Gone
Girl
Dir: David Fincher
Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike,
Carrie Coon, Tyler Perry, Neil Patrick Harris, Kim Dickens, and Patrick Fugit
149
Minutes
David
Fincher has made a career taking audiences to dark places with bad people. In
the beginning moments of Gillian Flynn’s scripted adaptation of her popular
novel “Gone Girl”, a man is gentle caressing the head of a beautiful woman, the
way two people in love would, however the voice-over narration
concerning the situation is a violent soliloquy of hatred. Fincher
meticulously expands the impressions of deceit and hatred seen in the opening
and seduces the viewer into a two-hour plus unsettling journey that is also
completely mesmerizing.
Nick
(Ben Affleck) and Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) portray a fairy tale like
existence, one that blossoms with the kind of flirtation and charisma that is
inevitably bound to end with a storied kiss in the perfect atmosphere. A few
years into marriage and the sheen of new love has dulled and problems, like a
fledgling economy, puts adversity into the relationship. Survival instincts
take over and difficult decisions are made uprooting the couple to
the Midwest. Distances grow bigger and the once inseparable couple are now
strangers living under the same roof. Then Amy disappears under circumstances
that place Nick at the wrath of a media circus.
Flynn’s
novel is told with a unique perspective, offering alternating discussions from
the point of view of both Nick and Amy. It’s complex and would seem difficult
to sustain intrigue and mystery, however in the skillful hands of David Fincher
the film comes to life with a flood of harsh emotion. To explain or offer
specific examples from the film would be to spoil the surprises of the
multifaceted character driven narrative. Fincher’s recognizable aesthetic of
color-drained scenes highlighted by a mixture of contrasted grey and blue make
the film feel void of life, a design that accommodates the characters who themselves
display heartless feelings and actions. It’s never an easy or pleasurable
experience to watch unfold, terrible people doing terrible things, and in fact
feels and emulates characteristics more akin to a horror film. It’s impressive
how the film crafts the characters, painting them initially in amiable ways
then revealing the composed façade. Fincher makes you root for different
characters, forcing the viewer to change allegiances, yet at the core you
are ultimately cheering for a different kind of villain.
Ben
Affleck is great as the charming though deceitful Nick, his small-town-guy
appeal is noticeable from the beginning and exploited often. Whether to
redirect suspicions or emphasize trust, Nick is a pawn for the narrative
transitions and Affleck executes. Rosamund Pike is exceptional. Amy is
conniving, methodical, and overall intelligent. Fincher incorporates these
qualities with physical changes and emotional outbursts that range from
controlled to frantic. Pike strikes every note. The supporting cast is
pinpoint, from Tyler Perry’s shrewd defense attorney to Kim Dickens’
discerning detective, everyone accomplishes.
David
Fincher’s filmmaking is meticulously composed to keep the viewer from finding
their balance. Gillian Flynn’s narrative structure accommodates the design, the
score evokes an emotion of dread and despair, and the performances
are near impeccable. While the film may drag just a bit in the latter half,
Fincher never loses grasp but instead keeps the tone darkly entertaining and
the mystery enthralling until the credits role.
Monte’s
Rating
4.25 out
of 5.00
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