10 Amazing 2014 Performances That Changed Your Mind About Actors You Hate

10. Jake Gyllenhall - Nightcrawler

Gyllenhall has a spotty reputation when it comes to choosing what films he wants to do, seemingly adopting a 'one for them, one for me' philosophy. Essentially, he will do the big, studio action picture or rom-com and follow it up with the edgy, small indie. For every The Day After Tomorrow, Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time and Jarhead there is a Donnie Darko or End Of Watch to counterbalance it. This inconsistency and appearance in films like Prince Of Persia has led many to believe that Gyllenhall is some pretty-boy Hollywood 'star'. This couldn't be further from the truth and his performances in these low-key but difficult films have found a new appreciation for the actor (not 'star'). Nightcrawler, more than than any other film, should go some way to convincing people that Gyllenhall is serious about his craft and capable of turning out a powerhouse performance. Far from some two-dimentional blockbuster cutout, Gyllenhall's Louis Bloom is like the bastard offspring of Travis Bickle and Patrick Batment. Could a Best Actor Oscar nomination be in his future? The bookies say so, and it wouldn't be surprising to pick up the award on February 22nd.