This scene from Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror masterpiece is without doubt not only the most iconic scene in the franchise, but undoubtedly still the most shocking! As you watch the birth of the Xenomorph from Kane's (John Hurt) chest- you can still feel the winds of change. What would follow next would form the basis of this memorable series.
Brett Looks For Jones (Alien)
When Brett (Harry Dean Stanton) does looking for the ships cat Jones, what follows prove to be master class in both sound, design and pure frights. As we descend into one of the ships engines rooms, all we can hear is the dripping of water and clanging of chains. But the wide open space just builds tension like water rising in dam. However its watching the camera cut away to the cat's face when the moment hits that really stays with us!
Knife Trick (Aliens)
This scene from James Cameron's equally glorious second installment is a great example of comedic touch. What starts as way to amuse the hard living Colonial Marines turns into something very unexpected. As Android Bishop (Lance Henriksen) slides his hand over cocky soldier Hudson (Bill Paxton) his resulting reaction is one of gradual wide eyed shock. It was moments like this that make Aliens such a unique sequel!
Power Loader
At what first appears to be a meaningless device in this film, becomes something else entirely at the climax. When the dreaded Alien Queen resurfaces intent on avenging her dead children- hope seems lost! Cue Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) emerging in what has become one of the franchises most iconic moments. All together now... "GET AWAY FROM HER YOU BITCH!!"
Finding your true calling this world is never an easy thing and some of us chop and change careers as frequently as we change our clothes. Some chosen paths can happen completely by accident and at times they may ones less than desirable. Debut director Dan Gilroy this week shows us an ambitious young man going into the heart of darkness of the LA crime scene is his eye opening thriller Nightcrawler.
Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a Los Angeles drifter who is desperate to be a success. One night while driving home he witnesses a car wreck and sees news cameraman Joe Loder (Bill Paxon) filming the carnage. At this very moment Lou realizes that he has found his new career and he sets off starting his company. But his obsession with making the lead story on the morning news will take Lou down some very dark paths as he continues to cross lines into near insanity.
For his first film behind the lens, director Dan Gilroy has created a film that is truly remarkable and his satirical and adrenaline pumping film makes for one of the most awe inspiring experiences of 2014! With a cracking script in its armory, Nightcrawler succeeds as a magnificent character and psychologically driven film which never once dips below riveting. Lou Bloom is an astounding character creation, with thin and almost gangly appearance mixed with his strange and almost stereotypical businessman speak "If you want to win the lottery, you have to make the money to buy a ticket." makes him one of the real antiheroes of years gone by.
When we are first introduced to him, Lou seems to be a man who is desperate to be his own boss. But his eyes go wide with fascination when he views his first news crew and being informed "If it bleeds, it leads!" After that Lou buys himself a fast car, a police scanner and hires a rightly nervy assistant called Rick (Riz Ahmed). From here Gilroy makes a strong commentary on what just what lines can be crossed ethically and morally for viewing pleasure. Each shot he brings to stoney news director Nina (Rene Russo) of blooded victims on the streets ensures ratings go higher and pushes Lou a step further forward. One scene sequences shows him gleefully involved in a chest tightening car chase, but through the stunning camera work from DP Robert Elswit it feels as genuine as any you will see in cinema!
Lou's cross over into near delusion makes Nightcrawler absorbing viewing. With his eyes flared continuously at the thrill of the game and his obsession over his 'company' being a success he goes from being clueless at understanding police radio signals to happily invading or in some cases inventing his own crime scenes. At several points to get the perfect story, but his actions get increasingly erratic and only newsroom guy Frank (Kevin Rahm) seems to be appalled by how low his morals have sunk. Each point where he goes over the boundary, Gilroy pulls it off with such a raw comic feel that we do not know whether to laugh or feel disgusted.
But the principle strength of this film goes down to Jake Gyllenhaal's stunning performance. As Lou he is brilliantly able to bring across his weird and convoluted persona mixed with his high pitched cheap business like vocabulary. The greatest thing about watching him on screen though is the fact that this is a performance that is continually evolving. Although we are perturbed by his oddball appearance and shudder at his intentions, we still yearn for him to make it big and Dan Gilroy deserves praise for making such a character palatable. Gyllenhaal could well be a long shot for awards glory because here he holds the screen with such force it is impossible to look away.
Nightcrawler may not be the easiest viewing you will have this year but it is by far one of the most exciting and brilliantly directed. This film deserves a place among your film collection next to Drive and any other blood flowing movies because it is rightly destined for classic status!
