"Nocturnal Animals" (2016) Directed by Tom Ford #nocturnalanimals #tomford

“Do you ever feel your life turning into something you never intended?”.

Based on Austin Wright’s novel “Tony and Susan” and adapted for the screen by director Ford, there is much to admire in Nocturnal Animals and a film I instantly adored on first viewing and a love that has grown stronger with every subsequent re-watch since. As with his debut film, Ford has helmed, in strong collaboration with stars both in front of and behind the camera, a truly absorbing, intriguing and stylish film. Kudos in all directions behind the scenes: for Director of Photography Seamus McGarvey and three returnees from Ford’s previous film in the shape of Editor Joan Sobel, Costume Designer Arianne Phillips and Composer Abel Korzeniowski, whose musical composition particularly stands out as a beautiful piece of accompanying music that in it’s grandest moments is eerily reminiscent of the haunting quality of Jerry Goldsmith’s score for Basic Instinct in 1992 and similar in tone and feel to his previous musical work on A Single Man.

In front of the camera are some incredible performances that garnered just a single Oscar nomination in 2017 but which should have gathered many more, particularly Amy Adams in her central performance as an angst and regret filled Art Gallery Owner and for Jake Gyllenhaal’s dual supporting role which is both thunderous and heart breaking at times. The single Oscar nomination fell to Michael Shannon for his immense portrayal of a gruff local detective with nothing left to lose, as he chases down three of the most cowardly and reprehensible characters to have hit the cinema screen in some time.

The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original article penned and published to my Medium blog site on 7th January 2023 and which can now be read in full and for free (please also consider following/subscribing for free too!) via my Substack blog site and original article linked immediately below:

https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/nocturnal-animals-2016-f231434875a3

This spoiler free review can also be found in full within Volume 3 of my "essential film reviews collection". Each volume is priced at £4.99 however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free:

Volume 3

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4JTLRY1

All 7 Volumes

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