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Will 'Nightcrawler' bring Jake Gyllenhaal some Oscar glory?

Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler. (Elevation Pictures)
Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler. (Elevation Pictures)

There are few actors working today who are doing as interesting work as “Nightcrawler” star Jake Gyllenhaal.

Sure, Gyllenhaal got a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination back in 2006 for his portrayal of a gay cowboy in “Brokeback Mountain,” and he won raves for his role as an obsessive amateur detective in David Fincher’s 2007 thriller “Zodiac.” But over the past few years the Los Angeles native has completely reinvented himself. Gyllenhaal turned his back on blockbusters after the critical and financial failure of the 2010 mega-budget video game adaptation “Prince of Persia” and began focusing on smaller films directed by buzzy filmmakers.

The results have been a tremendous. In 2011, Gyllenhaal starred in Duncan Jones’ acclaimed time travel thriller “Source Code,” the following year in David Ayer’s gritty crime docu-drama “End of Watch,” and in 2013 he collaborated with Canadian director Denis Villeneuve on the dark and disturbing double whammy of “Prisoners” and “Enemy.”

Now at 33, Gyllenhaal stars as an unflinching video journalist in “Nightcrawler,” a role that is far and away his best work to date and a part could very well earn him a Best Actor nomination.

Just a nomination?
At this point, Gyllenhaal’s chances of an Oscar nomination seem pretty good, and both industry watchers and oddsmakers are betting on the fact that he’ll get an Oscar nod this year. And there’s good reason for that: Gyllenhaal’s “Nightcrawler” character Lou Bloom is unlike anyone audiences have seen on screen in a while. The character is an unblinking, driven, and deranged sociopath who will stop at nothing - absolutely nothing - to get a good story.

Gyllenhaal is scary good and just plain scary in this role. It’s not only one of the best performances of his career, but it’s easily one of the best of the year. That said, the role of Bloom may just be a little too intense for Academy voters, who generally favour more quiet and simmering performances in the Best Actor category.

Stiff competition

Eddie Redmayne (left) is considered a frontrunner for his role in The Theory of Everything.
Eddie Redmayne (left) is considered a frontrunner for his role in The Theory of Everything.

Then there’s the question of competition. Who would Gyllenhaal be up against? If the nominations shake out the way many industry watchers predict, the category will be jam-packed with stellar performances from veteran actors and first-time nominees alike. Current frontrunners for nominations include Gyllenhaal, Steve Carell (“Foxcatcher”), Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Imitation Game”), Michael Keaton (“Birdman”), Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”), Bill Murray (“St. Vincent”), and Jack O’Connell (“Unbroken”).

Michael Keaton is getting plenty of Oscar buzz for Birdman.
Michael Keaton is getting plenty of Oscar buzz for Birdman.

 As good as Gyllenhaal is in “Nightcrawler,” should he get a nomination he’ll be up against some seriously fierce competition in the 2014 Best Actor category -- competition he probably won’t be able to beat. Out of that bunch, Keaton, Carell, and Cumberbatch seem to have the best odds of winning, but a lot can change between now and next year. Maybe Gyllenhaal could surprise us all!

What’s next?

THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Dan Steinberg/Invision
THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Dan Steinberg/Invision

That said, a nomination this year will lay important groundwork for a future win. This would be Gyllenhaal’s second Oscar nod overall, and that’s something the Academy will definitely take notice of in the long run. There’s no system to win, but multiple nominees tend to continue being nominated until they eventually go home with a trophy.

At the level Gyllenhaal has been working - and with upcoming films that include collaborations with current Oscar faves David O. Russell (“Silver Linings Playbook,” “American Hustle”) and Jean-Marc Vallée (“Dallas Buyers Club,” “Wild”) - it only seems like a matter of time. Even if Gyllenhaal goes home empty handed at the next Oscars, that nomination is an important stepping stone.

“Nightcrawler” hits theatres on October 31.