To be honest, Lan Li didn't expect that the script brought by Andy was actually "Nightcrawler"!

"Nightcrawler" is a script written by the famous screenwriter Dan-Gilroy (Dan-Gilroy), who has written the scripts of "Iron Fist" and "Spy 4", which is not a top screenwriter, but has his own unique dark style, when he learned that the profession of Nightcrawler really exists in Los Angeles, he became interested and began to write this story.

The movie tells the story of a young man who accidentally became a night walker, step by step towards the dark abyss, from a bystander to a participant and even a criminal, and finally completely integrated with the night, completely degenerate, for the sake of news and profit.

The whole movie is full of noir crime style, and there is a feeling that you can't live if you don't go crazy.

The only regret is that the second half of the film is a little weak, and it has not been able to further sublimate, from the position of the night stalker to the reflection of the entire industry and even culture, but instead falls into the loop of a small pattern, focusing all the focus on the male protagonist, which also makes the work return from "industry discussion" to "character biography", weakening the shock of the whole movie. Didn't be able to go any further.

But undoubtedly, this is still one of Lan Li's personal favorite movies.

In his previous life, as a journalism student, Lan Li always had a preference for works that reflected the news industry, especially now that the culture of entertainment to death has brought the uncrowned kings off the altar, and works like "Night Stalker" are just a wake-up call to reality, and he personally can't put it down.

In this life, as a Hollywood actor, Lan Li was in it, and gradually became a victim and a prey for the Night Walkers, which became more and more empathetic. Especially after just experiencing the paparazzi incident three weeks ago and the cold treatment of follow-up media reporters, it is absolutely appropriate to appear this work now.

Objectively speaking, "Nightcrawler" is not Lan Li's personal favorite journalist movie.

In the final analysis, before he actually became a journalist, he had already suffered a high paraplegic and ended his career as a journalist that had not yet begun, so he still has some beautiful fantasies and lofty ideals for the news industry, and positive works like "Focus" and "The Washington Post" can still arouse more resonance.

But it is undeniable that this work can definitely enter the top five ranks of Lan Li's personal preferences among media reporter-related movies.

In the previous life, Dan Gilroy decided to take over the guide tube himself after hesitation, and "Nightcrawler" became his directorial debut.

After its release, it received rave reviews, with a comprehensive media rating of 76 points, a Rotten Tomatoes freshness index of 95 percent, and an average score of 8.2.

At this moment, Andy chose this work, obviously not without purpose.

First, after the "Burst Drummer", Lan Li has returned to the track of performance, and he definitely hopes to challenge more difficult roles, and "Night Stalker" is indeed a unique choice for the sword, because the actor can't actually be regarded as decent, he should be regarded as a character who is both good and evil, wandering in the gray area.

So far, most of the roles selected by Lan Li are mainly positive roles, and "Burst Drummer" is the first time to try a role that is not likable to personality, if you can try a role like "Night Stalker", which is both good and evil, it is definitely an attempt to broaden the way of play, and the difficulty of the role is also top-notch, Lan Li has no reason to refuse.

Second, not long ago, the paparazzi besieged Lan Li, although he didn't say much on the surface, but deep down, Andy has actually been holding his breath.

In Andy's view, Lan Li is a very pure, very professional and very simple actor, who is wholeheartedly devoted to his performance, and there is not much demand at all in private, and there is no news, but the paparazzi are still unwilling to let him go. This really made Andy involuntarily angry.

These paparazzi need a lesson. And so the "Nightcrawler" appeared.

Lan Li read the script seriously, but in his mind, he began to think about whether he should star in this work.

To be honest, he's very impressed right now.

Louis-Bloom, the hero of "Nightcrawler," is definitely one of the most interesting and unique journalist characters on the big screen, with sharp edges and outstanding colors.

At the beginning of the story, Louis is an idle gangster, although he hopes to find a job, but he still wanders around all day, by chance, he witnesses the work of a photojournalist, he realizes that he can also do a ticket, and then he buys photographic equipment, by eavesdropping on the police radio, preemptively arrive at the crime scene to shoot, and then hand over the shooting materials to the news section in exchange for payment.

Gradually, ordinary car accidents or fire scenes can no longer satisfy Louis's appetite, and he needs bloodier, more vigorous, and more eye-catching news scenes, and in order to get precious first-hand information, Louis even does not hesitate to "do it himself".

Just from the description, you can tell that this is a very dark character.

He was already wandering in the dark, like a nocturnal animal, for example, a hyena, but gradually, this hyena was not satisfied with cruising around, he needed more blood, he needed blood and killing, so step by step he became a killer of hunting - evolution or depravity.

On the whole, the level of change of the characters is not obvious, but it is very delicate, from crazy to crazy, the cold and piercing but bloody and violent changes, like a straight fist, smashed towards every audience, and the impact that comes directly is enough to make the blood lose its temperature.

Just imagining it in your mind can outline the edges and contours of the character, and even depict the light steps of the character in the night crawling over his waist in search of an opportunity, like a hyena waiting for an opportunity, hungry for more blood and killing.

What's more, it's still a negative character.

God knows how eager Lan Li is to play a negative role. Not necessarily a villain, but bound to be a marginal character in the gray area, not to break the image of an actor, but to break the self-confinement and challenge more complex and changeable roles, which is also an important reason for Lan Li to become an actor.

Andy is right.

Lan Li saw this role, he had no way to refuse, in all aspects, this was the role he was crazy about, and he couldn't wait to pounce on it and take the script for himself, and now he couldn't wait to start thinking about how he should perform and how he should present it.

I have to admit that this time Andy's vision is absolutely unique and in place, accurately grasping Lan Li's mentality and needs. As an agent, this is undoubtedly the most important trait, not to mention that Andy is also trying to negotiate with Universal Pictures for Lan Li's salary, which highlights his value even more.

Lan Li has no reason to refuse.

But Lan Li still had to refuse.

It's not that the script isn't good enough, it's because of friends.

In the previous life, "Nightcrawler" starred Jake Gyllenhaal.

In fact, in 2010 and 2011, Jack tried to challenge commercial films, and works such as "Prince of Persia: The Edge of Time", "Love and Elixir", and "Source Code" are all representatives, and he also hopes to broaden his acting career and take his career to the next level.

But unfortunately, all three films suffered box office failures, which also made Jack disheartened, completely cut off the idea of commercial films, and instead devoted himself to the study of acting.

At the beginning of last year, Lan Li and Jack met at the Berlin Film Festival, which happened at this special juncture. Therefore, Jack's love and admiration for the movie "Detachment" comes more from Lan Li's professional attitude towards acting and Tony Kaye's artistic spirit.

This year, Jack starred in two works, "Rival" and "Prisoner", and it is obvious that his understanding and exploration of acting is gradually deepening, summing up his own style, and taking an important step on the road of actor. The style of both works is slightly gloomy and dark, and it is obvious that Jack has his own unique interpretation of the negative characters.

It is in this context that "Nightcrawler" is performed by Jack - if it follows the historical trajectory.

As far as Lan Li is concerned, after "Broken/Back/Mountain", Jack also fell into a short period of confusion, and his exploration of acting skills and self-positioning were deviated, and it was not until the two works of "Rival" and "Prisoner" that they returned to the track, and "Nightcrawler" is undoubtedly Jack's peak.

Even in 2018, Lan Li still thinks that "Nightcrawler" is Jack's best work.

In order to play the role of Louis, Jack is truly obsessed, and the whole person is integrated with the character, not only living completely as a nightcrawler, but also like Robert De Niro in "Taxi Driver", facing himself in the mirror completely blurring the line between reality and illusion, and like Matthew McConaughey in "Dallas Buyers Club", he is as thin as a rubber man.

It can be felt that Jack becomes Louis, and his performance gives the character a kind of coyote bloody, cunning and viciousness, and at the same time has the loneliness and loneliness of walking alone in the dark night, every move makes people shudder, revealing a cold and terrifying temperament.

This trait not only made the character of Louis, but also the movie "Nightcrawler".

As mentioned before, the second half of the film fails to be further sublimated, which also makes the final theme core return to Louis and become a character biography, which is very regrettable for the completion of the film, but for Jack, it is also a change like a fish in water.

Needless to say, Jack gave Louis a soul, which was a crucial breakthrough.

As Jack's friend, Lan Li has no way to snatch the character from his hands.