Movie Review: Nocturnal Animal

Nocturnal Animal is a new movie starring Amy Adams and Jake Gyllanhaal.  The story is about a wealthy woman whose marriage, money, and social standing are starting to slip away.  She receives a manuscript from her first husband and a note which asks her to read it before publication.  The movie shows scenes from the book while Adams reads it,  also shows her flashing back to her relationship with her first husband.

The novel (Nocturnal Animals) she reads is about a man, wife, and daughter who get ran off of the road in the middle of nowhere. Three men terrorize the family and eventually rape and kill the wife and daughter.  The man survives and with the help of a cop gets his revenge.
Amy Adams's (Susan) relationship with her first husband shows how she dumped him for husband number two and aborted his child.

The horror of the novel seems to metaphorically match up with the horror her first husband felt after the divorce.
My Review: Can't say enough about this movie.  Adams is beautiful, sad, and even cold as the middle-aged wife who regrets leaving her first husband.  Gyllanhaal is also brilliant as the first husband along with the main character in his book.  The story was so original.  I don't want to give anything away, but the ending threw me for a loop.  At first I was mad and then I understood.  The movie has it all-action, style, great acting, and brilliant writing.  Hope to see it do something at the Oscars this year.  5/5 Stars.