Tom Ford is a world-renowned fashion designer who makes beautiful clothing that dresses the actors, actresses, singers and other notable people we see in the media. His art for designing fashion trends is not his only gift. Over the years, Ford has added film directing and screenwriting to his list of talents.
His second film “Nocturnal Animals” will hit theaters on Dec. 9. It features many Hollywood stars such as Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ilsa Fisher and Armie Hammer. The story follows Susan Morrow, played by Adams, who is haunted by something she has done to her ex-husband, Gyllenhaal, who has written a novel that seems to be based on their relationship. Ford wrote the script himself based off Austin Wright’s “Tony and Susan.”
It is no surprise that Ford has an eye for visuals, which seems to dominate his films. With his creative genius, Ford’s hand shows in how his costume design, production design and even the cinematography sets the tone for the film. Besides having a great script and seemingly perfect visuals, the actors he casts bring his story to life.
His debut film, “A Single Man,” starred Colin Firth, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his role, and was accompanied by Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult and Matthew Goode. Based in Los Angeles during the 1960s, “A Single Man” follows an English professor who is coping with the fact that he lost his lover. Then he starts forming a relationship with a student to help himself get over his loss.
“Film has to say something…when you leave the theater, you have to think about your life.” Ford recently said in an interview with Vanity Fair on why he chose to make “Nocturnal Animals.” “It has to be something that haunts you.”
Just as he did with “A Single Man,” Ford premiered “Nocturnal Animals” at the Venice Film Festival in September 2016. It went on to win the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize which gives it good potential to be in the Oscar race this year. Variety magazine calls it “an explosive tale of love, violence and revenge.”
“Nocturnal Animals” is rated R for violence, menace, graphic nudity and language.
Overall, Tom Ford is an exceptional talent that can create fashion masterpieces and phenomenal films that people can’t stop talking about. He is truly an artist in the sense of the word.
By Samantha Dunaway
Photo courtesy of Focus Features and IMBD