“Before I saw Nocturnal Animals the only thing I knew about director Tom Ford was from the Jay Z song. After seeing this movie I think he may be our generation’s David Lynch.”

Nocturnal Animals: 3.5 out of 5

I will never forget the opening images of this movie. I don’t think anyone who sees it will. There was something so intriguing, shocking, and artistic about them. They were so damn disturbing and yet so beautiful — I immediately knew I was in good hands with director Tom Ford. If nothing else this movie was going to be unique.

Ford was a creative director at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent before starting his own fashion brand. He was known for using naked men and women in his controversial advertisements and is famous for responding to his critics by saying that he is an “equal opportunity objectifier.” I love that. I’m not exactly sure why, but I do. I think I just prefer my artists to be pushing the envelope, stirring up controversy, and unapologetic. Plus, in general, naked people don’t offend me.

Ford began directing movies with 2009’s A Single Man. At the time of this blog, I have not seen it, but if Nocturnal Animals is any indication of Ford’s skill I definitely plan on doing so.

Nocturnal Animals was polished, but raw. It was beautiful, but ugly. It was artistic, but horrific. It’s a movie about a woman reading a manuscript written by her ex. We see what her mind’s eye sees as she reads, then we feel what she feels as she goes about her pecunious sleep deprived life.

The emotional punch of this movie comes from the fictional story she is reading. The raw range of emotion we watch Jake Gyllenhaal‘s character go through is perfectly foiled by the stoic, grizzled, and cold-blooded demeanor of Michael Shannon. However, it is the subtle, more complex and thought-provoking performance of Amy Adams that really gives this movie its depth and makes it so interesting.