THIS IS NOT A DATE FILM! You might want to read that last sentence over again before you think of taking your significant other to the theater to check this movie out with you. That's not to say that this movie isn't exceptional because it is in EVERY way, it just doesn't cast a very pretty light on relationships. And if your significant other happens to be engaged to you, skip this film altogether, seriously. Go see something else, you'll be happy you did. Gone Girl is another notch in the belt of David Fincher, an artist I have been a big fan of since Se7en and who I list as one of my top three favorite directors. He has yet to fail to entertain me and that's saying a lot these days but he's consistently put out quality material so I have consistently been faithful. That consistency has paid off yet again. Gone Girl is adapted from the Gillian Flynn novel of the same name and in a stroke of genius (I don't know whose stroke it was actually) Gillian also wrote the screenplay which gave her a chance to fix or change some things she probably wished she could have fixed or changed in her book. Much in the same way Don Winslow, author of Savages and screenwriter of the movie changed the ending (for the better in my opinion) of Oliver Stone's film. From what I know of the changes made it seems Gillian improved upon her story.
Gone Girl stars Ben Affleck as Nick Dunne, the amazing Rosamund Pike as Amy Dunne, Tyler Perry as Nick's lawyer Tanner Bolt, Carrie Coon as Nick's fraternal twin Margo Dunne, Neil Patrick Harris as the long suffering Desi Collings, Kim Dickens as lead investigator Detective Rhonda Boney, and Patrick Fugit as Boney's partner Officer Gilpin. It's an impressive cast and everyone holds their own but make no mistake, this movie belongs to Rosamund Pike. She is absolutely phenomenal and if she isn't nominated come Oscar time that would be a crime. This creepy, gripping story is told initially from Nick's point of view and if you haven't read the book Fincher certainly makes Nick seem like a sociopath who could have easily killed his wife. Nick lies to the police, hides clues, and is overall smarmy in the first act of the movie. The second act is Nick trying desperately to prove his innocence as he and his team try to piece together what could have happened to Amy. The second act is gripping and tense as you watch Nick walk on that thin ice as the police finds Amy's journal which is chock full of slightly incriminating details regarding Nick. The third act though is where this film shines and where Fincher proves how much better a director he is than 80% of the clowns that are behind the camera these days.
Don't get me wrong, Gone Girl isn't without it's flaws. There's way too much Nick running around at night trying to get into houses, the part where they talk about Amy looking to buy a gun was completely unbelievable, Nick's father was barely in the story, and it could have been at least 15 to 20 minutes shorter. Those sins are completely forgivable though because you will be so wrapped up in this drama that you probably won't notice any one of those things. This movie sets you up and just when it has you right where it wants you, it yanks the rug right out from under you sending you careening head over foot. As usual Fincher employs the talented cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth, the two have worked together since Fincher's Fight Club and Gone Girl is another masterful job. Scored by the Oscar Award winning duo of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the music is moody, dark, brooding, and lush. Coming off their obscure score of Fincher's Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Gone Girl is more straight ahead, direct, and perfect. This movie is a must see regardless of your having read the book or not, you will not be sorry you did unless of course you bring your significant other with you. I told you not to, you never listen to me. I'll see you at the theater (if you can make it out of the house).
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