MovieChat Forums > Nightcrawler (2014) Discussion > Jake Gyllenhaal's performance: NBD, real...

Jake Gyllenhaal's performance: NBD, really.

posted 9 years ago by Allenism
13 replies | jump to latest

 Anyone else find his performance rather superficial and self-conscious? There's more to characterization than opening your eyes extra-wide and delivering your dialogue like a cartoon character. I think part of the problem lies with the way Lou is written--there isn't much nuance to his motivations and he's painted as an antihero without any concrete insight into how his mind is working.

I generally like Gyllenhaal enough as an actor, but considering the hyperbolic praise that was lavished upon this performance, I was expecting a lot more. What I mostly saw was a performer who tore through the Method Actor's Handbook and tried to employ as many tricks as possible without truly inhabiting the essence of his character.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opcKTe7ePgk 

[–] Cephalicum 8 years ago

I completely disagree.

I didn't see the movie when it came out, and I heard a little bit about his performance, but I didn't think much of it. I just saw it now and it was, in my book, one of the best performances I've seen in a long time. His portrayel of a psychopath was about as good as it can be. He was truly amazing, and him toning down his facial expressions actually helped him deliver this performance I think. I'd argue it was his best, by a good margin actually. Excellent direction in this one too.

Prisoners, Donnie Darko and now Nightcrawler are probably my favourite films of his. He was very good in End Of Watch too, and even Southpaw (although the movie had some pretty grlaring flaws).

[–] Pep_88 8 years ago

He is not painted as an antihero. Are you crazy too?

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