No. 15 Nocturnal Animals (2016) 73 of 100
If ever a film grabbed your attention from the first moment it has to be this one. Of course overweight and elderly naked majorettes may not be your thing but you can’t say it’s not different. The titles roll over these dancing ladies and we soon learn that we are in a gallery and witnessing an art installation. Gallery owner Amy Adams is unhappy with her husband’s non- appearance and with his barely disguised philandering. Things perk up however when she receives a manuscript from her first love and former husband Edward, who is played by Jake Gyllenhaal. She is flattered that the book is dedicated to her and looks forward to his proposed dinner date the following week. As she reads the book the film dissolves into the book’s narrative that sees Jake and Amy on a road trip with their daughter. The character names are changed, but as we experience the book from Amy’s viewpoint she clearly sees the characters as herself and her former beau. The book is as dark as pitc...