Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, Nocturnal Animals has also been selected in many festivals. And for the sake of it. Tom Ford's second film, a thriller inspired by Austin Wright's book about a woman (Amy Adams) upset by the novel written by her ex-husband (Jake Gyllenhaal), is a real success.
A perfect film in form
Tom Ford would deserve an Oscar for his achievement of rare intelligence. An extremely rich staging brings this film to cold and striking beauty. Each image has a meaning, systematically illustrating and enriching the purpose of the film. They dialogue with each other, respond to each other, echo each other and underline the state of mind of the characters. Nothing is left to chance, from the makeup of the actors to their meticulous placement on each shot. A real work of goldsmith. Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey offers us a sublime and controlled photography from start to finish. Images and sounds are superimposed in perfect harmony, leaving it to the viewer to interpret the unsaid through everything he can perceive. Abel Korzeniowski's music fits perfectly with the narrative and the sounds are manipulated with the same precision as the shots.
Content that is relevant but lacks material
Nocturnal Animals is one of those films that require a certain amount of digestion. Tom Ford manages to install throughout his history, a heavy, oppressive, even unhealthy atmosphere. From the surprising and brilliant opening scene, to which we do not know how to react, to the final denouement, our emotions are constantly solicited. Still, something is missing from the script. A little one knows what more impactful that would have made this film a masterpiece. If the story of Edward's novel is moving, Susan's "real" story is less so. The connection between the two is certainly clever, but "reality" seems rather bland next to fiction. In addition, we deplore that some characters are too stereotyped: the nice cop, the fickle and absent husband …
Nevertheless, the acting is a flawless, except perhaps for Amy Adams who could probably have brought more hues to her character. But we can consider that it corresponds to Susan's personality, for you to judge. Jake Gyllenhaal is bluffing and offers us a magnificent performance, carried by a game full of nuances. Special mention also to Aaron Taylor-Johnson, of a very impressive credibility in a type of role that he is not used to embody.
The various themes of the film are also well treated and lead us to reflect on loneliness, remorse, courage… So many values and emotions of which everyone has their own definition, that everyone lives and feels in a different way, having their own way of dealing with them.
Tom Ford offers us a very worked work on the visual and sound levels, which haunts us long after leaving the room. Superb soundtrack and photography, incredible acting, intelligent parallels, Nocturnal Animals would have deserved a more detailed and striking scenario (for the story rooted in the "real"). However, despite this small weakness, this film must be seen!
