Just watched NOCTURNAL ANIMALS - does it have a point?

I think it's about people's expectations of other people, and how sometimes the reality is much different.

Who was she waiting for in the restaurant at the end?

Jake? That's what I thought.

Yes and he stood her up, that's what I thought.

This is the latest Tom Ford navel contemplation?

I just finished watching it, as well. A brutal, disturbing movie with a rather unsatisfying end.

Thanks, that's who I assumed too. It ended so abruptly I was confused.

I was hypnotized by the dancing ladies at the beginning.

In the end, Edward gets his revenge on Susan for leaving him and aborting their child by standing her up for the "promised" dinner. They had been divorced for years (19, she tells her husband). They had barely been in contact, in fact, technically not at all, although she had tried to call him a few years before. Her sends his novel to her, which arrives at a point in her marriage where her husband is having an affair and her daughter has grown into adulthood.

The novel is titled "Nocturnal Animals," which had been Edward's name for her. Toward the end of their marriage, Susan had finally come to agree with her mother that Edward would never amount to anything, that he wasin't going to be a great novelist. She is drawn into the novel (as are we by the shift to the novel's story in the movie). As she reacts to the novel and thinks back over her life and marriage to him, she convinces herself that she not only still loves him but also thinks he will save her from her current life. The last scene is so long because it takes her a bit to realize he isn't coming, then her desperation grows through the rest of the scene. The parallels between the current story (with its flashbacks to the past relationship) and the novel story are many and somewhat too complex to go into here, but they provide the emotional pull that hooks Susan.

While Susan has spent her life since her divorce from Edward pursuing professional and social status with her stunning husband, in reality it has all crumbled. Edward has spent those years writing his novel, which does turn out to be a great story and is romantically autobiographical with his self image presented as a tragic hero. The suggestion is that he at least has hints about Susan's life before he sends the novel, perhaps from the time a few years before when she had called him, and sends the novel hoping to catch her at a time of emotional weakness? Anyway, the coup de grace of his revenge is standing her up at the restaurant.

I thought it was a brilliant film with stunning performances all around, even in the minor (almost cameo) parts played by Laura Linney and Micheal Sheen. Maybe I didn't have as much trouble following it because the entwined "two-story" narrative structure is similar to novels like Cather's "The Professor's House" or Fowles' "The French Lieutenant's Woman."

It really is a brilliant film. Much better than that La La Shit that was undeservedly heaped with praises/awards.

It's about Aaron Taylor-Johnson sitting on a toilet on camera, wiping himself, and then examining the soiled toilet paper.

Without showing dick btw, which made the shot pointless.

I did jump and let out a slight shout when Amy dropped the cell phone.

It's the most brilliant film of our time and anyone who doesn't think so isn't beautiful or thin or well dressed!

Much better than The Arrival which Adams was nominated for. I thought she was better in this one. An underrated movie, IMO.

She was nominated for anything. All she does in MA is think about the novel she is reading.

Meant to say she was not nominated for Arrival and she doesn't have a very demanding role in Nocternal.

R9 gives a good analysis. A visually beautiful film (even the violence was, not to mention ATJ on his porch toilet), and a fairly straightforward plot. And kudos to Tom Ford for finally proving that Amy Adams and Isla Fisher are not the same person.

Me too R13

It was unintentionally hilarious. I laughed hysterically through most of it. Tom Ford is the most pretentious queen who ever queened in queendom.

I don't remember laughing. Murder usually doesn't make me laugh.

Edward's novel expressed his rage. She was actually remorseful at the end which is why she agreed to meet him. I think she thought she could some how make up for it and when he stood her up, he was saying in effect "Fuck you! I'm finally over it. I've exorcised you. You're dead to me." The novel he writes deals with the violent deaths of his wife and his daughter and his inability to protect them. But it was all metaphorical. She had an affair while married to him, and got an abortion. She wanted him to discover her with her boyfriend at the abortion clinic. She was horribly cruel to him. He carried rage and hate inside him for nearly 20 years. And she thought they could resolve it over cocktails? I enjoyed the movie and I really enjoyed Jake. He did an excellent job and he look really fine. But then Tom Ford lined up his beauties didn't he? Jake, Armie Hammer and Aaron Taylor Johnson.

Also wanted to say that Tom Ford's women characters, Amy was physically beautiful and an empty, self centered vessel, Laura Linney portrayed a ridiculous, destructive woman, and then you had the "art exhibit" of all those Grotesques, the fat ladies.

I remember thinking Amy Adams' makeup looked beautiful and realized the palette the art director picked were most likely from Ford's own collection he sells (expensively) under the larger Estée Lauder company. BTW, I know of people from EL who work with him on his cosmetic and fragrance projects and say he's just impossible to deal with. The ultimate nit picky snooty queen. The product developers often jump ship to another EL brand like Clinique, MAC, etc.

[quote]I think she thought she could some how make up for it and when he stood her up, he was saying in effect "Fuck you! I'm finally over it. I've exorcised you. You're dead to me."

The fact that he planned and carried out this elaborate payback suggests to me that he most definitely is not over it.

[quote] A visually beautiful film (even the violence was, not to mention ATJ on his porch toilet),

Yes, I've always wanted to see someone taking a shit rendered aesthetically beautiful.

btw, the whole idea of rigging up a working toilet on your porch is one of the stupidest script ideas I've ever heard of. They even had to include a gratuitous expository line to explain that the toilet worked. Obviously this was just indulging some sort of fetish of Ford's, and he couldn't figure out otherwise how to show Taylor-Johnson taking a shit.

R25, I kind of agree. I think he figuratively killed her in his novel. But the pain he felt at his inability to "do something" really still ate at him.

No. It does not. It is a waste of a movie and a waste of my time. Why does Armie Hammer get cast in anything?

The point: fuck you, ungrateful bitch, for not believing in my genius.

Pretty pictures, ugly story. I'd like to believe that no woman is dumb enough to be positively captivated by her ex's fantasy of her and their child being raped and murdered followed by him playing avenging angel. You'd think basic survival instincts would kick in. The whole story was so angry straight guy/stupid bitches, I kept wondering what on earth about it appealed to Ford. How very dull to contemplate the impotence of a mediocre straight man.

The secret twist is that ALL THE WOMEN IN THE MOVIE ARE LESBIANS.

Tom Ford wrote the screenplay and changed a lot of what was in the book.

Were there dancing fat women in the book?

Sounds like a terrible movie. Is this a remake of Jeux d'enfants with Cuntillard and Canet? Didn't like the grief movie either.

But how did Tom die? Did his gun go off when he fell on the ground and the bullet went into his body?

Another gay director leaving the good male nudity on the cutting room floor.

r28 sums it up perfectly.

Oh and regarding "Much better than The Arrival which Adams was nominated for. I thought she was better in this one. An underrated movie, IMO."

She was NOT nominated for the Oscar for either of her dull Oscar-bait films because the Academy (rightly) gave her Meryl Streep to have another nomination after calling out Trump at the Golden Globes.

She was NOT nominated for the Oscar for either of her dull Oscar-bait films because the Academy (rightly) wanted Meryl Streep to have another nomination after calling out Trump at the Golden Globes.

Just an observation, but the word "brilliant" is thrown around so much that it has ceased to mean anything to me.

Also this film is dull and overpraised.

My ending theory: Susan has walked by a prominent painting that says “Revenge,” and the ending of Edward’s novel is all about him getting revenge. Edward and Susan are to meet again for dinner, once she has finished his novel. It is never made explicit, but I came away with the feeling that he was dead by the end of the film [and there is a prominent dead bird, as well as a character with terminal cancer who is going to give up his short remaining life for “justice”]. We have indications that she is hoping to rekindle their relationship, because she wears a dress that is a bit more than friendly, and makes the decision to wipe off her lipstick as too forward. But she is stood up, and the movie ends with her waiting hours for him.

My theory is that his revenge is to make her realize how unhappy she is, and how badly she wants him back… only at a time where she can never possibly get him back [note we never see him alive in the present day]

Strike TWO Tom Ford.

Some think like in his novel the dying cop leaves and doesn't come back because he is dead so when Jake doesn't show up for the dinner the reason he doesn't show up he is also dead. Maybe if the screenwriter is brilliant and Ford isn't.

How do you kill someone figuratively kill someone?

Tom Ford's films so far has been as COLD as ICE. He makes Bergman look warm by comparison. I really respected Noctural Animals but did not enjoy it or love it-or ever want to sit through it again. I watched the entire thing and the performances were fantastic as was the photography.

That CUNTY museum co worker of Amy's gave me life.

I also purchased the soundtrack- It is stunning.

[quote] I'd like to believe that no woman is dumb enough to be positively captivated by her ex's fantasy of her and their child being raped and murdered followed by him playing avenging angel.

She, herself, said she had no creativity or imagination. She was just in the art business for money and status.

I like the ambiguous ending. Perhaps this was her wake up call to get out of her sad marriage and find her passion in life. Or maybe she just now really respects her ex for becoming the man who finally had the balls to be a man. Something her mother said he never would be.

[quote]I also purchased the soundtrack- It is stunning.

It really is. Especially the opening/closing credits.

[quote]How do you figuratively kill someone?

For example, you write an alternative history in which your wife does not abort your child and leave you for another man. Instead she stays with you and has your baby, a beautiful little girl and you all love each other sooo much and you're sooo happy. Until one dark night, over a decade later, driving through Texas your beautiful, perfect little family is attacked by rednecks. Your wife and daughter are stolen from you. They are raped and murdered and you couldn't do anything to prevent it. Sad! A much better story to illustrate what he felt like when his wife killed their baby and left him, because this time he did nothing wrong, no one could blame him. And ATJ stands in for all the horrible things Susan did to him, and no one will blame him for exacting lethal revenge. In fact, so righteous is his cause, a cop will help him. So he gets to figuratively kill her twice. Once as the person he wanted her to be and then as the person he sees her as now.

As for the ending I assumed he's lurking outside the restaurant with binoculars, watching her wait. Because the whole damn thing is fucking creepy.

R44, I agree, and I also agree that he wasn't dead, but probably lurking to observe her waiting for him. Because you know he had to find out if she would show up, and then how much time she would give to waiting until she figured it out.

I think that stooding her up is just a bit immature and not creepy at all. I appreciate that is was ambiguous, but I expected she would feel more threatened throughout the movie.

You aborted my baby so now I will invite you to the restaurant and ... not show up !!!! Ahaha!!!! Revenge is sweet. NOT! I would have liked if the not going to the rendez-vous at the restaurant was part of a series of unsetling things, but the ultimate and final vengence ? Meh.

And what is meaning of the dancing obese women?

it was a psychological thriller in the Noir tradition. At least that's what Ford was going for. She starts reading it and she gets sucked into it, starts seeing herself in it, and can't put it down. She is tormented by the story. it is unsettling to her. He was mind fucking her.

The only thing ambiguous about that ending is whether or not he was jerking off while watching her wait for him.

[quote]but I expected she would feel more threatened throughout the movie.

Her character is a complete idiot. Your ex-husband dedicates that book to you, you schedule a meeting with an attorney, not a dinner date with the ex.

I forgot to brag that I watched this on streaming, apparently pirated from a country where naked fat ladies and outdoor shitter scene were edited out.

Just watched it and have a question. After she reads the rape and murder scene, she calls her daughter to check on her. However, as we later find out, she had an abortion. Did she dream or hallucinate calling her "daughter". Also, from the on screen guide on TiVo, it says from reading the book, she feels her life may be in danger. I didn't get that at all.

I assume she was the daughter she had with another man.

I remember watching Halloween and thinking Michael Meyer was going to get me.

I'm halfway through, I don't know why I watch depressing movies like this before bed...

Haven't seen it, so will ignorantly pronounce:

Michael Shannon is usually the best part of any film.

"[Tom Ford is] just impossible to deal with."

Never would have believed that.

The cheap shot at Jennifer Lawrence at Michael Sheen's party was deeply satisfying, yet thematically coherent enough not to be a real cheap shot.

I love Tom Ford's film career so far, and I love what he does with redheads.

[quote]I did jump and let out a slight shout

M A R Y !!

Once i got past the art display of dancing naked fat chicks I liked the movie. The Tom Ford fat shaming part though was a bit much. Worse than the violence. The movie would have worked without that tub of jiggly fat opening but I get it.

I will always love Tom Ford for presenting Nicholas Hoult's ass so lovingly.

I love pretty, enigmatic movies with ponderous endings. I'm sitting there going "If the credits start rolling now, i'm gonna be so pissed!" And they start rolling. Magic Mike II was also like that, but that was a bad movie imo.

Not exactly the same, but I loved the ending of Donnie Darko, where you really had to ponder, "Did all of that just happen or not?"

One of the fatties in the beginning is Beth Ditto from the group Gossip. They're kind of big with the gay Hells Kitchen/undercut/beard/brunch crowd.

Michael Sheen was the best part. I found the violence brutal and crushing, so I'd say it was effective, there.

I could not understand why he was heartbroken that she aborted a fetus. The only time I've ever heard a man upset about an abortion is when he's trying to keep a woman tied to him. Usually they're relieved when a woman chooses one.

It reminded me of a Joan Didion novel. Stark and cold and full of shitty amoral people.

My kind of folks!

He was upset that he came upon his wife canoodling with her boyfriend Armie Hammer in the parking lot of an abortion clinic.

It's a pretty reasonable scenario to be upset about!

She was probably upset that he came upon HER!

[quote] I assume she was the daughter she had with another man.

She was with Armie Hammer when she had the abortion and broke up with Jake. I assumed it was Amy and Jake's daughter but no....he was crushed when she aborted his child. So that was Amy and Armie's daughter and yet he looks too young to have a daughter in college!

While you're at it, could someone please explain the ending of The Lobster?

R39, how would you explain the email he sent to her, then? He wasn't dead, he just set it up to stand her up.

She was the daughter she almost had with Jake, who, it turns out, SPOILER was his own grandfather.

huh?

Exactly, R69!

That movie was all style and no substance.

I loved how Tom Ford tried to make LA look exotic.

Haha!

The point of the movie is that Tom Ford wants to be an Oscar winning director.

That is all.

Dear Tom, stop wearing black.

[quote] I could not understand why he was heartbroken that she aborted a fetus. The only time I've ever heard a man upset about an abortion is when he's trying to keep a woman tied to him. Usually they're relieved when a woman chooses one.

Another man took his wife and 'killed' his unborn child because he was too "weak." The protagonist in his story lost his wife and child because he was "weak."

It's on AMC right now. Amy Adams looked so stunning in this film.