HABISTAT REVIEWS:
Two Movie Reviewers Review a Movie
The following is a review of the movie Nightcrawler between two fans of cinema. Ben is the film editor for his college’s newspaper (the Charger’s Bulletin) and Dylan is a staff writer for Ben. This review covers what both Dylan and Ben loved about the movie and other critical analysis. The conversation was recorded via text message right after Ben got out of the theater: (SPOILER ALERT)
Ben: Damn that was a good movie
Dylan: Haha yea? So I take it you liked it?
Ben: Yeah I thought it was great; I would give it five stars.
Dylan: Five stars? How so?
Ben: I thought Jake Gyllenhaal played a very calculating and understandable protagonist despite his questionable actions, kind of like Walter White in the sense of we root for him the whole time even though we shouldn't be. I really liked the tone of the Nightcrawler life and how even though the setting of streets on the surface is boring the context keeps it very interesting. I also liked how rick served as a standard to measure Lou against, again similar to Jesse. Also like breaking bad was how Nina lost her ethics because of Lou’s influence.
Dylan: I agree with you; I was rooting for Lou throughout the movie even though he obviously exemplified really unethical decisions. I think I started to think of him as more of an evil character later on though when he manipulated Nina and Rick for his own selfish gain. I thought he showed a lack of empathy for people because maybe there was something wrong with his ability to understand people, but the turning point was definitely when he was in the car with Rick and he said that maybe it wasn't that he didn't understand people, but that he didn't like them.
And I was also impressed with how the movie was able to make something as boring as street driving throughout a movie a real intense focal point in terms of our attraction to Lou
Ben: Yeah well his intentions did shine through then, a great character can be measured through the way he affects people around him or her, and Lou was a great complex character. I left the movie wondering what his upbringing was to turn him into who he was in the movies
Dylan: Very complex indeed. Yea the movie doesn't give him any backstory at all. I wonder if he directed his manipulation tactics in another career pursuit somewhere else but had to leave because of complications or something. Maybe that is why we saw him stealing a fence and scrapping it for money in the very first scene of the movie. He definitely had a unique set of criminal skills as well, such as the way he was able to steal that bike in the beginning.
Ben: Yeah and it seems he is desensitized to it from the beginning, perhaps Lou is not even Lou but makes up a name to conceal his past identity. I don’t really know if he is changed at all by the end though.
Dylan: It doesn't seem like it. It seems like those interns that he was able to get at the very end are going to be pawns in his pursuit at being the most efficient he can be in this business. I feel like those interns may have the same fate as Rick if Lou doesn’t get what he wants.
I think Lou was the perfect complex character to drive the movie. I feel like we can dissect Lou at a micro level for a while, but I think he and Nina really represents a macro, bigger theme in the movie which is the way news media pushes the boundaries with publicizing bloody victims.
What do you think about the issue of the news showing his graphic videos? Do you think it was poking at an issue in news today?
Ben: I think it was, and it was subtle which was nice. Nina was in the business for years and lost her integrity while the young social media guy represented what is taught in schools about being ethical. Perhaps it’s the nature of the business
Dylan: That's a very good point, she was definitely desperate to keep her job, which is condonable reason for showing graphic videos, but is still unethical. Lou is just flat out emotionless about it all.
Ben: Do u think the true meaning was based off the side characters actions and not Lou himself since Nina and rick are much more realistic people?
Dylan: I think Lou is supposed to represent some form of insanity for coldly displaying these graphic misfortunes of victims. But the two could be unrelated. Either way, I hope Jake Gyllenhaal gets some Oscar buzz for his performance
Ben: Well ive heard buzz but as far as a nomination I think the eccentricity and how dynamic he was will garner a nomination. Dont think its best picture type of film though
Dylan: Why is that?
Ben: I feel like the academy goes for bigger movies, but then again this is similar in scale to no country for old men I mean I might've misspoke.
Dylan: Haha that's why I'm excited for Oscar season! You never know which movies will come out of nowhere. And that's a great movie as well.
So any final comments?
Ben: Well overall Lou is one of the most interesting characters I’ve seen in a movie lately and definitely Jake’s best performance. He deserves at least a nomination.
Dylan: Definitely. I’ve been a fan of his since Donnie Darko! I guess we’ll just have to wait and see
The following is a review of the movie Nightcrawler between two fans of cinema. Ben is the film editor for his college’s newspaper (the Charger’s Bulletin) and Dylan is a staff writer for Ben. This review covers what both Dylan and Ben loved about the movie and other critical analysis. The conversation was recorded via text message right after Ben got out of the theater: (SPOILER ALERT)
Ben: Damn that was a good movie
Dylan: Haha yea? So I take it you liked it?
Ben: Yeah I thought it was great; I would give it five stars.
Dylan: Five stars? How so?
Ben: I thought Jake Gyllenhaal played a very calculating and understandable protagonist despite his questionable actions, kind of like Walter White in the sense of we root for him the whole time even though we shouldn't be. I really liked the tone of the Nightcrawler life and how even though the setting of streets on the surface is boring the context keeps it very interesting. I also liked how rick served as a standard to measure Lou against, again similar to Jesse. Also like breaking bad was how Nina lost her ethics because of Lou’s influence.
Dylan: I agree with you; I was rooting for Lou throughout the movie even though he obviously exemplified really unethical decisions. I think I started to think of him as more of an evil character later on though when he manipulated Nina and Rick for his own selfish gain. I thought he showed a lack of empathy for people because maybe there was something wrong with his ability to understand people, but the turning point was definitely when he was in the car with Rick and he said that maybe it wasn't that he didn't understand people, but that he didn't like them.
And I was also impressed with how the movie was able to make something as boring as street driving throughout a movie a real intense focal point in terms of our attraction to Lou
Ben: Yeah well his intentions did shine through then, a great character can be measured through the way he affects people around him or her, and Lou was a great complex character. I left the movie wondering what his upbringing was to turn him into who he was in the movies
Dylan: Very complex indeed. Yea the movie doesn't give him any backstory at all. I wonder if he directed his manipulation tactics in another career pursuit somewhere else but had to leave because of complications or something. Maybe that is why we saw him stealing a fence and scrapping it for money in the very first scene of the movie. He definitely had a unique set of criminal skills as well, such as the way he was able to steal that bike in the beginning.
Ben: Yeah and it seems he is desensitized to it from the beginning, perhaps Lou is not even Lou but makes up a name to conceal his past identity. I don’t really know if he is changed at all by the end though.
Dylan: It doesn't seem like it. It seems like those interns that he was able to get at the very end are going to be pawns in his pursuit at being the most efficient he can be in this business. I feel like those interns may have the same fate as Rick if Lou doesn’t get what he wants.
I think Lou was the perfect complex character to drive the movie. I feel like we can dissect Lou at a micro level for a while, but I think he and Nina really represents a macro, bigger theme in the movie which is the way news media pushes the boundaries with publicizing bloody victims.
What do you think about the issue of the news showing his graphic videos? Do you think it was poking at an issue in news today?
Ben: I think it was, and it was subtle which was nice. Nina was in the business for years and lost her integrity while the young social media guy represented what is taught in schools about being ethical. Perhaps it’s the nature of the business
Dylan: That's a very good point, she was definitely desperate to keep her job, which is condonable reason for showing graphic videos, but is still unethical. Lou is just flat out emotionless about it all.
Ben: Do u think the true meaning was based off the side characters actions and not Lou himself since Nina and rick are much more realistic people?
Dylan: I think Lou is supposed to represent some form of insanity for coldly displaying these graphic misfortunes of victims. But the two could be unrelated. Either way, I hope Jake Gyllenhaal gets some Oscar buzz for his performance
Ben: Well ive heard buzz but as far as a nomination I think the eccentricity and how dynamic he was will garner a nomination. Dont think its best picture type of film though
Dylan: Why is that?
Ben: I feel like the academy goes for bigger movies, but then again this is similar in scale to no country for old men I mean I might've misspoke.
Dylan: Haha that's why I'm excited for Oscar season! You never know which movies will come out of nowhere. And that's a great movie as well.
So any final comments?
Ben: Well overall Lou is one of the most interesting characters I’ve seen in a movie lately and definitely Jake’s best performance. He deserves at least a nomination.
Dylan: Definitely. I’ve been a fan of his since Donnie Darko! I guess we’ll just have to wait and see