Nocturnal Animals
Published May 14, 2017
Film info
- Title Nocturnal Animals
- Director Tom Ford
- Year 2016
- Run time 1hr 56m
- Genres Drama, Thriller
- Tagline When you love someone you can't just throw it away
Susan is living through an unfulfilling marriage when she receives a package containing a novel manuscript from her ex-husband, Edward. The novel is dedicated to her but its content is violent and devastating. Susan cannot help but reminisce over her past love story with the author. Increasingly she interprets the book as a tale of revenge, a tale that forces her to re-evaluate the choices that she has made, and reawakens a love that she feared was lost.
Live blog
| Time | Comment |
|---|---|
| 2:55 | Ima say this is the oddest opening credits I’ve seen to date. |
| 4:52 | Metal gates is a design flaw and a half. |
| 7:33 | God, I want a personal assistant. |
| 10:33 | Psychopharmacologist. Hmm. |
| 11:14 | “As much right as anyone, because it’s all relative.” |
| 20:45 | I just feel like this wouldn’t make a very good book. |
| 30:45 | “That’s not our usual floor.” How regular do you have to be to have a room in a hotel just for you? |
| 34:07 | I’m worried about their luggage, they’ve just left it on the side of the road. |
| 41:17 | Surprised the police don’t think you can overpower someone even without guns. |
| 49:05 | He was being charming, and then he went weird. Step away now, Amy. |
| 54:00 | Old Laura Linney is bizarre! |
| 59:58 | “If I write it down then it’ll last forever.” |
| 1:03:16 | I don’t know much about policing but this identity parade seems very unorthodox. |
| 1:15:51 | These people all look crazy guilty when they are confronted. |
| 1:20:29 | “That’s because I’m not creative.” “Because you choose not to be!” |
| 1:32:29 | How can she read this by herself with all those windows? It’s terrifying. |
| 1:45:53 | Interesting book, they could make a film out of it. Oh wait. |
Conclusions
Halfway through this film, I wasn’t sure I could get to the end of it. The tension was too high, the suspense too great and the arty nature of it all just a bit too far above me. I’m glad I got to the end though because since then it’s started to grow on me more and more.
It is too arty, there’s plenty about it I’m sure I don’t get, but even so, you can’t argue that it’s not well made. Every shot is clearly thought about and measured, not a hair out of place. It’s an odd story and a dissatisfactory ending, but I thought the way the narratives weaved in and out of each other was well done, and Amy Adams did a good job in a role not to her usual style.
Jake Gyllenhaal wasn’t too far removed as the oddball one, he did a great job, and I liked the cop even though he really wasn’t playing by any rulebook I’ve heard of.
Weird, pretentious and arty, but actually kinda good.
Rating: 3/5.
Rating: 3 / 5