20 Best Movie Performances Of 2016

Michael Shannon gives Tom Ford's grim melodrama a much-needed dose of comic relief with his riotously entertaining performance as a fictional detective residing within Edward Sheffield's (Jake Gyllenhaal) novel.

Described by Shannon as a "grotesque angel", the character brings a deeply dry, sardonic sense of humour to the film, helping to offset its sometimes dour tone and basically allowing Shannon to pretty much run away with the movie.

The film won't be for all tastes, but considering the stellar turns by Gyllenhaal, Amy Adams and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, it's no small feat that Shannon, brilliant though he always is, rises to the top in a supporting role.