Report Card----"Nocturnal Animals"

"Nocturnal Animals" is an absolutely absorbing, first-rate thriller.
It is a great examination of the writing process, and a great love story.
It stars Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaall.
They are wonderful.
And what do you know?  There is a substantial part for Michael Shannon, and he walks off with the
picture.
As I've already indicated, Michael Shannon is in every movie this year.
I'm beginning to understand why.
What I can't figure out is how he finds the time to be this ubiquitous.
But he is quite a find.

On to the scoring:   

Is it interesting?

Fascinating.  It plays with time and imagination quite effectively.
A+.

Compelling even?

Consistently.
A+.

Is it controversial?

Doesn't need to be.
A.

Is it a story worth telling?

Absolutely
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

Masterful.
A+.

Is it well written?

The novel within the movie has the conceit of referring to itself as being great.
And it lives up to the conceit.
A+.

Is it well cast? Well played?

Up and down the line.
A+.

Well shot?

Spectacularly
A+.

Did the director put such a personal stamp on it so that no one else could have made it?

The writer was the director, so I'm always inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.
A.

How long does it take to establish the film's locale and time period?

Time is played with deliberately.  Just go along for the ride.
A+.

Is it too long? Too short?

Never an issue.
A+.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

You cared where the filmmaker wanted you to care.
A.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

I was constantly on the edge of my seat.
A+.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

It's quite haunting.
A+.

Is it funny?

It's not really about being funny.
No Grade.

Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

If anything is, this is.
A.

Is it impressive?

Nothing but.
A+.

Overall grade: A+.

So far, the best film I've seen this year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books, "Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not e-books.
But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@comcast.net
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------