Tom Ford is my kinda dude! In the fashion world he is best known for bringing the Gucci brand out of bankruptcy and starting his own menswear line that is sleek, stylish and classy. Tom Ford is also a fantabulous director/writer whose first effort culminated in an Oscar nomination for Colin Firth and introduced to Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne.
His latest effort, Nocturnal Animals is just a compelling and will have you sitting on the edge of your seat!!
Starring Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Armie Hammer, Michael Shannon, Laura Linney and Isla Fisher (who bears an uncanny resemblance to Amy Adams), the Hitchcock-esque style is very apparent and most welcomed coupled with the film noir look and musical underscoring. Ford's use of imagery transitions between the fictional script and current day is breath-taking.
Nocturnal Animals makes it audience rediscover and re-investigate the relationships between art, money, power and relationships. After Susan (Amy Adams) and Hutton (Armie Hammer) have a disagreement and he leaves town on a "business trip", Susan cuddled up with her ex-husband Edward's (Jake Gyllenhaal) novel. It is once she begins to read this novel that the reality of the novel and her life meld into one story. Adapted from Austin Wright's novel "Tony and Susan", Ford's use of imagery transitions between the fictional script and current day is breath-taking and exquisitely manipulated.
Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal, in my opinion are very under estimated. They equally have an uncanny ability to make being angst look ridiculously easy, yet they always pull it off without a hitch.
Michael Shannon (Bobby Andes) seems to always make an audience member feel extremely uncomfortable. Kinda like those cops who always seem to abuse that bit of authority to make them feel like the big man on campus. It is very disturbing, creepy and disconcerting.
However, the most bone-chilling performance came from Aaron Taylor-Johnson as redneck, rapist and murderer Ray Marcus that leaves a taste in your mouth you just can;t get rid of. His verbal chiding of Edward is enough to make your skin crawl.
Nocturnal Animals is almost like being at a carnival and becoming stuck in the fun house mirror house for a few hours. The only real hint of color is the red hair and lipstick of the characters. This flick shows what types of evil really lurk at night once the sun goes down and how we should all be just a little more mindful when out and about.
Nocturnal Animals is released by Focus Features nationwide on Friday, December 9th.
