Starring: Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Directed By: Tom Ford
Running Time: 117 Minutes
UK Release Date: 4th November 2016
BBFC Certificate: 15
Tom Ford is the fashion designer known as the man who saved Armani, and then turned his hand to directing with 2009’s A Single man, a film I haven’t seen but have heard a lot of good things about.
So I made a conscientious effort not to know too much about Ford’s follow up, Nocturnal Animals, except that it gained some great reviews whilst doing the festival circuit. We are into awards season after all, so I was expecting some kind of drama which would be powerful and stylish, the sort of thing that would appeal to awards juries. And my instinct was right.
Nocturnal Animals tell the story of art gallery owner Susan (Amy Adams), who is unsatisfied with the glamorous, superficial (and often absurd) world she lives in, her marriage and seemingly her life in general. She is sent a manuscript dedicated to her from her ex-husband Edward (Jake Gyllenhaal) called Nocturnal Animals, which tells the nightmarish story of a family trip which turns to tragedy, and then a quest for revenge. As this film progresses, Susan reads more of the manuscript and we see parallels between fiction and reality as she questions her life and past decisions.
So first up this film has a very interesting opening which will be uncomfortable to some, while others will see it as a cheap shock tactic disguised as art. This opening however unsurprisingly unfolds to be the opening night of one of Susan’s art exhibitions.
From this scene we are thrust into a stylised world with characters who comprehend everything around them is fake, but this fabrication is a lot less painful than the real world. And this is what Susan lusts for, something real and not just the next step on the path set before her; a downwards spiral as she loses touch with reality while trying to cling on.
So she takes comfort and escapism in the manuscript which is in essence a movie within the movie. It may seem like I am being very descriptive so far but I am trying to set the scene for this unique movie and I don’t believe I am spoiling much.
I’ll try not to describe too much about the manuscript, but it opens with a wife and daughter being driven through Texas by husband and father Tony (also Gyllenhaal), and things turn sour after an encounter with three unsavoury men, one of those is Ray, played by an unrecognisable Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who portrays one of the most sinister psychopaths ever put to screen. As Tony’s story continues it turns into a tale of justice and revenge with the aid of chain-smoking detective Bobby Andes, played by the excellent Michael Shannon.
Whilst Susan reads she creates parallels between its fictional events and events of her past, which sheds light on her relationship with Edward, and irrevocable decisions she made. As the manuscripts story gets darker she tries to make peace with her past and longs for the sense of normality she once had.
The story of Nocturnal Animals is more interesting than Susan’s, but the two narratives pair well. We are drawn in by Amy Adams’ performance and question why she is captivated by this painful fantasy. Is it guilt or escapism? Can a film like this have a happy ending?
But you may be wondering if this movie is any good, and I suppose it depends on personal taste. It is a hard one for me to grade as I found it beautifully shot, scored and incredibly well acted by the majority of the cast. It also has one of the best scripts in recent years and has a great mix of style and context. It’s worth mentioning that its use of a parallel narrative is the best I have experienced since reading Watchmen all those years ago. Nocturnal Animals is captivating, bold, tragic, realistic and thrilling and will no doubt be a film that people will talk about for years – and it has been carefully created to be so.
I suppose a lot of this stems from its source material, the novel Tony and Susan by Austin Wright. Director Ford also adapted the screenplay and you can tell that this is a movie where every meticulous details has been though out, and there are so many great lines of memorable and thought provoking dialogue expertly delivered by the cast.
This film is different, powerful, thought provoking and very well made. It’s no surprise that it is being released in awards season and I hope that nods go out to the principle cast and cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, but I must stress that this film isn’t for everyone and much like The Revenant (2015), many will find it lacking substance.
Some may be overly critical of this film, by saying that you can view it as a work of fantasy, set within a fantastical life disassociated from the layman, and ultimately this is just another film about a lonely woman living with regret – which is true but it’s also more than this.
For me, I found it a great drama/thriller with great pacing, and a central story that keeps unfolding until the end. I would love to discuss this film and not have to worry about spoilers, and I suppose only time will tell if this film becomes a classic due to its look and use of intertwining narrative storytelling.
Overall Verdict: Nocturnal Animals is an incredibly well made and stylish drama which accommodates a deep and powerful thriller. It has a stellar cast and great direction by Tom ford, but it is a film that will not be to everyone’s tastes, although it’s likely to pick up a few awards.
Reviewer: George Elcombe
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