Movie Review: 'Gone Girl'
- sarahkloepple
- Oct 4, 2014
- 2 min read
I don't think I would have liked "Gone Girl" as much as I did if it weren't for the redeeming powers and talents of David Fincher.
He's truly a master of his craft. At his hands, Gillian Flynn's best-selling novel was turned into a modern, terrifying tale of the woes of marriage. But there was a certain point where the revelations and unspun secrets of "Gone Girl" simply make you laugh and wonder, "Could someone really do that?"
I read the book awhile ago and was completely floored by "the twist," the very same one that everyone seems to know is encroaching even before they buy their movie ticket. But actually seeing it on screen floored me even more. This is just batsh*t crazy, was a thought I had multiple times during the movie.
But my peaked discomfort level aside, the film is still a wild and enjoyable ride. Ben Affleck blew me away as Nick Dunne whose wife Amy has just disappeared on the morning of their fifth wedding anniversary. Neighbors and the media are quick to tear a part his seeming lack of concern and accuse him of her murder. But did he really do it?
For those of you who haven't read the book and don't know the answer, Affleck perfectly plays on your doubts and uncertainties. He plays Nick with a careless bravado that has you scoffing at what is either a serious indiscretion or plain stupidity.
But it's Fincher who ultimately makes this a respectable film. He's really the best at directing stories that stretch out over a long period of time ("The Social Network," "Zodiac") in a way that isn't confusing but cohesive. Flashbacks of a blissful newlywed couple, diary voiceovers and crime procedural tropes are all rolled into a sleek and engaging package.
By the end, you'll be wondering who the hell Rosamond Pike is and why you haven't heard of her before — because she's truly a force to be reckoned with. Although there were times when I rolled my eyes at the not-so-subtle sexism of her role, which I can't really delve into without spoiling anything. Maybe that's one thing Fincher needs to work on in the future.
And, sure, maybe you'll laugh at the campiness of some of the more bizarre moments (and absolutely cringe during the terrifying ones). But "Gone Girl," overall, is a Fincher-approved, darkly entrancing saga that will leave you mystified.
