MovieChat Forums > Nocturnal Animals (2016) Discussion > Possibly the biggest disppointment of th...

Possibly the biggest disppointment of the year.

posted 8 years ago by Dondi0
9 replies | jump to latest

Was really looking forward to this as the reviews were almost universally stellar and I loved A Single Man, but sadly it was a massive disappointment; not because it was too vague but because it was brain-bendingly, hilariously obvious, cripplingly heavy handed and painfully predictable.

Here's a few examples:

1 - Just in case we hadn't noticed this was a 'revenge' story, and revenge for what specifically, Amy Adams character walks past a painting that LITERALLY spells it out and then has a terribly ham-fisted conversation about a baby (LIKE HER ABORTED ONE!)with someone.

2 - Aaron Taylor-Johnson's ridiculous performance as a 'crazy, wild eyed' redneck with no regard for life (who's so 'despicable' his toilet is on his porch outside the front of his house and we have to watch him wipe his arse and inspect his faeces in front of people) that appeared to be worryingly analogous to Amy adam's character which seemed to imply that 'abortion is murder'.

3 - How spectacularly obvious it was that Michael Shannon's cop was dying of cancer meaning that they would go rogue and kill Aaron's gang followed by Amy Adams' 'symbolically' wiping off her lipstick in a statement of rejecting the superficial world she'd foolishly chosen over the emotionally 'real' artist/creator that was Jake Gyllenhal who is quite clearly never going to turn up to their date as the final act of his convoluted 'revenge by art' plan. (Was this supposed to be a twist? Unexpected?)

Critics love this film because of its ham-fisted subtext that "the moneyed, and privileged world surrounding the creative industries (art, fashion, music, literature etc) is superficial and cold whereas the 'real' creators of art (Jake Gyllenhall as stand-in for the 'creative director' Tom Ford) are tragic outsiders that communicate truth and will have their 'revenge' by means of their work's genius remaining long after the parties are over".

Ultimately it was a series of Ford-era Gucci ads beautifully shot and edited that couldn't escape the gravity of the vacuum at their center. Perhaps this fashion emperor should design himself some new clothes, because on this evidence he's looking very naked indeed...

[–] sjaskew42 8 years ago

It's your critique that's heavy handed, and brain bendingly wrong (for the most part)

i'm tired of dancing here all by myself

[–] Dondi0 8 years ago

Ok, I'm willing to listen.
Please explain what I missed and what exactly makes this film so good.
I'm genuinely interested.

[–] sjaskew42 8 years ago

I never said it's good, but i did like it.
To be honest, and i'm not trying to be a dick, i was midway through addressing your points and then couldn't be bothered.
But I have made numerous postings on this film, that you may find interesting.

some of what you say is fair enough, but some other things are ill thought out.

i'm tired of dancing here all by myself

[–] Dondi0 8 years ago

To be honest, and i'm not trying to be a dick, i was midway through addressing your points and then couldn't be bothered.

A fantastic effort nonetheless.
Not sure you've really done enough to get me to change my mind though...

[–] sjaskew42 8 years ago

apologies

i'm tired of dancing here all by myself

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] siupinys 8 years ago

I don't quite get what exactly disappointed you - you're saying you had high hopes based on the reviews and the level of 'A Single Man' but in my opinion, that should have given you the right idea of what to expect from 'Nocturnal Animals'. It's Tom Ford after all, I think his main aim is to perfect the visual side of his films.

I don't think it was empty and with 'vacuum' at the center - the performances and the story did move me a lot, especially the final scene. The strength of the movie doesn't necessarily have to be its amazing script - if you're dismissing 'Nocturnal Animals' as a nice beautifully shot facade with no deeper meaning, then I have to say this level of aesthetics seems very rare to me nowadays. Last film I saw that was this visually pleasing was maybe 'Shame' by Steve McQueen so even if all Tom Ford achieves is stunning visuals then I can happily live with that as I really thought they were breathtaking.

[–] edinabb 8 years ago

1 - She forgot she bought the painting. Repress what you don't want to deal with.

2 - Ray's a jab at Susan. Take what you want, then trash it on impulse. No moral duty in love.

Original reference image:
https://i.imgflip.com/11gl4d.jpg

3 - Edward wrote the cop as a dying breed. Is it sad for our times? Or does it make room for replacing men who wipe each other out?

Symbols jog feelings. Susan wipes off her mask for change. Who will she be now?

It's no more lame than a guy rubbing on his gun holster, awaiting the other guy at the final showdown.

[–] michaelward15 8 years ago

Frankly, I have no idea what the appeal if this movie is. I came here to see what the hype was, and nothing I've read makes me want see it. Maybe, it's a great movie, but it looks terrible, and I can't watch everything so this is one I'll skip.