Nocturnal Animals is one of the more interesting films of the year.  It’s directed by Tom Ford, who received a lot of acclaim for directing A Single Man a few years ago. Other than that, he hasn’t done a whole lot in the world of film.  However, Ford is an interesting guy.  He was a fashion model who now is the creative director at Gucci. He decided to try his hand at directing and he’s certainly gifted.

 

Nocturnal Animals is one of the more visually beautiful films of the year.  You’d expect nothing less from a director that has spent his share of time in print ads and commercials.  That said, it’s also a film that will inevitably divide a lot of people with its narrative style.

 

Animals tells the story of a lonely gallery owner named Susan, played by Amy Adams, who has become disenchanted with the art world.  One day, she receives a manuscript in the mail from her ex-husband, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, who pulls double duty in the film.  The novel is dedicated to her and revolves around a man, also played by Gyllenhaal (who Susan pictures as the main character in the book), trying to find his wife and daughter who have been kidnapped.  As she reads the book, we see it play out from the perspective of the characters in the book.  The film also mixes in a story thread from when the real-life couple first met.

 

As you can see, if you’re the type of person that is confused easily with multiple narratives, Nocturnal Animals is sure to frustrate you.  

 

Nocturnal Animals is truly a tale of two films.  The more compelling of the two is clearly when we are seeing what is happening in the book.  Once we get back to Susan’s real life, the film tends to lag a bit.  I won’t spoil the connection between Susan and her ex-husband and the story in the book.  How those two pieces fit together is the whole point of the film.  Judging by some of the chatter I heard in the theater as the credits were rolling, most people missed what the film was striving for. To some, it will be clear what the director intended by mixing both stories together, but many will be left wanting more, and a large majority will be left just plain confused.

 

Besides the visuals, the best part of the film are the performances, especially the ones taking place in the narrative of the book.  If you’ve read anything I’ve said about movies over the last few years, you know how much I love Jake Gyllenhaal. He might just be the best actor of his generation.  He gives another fantastic performance here.  His second strong performance of the year if you ask me.  I thought he was great earlier in the year in the underrated Demolition.

 

I’d be remissed if I also didn’t mention Michael Shannon and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Shannon is easily one of the best character actors working today.  The engaging intensity he brings to every role is almost impossible to take your eyes off of.

 

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, yes, Kick-Ass himself, is the real revelation here though.  He’s unrecognizable as a white trash scumbag terrorizing the family in the book’s story. His character is one of the more genuinely repulsive characters you will see in film. There’s sure to be some performances recognized come Oscar season.

 

As for the film, I don’t think it quite succeeds enough as a whole to get the nomination many predicted.  Director Tom Ford is throwing a lot of themes at us. Themes of art, and how audiences perceive it.  Themes of loneliness and settling for a life we don’t want instead of going out on a limb and trying to do something you love.  Some of it works, some of it doesn’t.  Some of it ends up being a little heavy-handed as well.  Like a piece of art on a wall that literally says, “Revenge.”  

 

In the end, that’s kind of what Nocturnal Animals is.  Two films in one.  The story of Susan and her real life with an ex who is an aspiring novelist, and this novel about a husband trying to save his family.  It also can’t make up its mind if it wants to be a mysterious thriller where many of the answers have to be filled in by the audience, or if it wants to hit you over the head with symbolism and metaphors.

 

Nocturnal Animals could have benefited from one more scene, but it turns out to be one of the more thought provoking films of the year.  That alone is something I appreciate in any film.  It’s not for everybody though.  Many people will be turned off by the multiple narratives and general frustrating nature of the film.  I can only recommend Nocturnal Animals to those that like their movies on the more artsy side of things.