. The other problem (slightly more problematic) is the way it ended. I am sure that some people liked it, but I personally was not a huge fan. I do not think it was a bad ending, but I do think it could have been much better.
…You’ve Got to Make The Money to Buy a Ticket
Now that the plot has been covered, let us discuss the acting. Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, and Riz Ahmed were all great in their roles. They were not mind-blowing, but they did portrayed their characters very well. However, Jake Gyllenhaal was ecstatic. When I saw him in the film, I did not see Jake Gyllenhaal. I only saw Lou Bloom. He was able to perfectly convey the madness of Lou Bloom without appearing over the top. He conveyed the madness most effectively through his nomenclature, mannerisms, and especially though his physical appearance. In many ways he acts much like anyone else, just not in the proper situations. He gets excited murders or car accidents, but he shows no concern for those involved. All he sees is an opportunity to make money and become successful. The music in the film also helped convey the madness that lies within Lou Bloom.
Closing Remarks
This is the kind of film that is not a particularly enjoyable experience. The plot is great, the acting is superb, the cinematography is gorgeous, and the music is engrossing. However, the film is extremely disturbing. It is expected when dealing with a character like Lou Bloom, but does so with absolute conviction. Has Gyllenhaal finally given an Oscar worthy performance? We will find out next year.