Nocturnal Animals
Director: Tom Ford.
Screenplay: Tom Ford.
Starring: Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Armie Hammer, Isla Fisher, Ellie Bamber, Karl Glusman, Robert Aramayo, Laura Linney, Andrea Riseborough, Michael Sheen, Jena Malone, Graham Beckel.
“Enjoy the absurdity of our world. It’s a lot less painful. Believe me, our world is a lot less painful than the real world”
Former fashion-designer Tom Ford took his first steps into film directing with A Single Man in 2009. It’s a film that didn’t initially catch my eye but when I finally caught up with it, it really impressed. In fact, I thought it a near masterpiece of style and composition. As a result, I’ve been very eager to see what Ford would do next and although his follow-up isn’t quite as good as his debut, there’s still much to recommend.
Plot: Wealthy art curator Susan Morrow (Amy Adams), receives a manuscript from her ex-husband Edward Sheffield (Jake Gyllenhaal). As she settles into reading Edward’s story, she is forced to confront her past and the breakdown of their relationship as the story within the manuscript turns violent and deadly.
Based on the novel Tony and Susan by Austin Wright, there’s a clever structure to Nocturnal Animals. It’s a story-within-a-story and not being content with that, it also employs flashbacks just to make it more narratively complex and frames it’s all as three stories in one. The stories aren’t vignettes or separate, though. They are very much related and feed into each other as the film addresses the differences between past and present and the fine line between reality and fantasy with one fictional story even serving as a metaphor for another. It’s quite an ambitious project for Ford in only his second film but he’s able to keep command of all the narratives and manages to combine a reflective drama with a mysterious, psychological thriller while bringing it all together to make a complete and coherent whole.
It’s not just Ford’s narrative juggling that impresses, though. There’s plenty to admire throughout the entire film; Ford’s direction is ambitious and, like his work in A Single Man, he has a keen artistic eye with some vibrant and striking imagery captured by Christopher Brown’s art direction, Seamus McGarvey’s sombre cinematography and the gorgeous production design by Shane Valentino and Meg Everist invites you into the characters’ dark, dual existences without ever losing its consistent tone. It also boasts a very impressive cast who are all on good form; after her anchoring work in Arrival, the always reliable Amy Adams delivers another strong, reserved performance; the Oscar nominated Michael Shannon manages to convey so much with the minutest facial expression and Golden Globe winning Aaron Taylor-Johnson tackles a darker role, that he’s not normally associated with. Put simply, he knocks it out the park and I hope that Johnson continues to explore more of his range in the future.
Like the performances themselves, there are so many layers to Nocturnal Animals that it stays with you long after the credits have rolled. It’s had its critics with many claiming style over substance as a major issue. Personally, I disagree, and happen to think it has an abundance of both. It’s a very well crafted film that’s awash with symbolism and has you continually questioning it’s meanings and messages.
A complex and elegant love story that successfully interweaves with a sadistic film-noir. Tom Ford has shown that A Single Man was no fluke. This a director with sophistication and one that delivers material that’s as dense as it is captivating.
Mark Walker
Trivia: Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal have been cast in another project called ‘Ezekiel Moss’ which would have been directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman. However, the project was scrapped after Hoffman’s death in 2014
February 17, 2017 at 7:43 pm
I really disliked the movie and thought it was very juvenile with all the jump scares and quite banal plot but Shannon’s performance here is my single favorite performance from 2016. He made it worth seeing, just an amazing work and so funny too
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 18, 2017 at 12:49 am
I was actually surprised how much I liked it, Sati. I thought all the narratives blended seamlessly and I really like its use of atmosphere. Great performances too. Shannon and Taylor-Johnson were both outstanding but I thought Gyllenhaal overplayed it on this rare occasion.
LikeLike
February 18, 2017 at 12:24 pm
I found this film very haunting and arresting. Ford’s direction was so striking and kept me invested. And Michael Shannon rocked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 18, 2017 at 12:28 pm
Yeah, I’m with you on this one, Vinnie. A lot of people didn’t like it but i thought was brilliant. The performances were superb (don’t know about Gyllenhaal though) and Ford really does have an artistic eye.
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 18, 2017 at 12:37 pm
Yes, I noticed it has divided people. I reviewed it the other month, if you’d like to read my thoughts.
LikeLike
February 19, 2017 at 6:29 pm
It does rather beg the question as to why Adams hasn’t been Oscar nominated doesn’t it? I mean I greatly respect Muriel Streep and everything, but her performance in Florence Foster Jenkins wasn’t as good as Adams in Arrival, say (not seen this yet so can’t comment).
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 22, 2017 at 2:37 pm
Adams’ omission from the Oscars this year is poor, man. I love Streep an all that but others should be getting a chance before her.
LikeLike
February 21, 2017 at 1:38 pm
Hmmm, might have to bump this up my watch list Mark! Great work, as always!
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 22, 2017 at 2:38 pm
A lot of people seem a bit lukewarm on it, Zoë. I thought it was great though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 21, 2017 at 7:59 pm
This wasn’t perfect but so fun to look at, and some terrific performances too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 22, 2017 at 2:39 pm
The performances were fantastic, Jay. I also liked how all the stories fit together. There’s not thrillers getting made this way anymore.
LikeLike
February 26, 2017 at 9:24 pm
I loved this. A mixed reception usually means its a keeper. I think The Neon Demon has a 56% rating on RT and that was easily my favourite film of last year, and after five times I still can’t stop watching it.
I need to see more Shannon. He is pure awesome
LikeLiked by 1 person
March 1, 2017 at 7:27 pm
Yeah, I don’t know why people have been so harsh on this yet so in love with Moonlight. People’s heads have been up their arses this year. 😉
LikeLike
March 7, 2017 at 8:30 am
Indeed. Things actually happened in this film! The best actor in it is on screen for more than 10 minutes too! And it wasn’t just another in a long line of well made genre-movies. Its fucking -unique- as fuck and it barely missed my top ten.
LikeLiked by 1 person
March 7, 2017 at 4:09 pm
We have been sharing a lot of similar views this year, man. I loved Nocturnal. “Unique as fuck” is a good place to start with this. Great flick, great writing, direction and great fuckin acting too. What more did people want?
LikeLike
March 10, 2017 at 6:46 am
Who knows man. Shannon’s performance was enough for me, but the whole thing was pretty damned interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
March 14, 2017 at 2:53 pm
Yeah, it really grabbed me too. Shannon and Taylor Johnson were superb.
LikeLike
March 18, 2017 at 11:57 am
Ahhhh talking about it makes me want to see it again! I need to get this, tho I’m kinda waiting for 4k releases to become the norm.
LikeLiked by 1 person