Jake Gyllenhaal Is a Total Snob in This Odd Netflix Horror Comedy

The big picture

• Jake Gyllenhaal reunited
  Nightcrawler
  director Dan Gilroy for Netflix's satirical horror comedy,
  Velvet Buzzsaw
  .
• Gyllenhaal is a snobbish art critic
  Velvet Buzzsaw
  which acts as a savage satire of the world of art criticism and exhibition.
• Velvet Buzzsaw
  it's further proof that Gyllenhaal is at his best in idiosyncratic roles that allow him to tackle multiple genres at once.

Few directorial debuts in the 21st century had as significant an impact as Dan Gilroyit's a terrifying thriller Nightcrawler, a creative rejuvenation of the neo-noir genre that instantly skyrocketed his writer/director status in the industry. In addition to demonstrating Gilroy's merits as a storyteller, Nightcrawler featured a tour-de-force performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, who shed his typically charismatic persona to play an unconventional anti-hero. unfortunately, Nightcrawler it did not initiate an immediate collaboration between the two; Gilroy attempted to direct the disappointing legal thriller Roman J. Israel, Esq., and Gyllenhaal tried a number of underwhelming commercial prospects. Despite this, Gyllenhaal and Gilroy reunited for Netflix's quirky satirical horror comedy Velvet Buzzsaw.

What is “Velvet Buzzsaw”?

Located in present-day Miami, Velvet Buzzsaw is a savage satire of the world of art criticism and exhibition, and discusses the predicament modern creators face when trying to showcase their work. Gyllenhaal stars in another unconventional role as Morf Vandewalt, an obsessed art critic who haunts a showcase known as the “Haze Gallery,” owned by the illustrious curator Rhodora Haze (René Russo). Morf begins a romantic relationship with Rhodora's employee Josephina (Zawe Ashton), which begins to take partially destroyed paintings and present them in the gallery. Although the paintings meet with the approval of frequent gallery attendees, including curator Gretchen (Toni Collette), the artists Piers (John Malkovich) and Damrish (Daveed Diggs), it soon becomes clear that there is a supernatural force at play. There is a price for taking art without compensating the artists, and Morf's world begins to turn upside down when he discovers that the gallery is profiting from the unfinished works.

Although it eventually takes on a more supernatural side, Velvet Buzzsaw he does a great job in realizing the world of modern art. Gilroy presents a sad reality where experts like Rhodora and Morf are willing to criticize and judge the work that others have put so much effort into, and they don't realize the power they have to destroy artists' livelihoods with a negative review. Perhaps this is Gilroy's way of attacking his own critics, though Velvet Buzzsaw it does not suggest that criticism in itself is a bad thing; rather, it attacks the dispassionate venom Morf seems to have for things he doesn't think deserve to be displayed. Ironically, the new paintings presented by Josephina become a success because most of her observers simply do not understand them; although perceived as “avant-garde”, the paintings actually have a more sinister quality.

Although the presentation of a modern art gallery is somewhat fanciful, Velvet Buzzsaw brilliantly bridges the gap between satire and horror. Once the gallery worker Bryson (Billy Magnussen) disappears while transporting a group of rare paintings to a warehouse, the film begins to build tension as the stolen artworks begin to “fight back.” It's a unique take on the slasher genre in that it's not just a work of art that's being picked by curators and critics; rather, the whole exhibition seems to rebel against outsiders who try to distort and profit from its value.

'Velvet Buzzsaw' satirizes the commercialization of art

Nightcrawler is an outstanding debut for Gilroy because, beneath its neo-noir crime elements, the film features a searing indictment of how the media perpetuates violence by sensationalizing gruesome material. Velvet Buzzsaw it incorporates a similar element of satire that accuses wealthy people of turning artwork into a commodity, even if they would be unwilling to pay artists the same respect. Despite this sad reflection of reality, Velvet Buzzsaw it has such heightened reality that it is often hilarious. While comparisons can be made to real critics, artists, and curators, Gilroy asserts that each character is an extremely exaggerated caricature of what those roles actually are.

The shallow tone that Gilroy sets enables the film to become even wilder in its third act. The use of works of art brought to life as the main source of death and destruction allows Velvet Buzzsaw to get even weirder as it goes on. While some viewers have been put off by how unlikable most of the main characters are, Gilroy gives them their comeuppance with his pretentious cast of characters in increasingly brutal fashion. Josephina's disappearance from a malevolent fountain of graffiti wax is just one of the increasingly hilarious death sequences Gilroy incorporates.

While the film certainly aims to start a discussion, Velvet Buzzsaw it does not offer a definitive solution to the problems it addresses. It remains a sad reality that artists struggle to make a living, and the film's ambiguous ending suggests no easy solution to the disparity between creators and benefactors.

“Velvet Buzzsaw” shows Jake Gyllenhaal at his weirdest

Although the film features a stacked cast of veteran character actors, Velvet Buzzsaw it shows that Gyllenhaal is at his best when playing idiosyncratic roles. It would be very easy for Morf to be an incredibly unpleasant protagonist whose negative attitude brings the film to a halt; however, Gyllenhaal is having so much fun chewing up the scenery and throwing out cruel comments about the art he observes that it's impossible to look away from him. He may be a character that audiences love to hate, but that doesn't make him any less watchable.

Although he has a very impressive resume, Gyllenhaal often does his best work in absurd genre mashups. In the years between Nightcrawler i Velvet Buzzsawsome of his most impressive roles have been in the unconventional western adventure The brothers brothers and science fiction satire OK. Perhaps another collaboration with Gilroy will help him once again utilize the idiosyncrasy that makes him such a dynamic protagonist.

Velvet Buzzsaw is available to stream on Netflix in the US

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