Nothing busts canons quite like living in interesting times. In our ongoing Inflection Point series, we look back at the films that have taken on new relevance due to our ongoing cultural and political upheaval. Some beloved, some undiscovered, these titles deserve newfound consideration as film criticism evolves to meet the moment.

In January, sports fans across the country were crushed to hear of the tragic deaths of NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, and several others in a tragic helicopter crash.

Continue reading ‘Nightcrawler’: In Dan Gilroy & Jake Gyllenhaal’s America, Only The Sociopaths Rise To The Top at The Playlist.

Film viewers love an image that looks stunning, but ultimately, whether they’re conscious of it or not, visuals that bear greater meaning to the narrative and characters. Dan Gilroy’s 2014 directorial debut, “Nightcrawler,” provides striking visuals, which ultimately echo the intense story. Everything we can learn about Jake Gyllenhaal’s Lou Bloom from the dialogue is validated by the cinematography. Director of Photography Robert Elswit, pays particular attention to the smallest details, some of which we don’t even notice until it is pointed out.

Continue reading How Cinematography Tells The Darkening Character Story In ‘Nightcrawler’ at The Playlist.

2014’s “Nightcrawler” is easily one of actor Jake Gyllenhaal’s best films. While the actor has been great in a variety of roles, Lou from “Nightcrawler” is Gyllenhaal at his best. The role is equal parts charming, creepy, and downright scary. That’s why it’s so exciting to know that the actor is reteaming with “Nightcrawler” writer/director Dan Gilroy and co-star Rene Russo for a new film, reportedly titled “Velvet Buzzsaw,” over at Netflix.

Continue reading Jake Gyllenhaal And Dan Gilroy Compile Amazing Cast For ‘Nightcrawler’ Follow-Up At Netflix at The Playlist.

If you go and see “Baby Driver” this weekend expecting another gag-heavy comedy in the vein of Edgar Wright’s earlier films, you’ll likely be in a shock. The absolutely tremendous car-chase-musical (read our review) is funny, sure, but that’s not its primary aim: in a big departure from Wright, it has more in common with classic 70s crime cinema than with, “Hot Fuzz” (for example) using the director’s formal gifts in service of a surprisingly hard-boiled heist movie.

Continue reading The 50 Best Crime Movies Of The 21st Century So Far at The Playlist.

How necessary is it to have a likeable protagonist? In recent years, characters like Walter White, Frank Underwood, Don Draper, Jordan Belfort and Mark Zuckerberg, to name a few, have led many to question whether or not it’s important for us to root for them or, at the very least, trust them. Such is also the case with Lou Bloom, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, in Dan Gilroy‘s massively impressive 2014 directorial debut “Nightcrawler.” What makes a determined sociopath like this one a truly fascinating and disturbingly watchable character?

Continue reading ‘Nightcrawler’ And Its Empathy For The Antihero at The Playlist.

Watch: Go Driving At Night With This 'Nightcrawler' And 'Drive' Mashup

Continue reading Watch: Go Driving At Night With This ‘Nightcrawler’ And ‘Drive’ Mashup at The Playlist.

Watch: Meet Lou Bickle In This Mashup Of 'Nightcrawler' & 'Taxi Driver'

Continue reading Watch: Meet Lou Bickle In This Mashup Of ‘Nightcrawler’ & ‘Taxi Driver’ at The Playlist.

As the dust cleared from our Best of 2014 features, 2015 previews and awards season coverage, we realized something terrifying: we’re now halfway through the current decade. Five years have passed since the 2010s began, we’re all sixty months (or sixty two?) older, and literally thousands of movies have hit theaters in that time.

So what better time to take stock of the decade thus far? Box-office returns might have been dominated by superheroes, ice princesses and dystopian teen-on-teen murder, but once you look outside the multiplex (or even, very occasionally, within it), it’s clear that cinema is as healthy as it’s ever been, with everyone from A-list auteurs to foreign-language first-timers delivering stunning, boundary-pushing work.

Continue reading The 50 Best Films Of The Decade So Far at The Playlist.

Watch: Fred Armisen & Kristen Bell's 'Birdman' Spoof From Indie Spirit Awards, Plus Acceptance Speeches & More

Continue reading Watch: Fred Armisen & Kristen Bell’s ‘Birdman’ Spoof From Indie Spirit Awards, Plus Acceptance Speeches & More at The Playlist.

'Birdman' & 'Boyhood' Dominate the 2015 Independent Spirit Awards

Continue reading ‘Birdman’ & ‘Boyhood’ Dominate the 2015 Independent Spirit Awards at The Playlist.

One Outrageous Oscar Voter Uses Anonymity To Declare 'Selma' Has "No Art" And More

Continue reading One Outrageous Oscar Voter Uses Anonymity To Declare ‘Selma’ Has “No Art” And More at The Playlist.

Interview: Dan Gilroy Talks 'Nightcrawler,' The Death Of The Mid-Sized Film, 'Bourne Legacy' And More

Continue reading Interview: Dan Gilroy Talks ‘Nightcrawler,’ The Death Of The Mid-Sized Film, ‘Bourne Legacy’ And More at The Playlist.

'Gone Girl,' 'Boyhood' & (Surprisingly) 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' Score 2015 Writers Guild Nominations

Continue reading ‘Gone Girl,’ ‘Boyhood’ & (Surprisingly) ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ Score 2015 Writers Guild Nominations at The Playlist.

PGA Best Picture Nominees Include 'Birdman,' 'Foxcatcher,' 'American Sniper'; 'Selma' & 'Inherent Vice' Snubbed

Continue reading PGA Best Picture Nominees Include ‘Birdman,’ ‘Foxcatcher,’ ‘American Sniper’; ‘Selma’ & ‘Inherent Vice’ Snubbed at The Playlist.

Download Over 20 Awards Season Screenplays Including 'Gone Girl,' 'Nightcrawler,' 'Grand Budapest Hotel' & More

Continue reading Download Over 20 Awards Season Screenplays Including ‘Gone Girl,’ ‘Nightcrawler,’ ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’ & More at The Playlist.

ACE Eddie Awards Nominees Include 'Boyhood,' 'Gone Girl,' 'Inherent Vice,' 'Whiplash,' 'True Detective' & More

Continue reading ACE Eddie Awards Nominees Include ‘Boyhood,’ ‘Gone Girl,’ ‘Inherent Vice,’ ‘Whiplash,’ ‘True Detective’ & More at The Playlist.

Oktay Ege Kozak's 10 Best Films Of 2014

Continue reading Oktay Ege Kozak’s 10 Best Films Of 2014 at The Playlist.

Nikola Grozdanovic: Top 20 Films Of 2014

Continue reading Nikola Grozdanovic: Top 20 Films Of 2014 at The Playlist.

The 13 Best Movie Trailers Of 2014

Continue reading The 13 Best Movie Trailers Of 2014 at The Playlist.

The 20 Best Movie Posters Of 2014

Continue reading The 20 Best Movie Posters Of 2014 at The Playlist.

The Guardian Names 'Under The Skin' The Best Film Of 2014 Plus Year-End Lists From Manohla Dargis & IMDB CEO Col Needham

Continue reading The Guardian Names ‘Under The Skin’ The Best Film Of 2014 Plus Year-End Lists From Manohla Dargis & IMDB CEO Col Needham at The Playlist.

The 20 Best Films Of 2014

Continue reading The 20 Best Films Of 2014 at The Playlist.

AFI Names 11 Best Films & 10 Best TV Shows Of 2014

Continue reading AFI Names 11 Best Films & 10 Best TV Shows Of 2014 at The Playlist.

Time Magazine Targets 'Grand Budapest Hotel' & 'Blended' In Best & Worst Films Of 2014

Continue reading Time Magazine Targets ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’ & ‘Blended’ In Best & Worst Films Of 2014 at The Playlist.

Best Of 2014: The 17 Most Thrilling Action Sequences Of The Year

Continue reading Best Of 2014: The 17 Most Thrilling Action Sequences Of The Year at The Playlist.