Review 392: Nocturnal Animals

Nocturnal Animals is an astonishing Psychological Thriller, one that sports a great deal of style and substance as well as a

Based on the novel Tony and Susan by Austin Wright, Art Gallery owner Susan Marrow (Amy Adams) becomes haunted by her ex-husband's Edward Sheffield's (Jake Gyllenhaal) novel, Nocturnal Animals, a violent thriller which causes her to reminisce and ponder on her past life and relationship they had together.

The plot is a work of art. Not only is it a tastefully and meatily told adaptation of Austin Wright's novel, it's a story of unrequited love. The plotting in this film is so intricate, so complex there's something almost post-modern about it.

At it's core, Nocturnal Animals is three parallel storylines, the A story is Susan, successful but unhappy Art Gallery owner reading her ex-husband's novel and reminiscing on her past experiences.

The B story is what takes place in the novel with Texan Everyman Tony Hastings (also Jake Gyllenhaal) on a road trip holiday with his wife Laura (Isla Fisher) and daughter India (Ellie Bamber) which goes tits up when they run into a troublesome gang lead by Ray Marcus (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) who kidnap his wife and daughter and him going to the local police for help and how the case subsequently effects him. It's a very violent and disturbing story, very akin to a Western the story of the cowboy/outlaw and the sheriff.

The C story is told in flashbacks as Susan meets Edward for the first time when they are collage students in New York and Susan going against her overbearing mother, Anne Sutton's (Laura Linney) wishes to marry him which ultimately leads to where she is in the present.

The way these storylines are intergrated together/told is both mind boggling and remarkable.

Unrequited Love:

Writer/Director Tom Ford's (Yes that Tom Ford) direction is unobtrusive, the production is utterly stupendous, the costumes are simply fabulous - which is to be expected from someone like Ford.
The score by Abel Korzeniowski is beautifully unique, the cinematography is gorgeous and captures the high class, polished, upper class world that Susan lives in as well as the harsh, unforgiving western environment the Tony inhabits, the scenery is breathtaking, th

The acting is sensational all round, Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal both deliver simply brilliant performances with Gyllenhaal particularly in his duel role as both the struggling and desperate Edward and the vengeful Tony who is on a personal vendetta to avenge his wife and daughter

Michael Shannon is also excellent in the movie playing Det. Bobby Andes

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is appropriately, suitably and positively scary as Ray Marcus,

Armie Hammer, Michael Sheen, Jena Malone, Andrea Riseborough, Isla Fisher, Ellie Bamber,
Zawe Ashton and Laura Linney also appear in the film in brief but pivitol roles as characters who help Susan make the decisions she makes on her journey throughout the film.

5/5.

The Anonymous Critic.