MovieChat Forums > Nightcrawler (2014) Discussion > Am I The Only One?

Am I The Only One?

posted 10 years ago by kcott44
89 replies | jump to latest

Who didn't like Nightcrawler? I just rented it and watched with solid expectations and was very disappointed. Sure, the directing and acting are all very good but I found nearly all the characters to be unlikeable with the exception of Lou's partner and plus a very anti-climatic ending, and on top of all that, a decent amount of plot holes. I understand why it would purposely have unlikeable characters as your lead is a sociopath, but even compared to other sociopaths in film like Patrick Bateman, at least he was pretty hilarious and deliriously entertaining to watch.

Overall, I was sorely disappointed and didn't care for the film. I am not going to be one of those ridiculous posters and say it was one of the worst films ever but I will call it the most overrated film of 2014. 4/10 for me.

[–] Bale-Pearce-Oldman 10 years ago

I think it is because you watched this film after the hype so you kind of expected so much from it. This is what happens when you get into a film where other people are praising a lot.

But I do get your point. Honestly the story ins just truly simple but you will definitely stay because of the acting. It is more of a character study than being plot driven.

Were you rushing or were you dragging?

[–] kcott44 10 years ago

It definitely is possible that I didn't care for it because of my expectations, but I heard nothing but praise going into Gone Girl and Birdman and I loved both films.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] kcott44 10 years ago

Gone Girl interested me much more I think, also, even though I think the ending is meh and the worst thing about the film, I can live with it since I loved the rest of the film. Plus, I am a huge David Fincher fan.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] kcott44 10 years ago

Yeah, I can see what you mean by similar faults(unlikeable characters, anti-climactic endings, etc.). I'm a huge fan of Fincher, absolutely love Fight Club, Se7en, The Game, Gone Girl, Zodiac, and Panic Room. Didn't care much for Benjamin Button and Alien 3 though.

[–] joedonato234 10 years ago

The problem with the film is the way the lead character is presented. You don't root for him, you don't want him to succeed, you want him to get what's coming to him. Now don't get me wrong, the lead character doesn't have to be some paragon of virtue, he doesn't even have to be likable, but you watch this guy with the nagging thought, "why am I watching this *beep* Now look at the way Billy Wilder presents Kirk Douglas in ACE IN THE HOLE, another thoroughly unlikable guy. The points NIGHTCRAWLER makes is very similar to the points made in this movie, so much so that I knew just how it was all going to end. This is the film's strongest attribute and what makes the second half kick into high gear, but oh boy that first hour.

[–] ten-often 10 years ago

I enjoyed this movie and always enjoy Jake's performances; he is a male Meryl Streep who puts something unique into every character. However, this movie left me feeling a little dissatisfied because I wanted to know where the heck this guy came from. It was as if he was suddenly in the world learning everything for the first time. I imagined he may have been in a mental ward most of his life and, perhaps with no living family, was finally released into mainstream population. It's an irrelevant detail, but one which caused an itch I needed to scratch throughout this film, probably due to Jake's impeccable portrayal of this character.

[–] keli10 10 years ago

BAD Terrible script. Jake's charachter should have been flagged by everyone if I know LA he would have. No hint of charachter development at all. No back story. "Thief, liar" big deal. Anal. Yup, why? The continous non descript destinations.. Didnt care. The lousy situation of his partner made Jake's seem just clownish. And the speeding! LA would have put the freak away on general principle. Who did this appeal to? Not a plot not a script worthp fighting for. Disappointing at the best. Russo did her best with it. Jake please, just say no ! You can do better than this. And anti climactic?!? Now it is a comedy?!! Big disappointment. Hope for better opportunities for all the players of which there were many .

[–] goodone1944 10 years ago

Well it did win 68 Awards.

[–] wdashton43 10 years ago

Why do people always describe movies as needing to have "backstory" and "character development." Those terms are just stupid industry jargon. A good story is a good story. That's fine if you don't like certain characters or want to say it has plot holes, but Nightcrawler first and foremost should be praised for being ORIGINAL. The filmmakers and actors made this film because it is unique and actually had something to say (unlike most of the other garbage we have to sift through). We shouldn't be reprimanding them, we should be praising them for taking a risk. Too many SAFE movies out there, in my opinion.

This shark, swallow you whole.

[–] pezoids 10 years ago

If you want likeable characters, watch Shawshank again. and if you want a climax, just rub one out. Nightcrawler is great because of the things you didn't like.

[–] stick500 10 years ago

like the OP I was very disappointed as well and wonder why it currently has an 8 rating- damn, who can I trust anymore to steer me away from wasting 2 hrs. on a lame-o film?

don't understand where anyone thinks this is a comedy- I didn't so much as chuckle once

and thriller? hardly

the lead character's creepy persona got old in the first 15 minutes and then was simply annoying for the rest of the film

why does it seem all of Hollywood has gone downhill since No Country For Old Men, The Departed, and There Will Be Blood?? I just can't get excited about good films anymore, cause there aren't any.

[–] Geen_Sloth 10 years ago

don't understand where anyone thinks this is a comedy- I didn't so much as chuckle once

I may have missed the post/s you think are suggesting that this is a comedy. What I am seeing are post suggesting it is satirical.

Perhaps you are not aware that satire is not exclusively humorous or comedic in nature..

sat·ire
noun
the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

It is self evident that this film is satirical in nature, exposing and criticizing certain aspects of modern journalism, capitalism, and the societal culture that breeds cutthroat sociopaths, and rewards those who don't care who they hurt to get where they want to be..

[–] kcott44 10 years ago

I have to admit I did chuckle by your response. I think I will just watch Taxi Driver again, a masterpiece with an likeable insane maniac that actually has a climax. Taxi Driver is far superior than Nightcrawler.

[–] GrematikalHeiror 10 years ago

Didn't bother reading. No, you aren't the only one.

What am I gonna do... with a gun rack?

[–] lukebearone 10 years ago

No, you're not the only one. I gave it a 3, for basically the same reasons you discussed. I didn't like any of the characters (especially Lou) except Ric, and he barely made the grade. Why was a film made celebrating such a sociopath?

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] Howlin Wolf 9 years ago

It wasn't celebrating, just depicting.



"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"

[–] pjmcgill142 10 years ago

Sure, the directing and acting are all very good but I found nearly all the characters to be unlikeable

Not to argue with you, but there's any number of movies where the characters are less than... likeable. It doesn't detract from the movie for me, however.
Apart from the way the characters were drawn, the movie reminded me a lot of Collateral... I'm not sure if it's just the way the city is a character in the movie or it's something else...
Anyway, this was recommended to me by an old friend... for some reason, he thought I'd like it. Loved the movie.

[–] kcott44 10 years ago

I understand your point, you brought up one of my favorite films of all time, Collateral. Just look at Cruise's character, he is overall a horrible person but you love to watch him and he is very interesting and pretty badass. It's cool that you loved it, a lot of people do, I am just in the minority of people who don't.

[–] ajtaylor82 10 years ago

Also, Nightcrawler is a great "Los Angeles film", just like Collateral and Heat are. It "gets it." Not sure if that makes sense to people who don't live here. Mann's movies are epic in how they "get" LA, and this is the closest thing yet, IMO.

"Hey, let me ask you a question, bonehead: Why are you trying to ki-ki-ki-killllll me?!?!?"

[–] kcott44 10 years ago

I am also a huge fan of Michael Mann, especially the cinematography in his films which I think gives his films a more realistic vibe. Speaking of Michael Mann, what do you think of Miami Vice? I just picked it up and never seen it before.

[–] ajtaylor82 10 years ago

Never saw it, and really have no interest. Nothing could top the show, lol. :sings theme song in head:

It didn't get good reviews, and is known as one of his weaker films.

But back to our original chat, and maybe food for thought.....you mentioned the superb cinematography in Nightcrawler. This was the director's film debut and only had a budget of 8.5M. I was shocked when I learned that. I would have easily believed it was a $50m plus movie, easily. So very impressive for a director's debut and such a small budget. You could have told me NC was a Michael Mann movie had I had no knowledge and I would have believed it.

And also to echo another poster, watch Arlington Road if you like the gut-punching endings. Wow. That's definitely in my top list of films that left me jaw dropped and just flabbergasted at the ending. Also, "Bully", a Larry Clark film (Kids). Oohhh and don't forget "A Simple Plan" with Bill Paxton and BB Thornton. I have a huge list but can't think straight right now as I just woke up lol but feel free to PM me (wait, can we even PM on here? Lol) and we can go over the movies with the most *beep* up endings. In your original list I was in total agreement, although hadn't seen all of them.

"Hey, let me ask you a question, bonehead: Why are you trying to ki-ki-ki-killllll me?!?!?"