You can certainly tell that writer/director Tom Ford is also a fashion mogul, cause this film is crammed with stylistic flair: beautiful people, lovely lighting, elegant locations and cool clothes. It’s also a somewhat gripping suspense drama. Amy Adams plays a fancy LA gallery owner who gets a copy of her ex-husband’s (Jake Gyllenhaal) novel, which is a thinly disguised revenge narrative. The film alternates between her reading it, the story being reenacted and flashbacks to their past relationship. The concept is sometimes clever as it pieces the parts together, but sometimes it’s merely dominated by the beauty of the design. Adams and Gyllenhaal are both fine, but the standout performance comes from Michael Shannon as the sheriff. Even though the movie is compelling and sensual, the drama doesn’t always live up to the aesthetics.
(4 / 5)