Nightcrawler - Jake Gyllenhaal gives a powerful performance as Louis Bloom, a full blown sociopath who embarks on a career of filming tragedies in LA as they unfold, and selling the footage to local news directors like Rene Russo (who gives probably her most nuanced performance). Bill Paxton has a great supporting role as a fellow "nightcrawler", and the film takes a very unapologetic view of the news we want to watch, and how those compelling videos make it to our TV screens. Louis Bloom is quietly charming as he calmly espouses generic business acumen that would otherwise inspire, but his chilling actions and seeming lack of ANY morality puts those in his crosshairs on a path to greatness, or suffering. Gyllenhaal deserved an Oscar nom for this performance, easily on par with Cooper in American Sniper or Keaton in Birdman.
Life of Crime - I gotta admit, I went into this film blind, knowing little about it except it featured Jennifer Anniston and mos Def. And when Mos Def's character is introduced as Ordell Robbie, I did a double take. Sam Jackson's character from Jackie Brown? wha??? turns out a lot of characters from that film are in this movie, since the novel upon which it is based was by Elmore Leonard, and takes place in the same universe as "Rum Punch" (though in 1978, prior to events in Rum Punch). so in typical Leonard fashion, this is a film filled with complex characters, sparse but witty dialogue, and dark humor. Isla Fisher stands out as the naïve Melanie, mistress of Tim Robbins's sleazy rich guy. As does Mark Boone Junior as the unrepentant neo Nazi who abets the initial kidnapping of the rich wife of the rich guy.
The Station Agent - take 3 very talented actors (Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, and Bobby Cannavale) and throw them into a lot of scenes together. pretty much the premise of this film, where Dinklage's character inherits a defunct railroad station from a friend, and must venture out of his world of emotional isolation to connect with real people with real problems.
also enjoyed the Jen Kirkman stand up special ("I'm Going to Die Alone"), she has a very refreshing take on female issues, tending not to complain about as much as viciously attack those who annoy her.
Life of Crime - I gotta admit, I went into this film blind, knowing little about it except it featured Jennifer Anniston and mos Def. And when Mos Def's character is introduced as Ordell Robbie, I did a double take. Sam Jackson's character from Jackie Brown? wha??? turns out a lot of characters from that film are in this movie, since the novel upon which it is based was by Elmore Leonard, and takes place in the same universe as "Rum Punch" (though in 1978, prior to events in Rum Punch). so in typical Leonard fashion, this is a film filled with complex characters, sparse but witty dialogue, and dark humor. Isla Fisher stands out as the naïve Melanie, mistress of Tim Robbins's sleazy rich guy. As does Mark Boone Junior as the unrepentant neo Nazi who abets the initial kidnapping of the rich wife of the rich guy.
The Station Agent - take 3 very talented actors (Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, and Bobby Cannavale) and throw them into a lot of scenes together. pretty much the premise of this film, where Dinklage's character inherits a defunct railroad station from a friend, and must venture out of his world of emotional isolation to connect with real people with real problems.
also enjoyed the Jen Kirkman stand up special ("I'm Going to Die Alone"), she has a very refreshing take on female issues, tending not to complain about as much as viciously attack those who annoy her.
