Movies I've Seen in 2014 - Gone Girl
Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike
Supporting: Carrie Coon, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Kim Dickens
Directed by: David Fincher
Plot: Picture-perfect on the outside, Nick and Amy Dunne's marriage hit a speedbump when on the day of their 5-year marriage anniversary, Amy goes missing. Her disappearance soon becomes the "It" topic on all media, especially when suspicions rise on whether or not Nick is truly innocent.
REVIEW
Fincher has done it again. With Gone Girl being one of my top books that I've read in a while, and Fincher being one of my all-time favourite directors, it's safe to say that I had quite some high expectations going in, and I was not disappointed. The film stays quite true to the book, somehow being able to capture it's tone in the different parts, something I didn't think was possible to do in the movie adaptation. Gone Girl has an unbeatable plot, with plot twists at every turn, amazing cinematic choices chosen by the movie god himself, Fincher, and a cast that does not miss a single beat. It's safe to say that award season has begun.
My accolades towards Fincher has always been and will always be endless. Never have I seen him make a wrong choice, even when critics claim he has created a weak movie. In my opinion, Fincher has a formula that he follows with every movie he makes, and he knows it works; Gone Girl is no exception. I truly think Affleck describes it best when he says that Fincher "does everybody's job better than them." His directing style is hard to describe, but with quick jump cuts, never focusing too long on a close-up, and of course choosing to put reliable info over useless action in simple talking scenes, Fincher has got it down pat. There's nothing he does better than thrillers. That's a fact. It's been said that he makes his actors do multiple take after take, more than any other director regularly does, and with Gone Girl he proves why that was a wise thing to do. No scene feels rushed or unnecessary, but instead in harmony with the film surrounding it. To start talking more about the beauty and art of Fincher's wide-shots and long yet somehow always intriguing simple scenes (how in the world does he make a simple conversation between two people so gosh darn compelling?!), would be to start ranting. Let's just end it with: Fincher is god.
The plot itself, written by first-time screenwriter/ the novelist herself, Gillian Flynn, is stunning and compelling the whole way through. To say that it is dark and dreary would be a complete understatement. Flynn and Fincher flesh out characters that are anything but one-dimensional. Accompanied by Trent Reznor's basically perfect score, the movie captures the exact mood each scene requires. Mysteries and clues are never revealed too quickly, but instead are given just the same air of mystery and tension one gets while reading the book. As an adaptation, I don't think I've ever been happier to see so many key points still being in the film. Yes, obviously it took out some scenes and didn't flesh out certain characters as much as the book (*cough* Andie *cough*), but overall, it did it justice. It's hard to write a proper review for Gone Girl without writing any spoilers despite the best-selling novel being out there. But you know, just gotta appeal to the people.
Possibly the part I was the most excited to write about: the performances. If there's one thing you can trust Fincher on, it's his casting. He always casts against type, and it is always perfect. Seriously, when was the last time he casted someone wrong? He proved us of his talent once again with a pitch perfect cast for Gone Girl. Not only do the two main leads perfectly embody Nick and Amy, but the side characters match their roles to a tee as well. Let's begin with Affleck and Pike. Affleck delivers probably the best role of his career as Nick Dunne, a selfish, empathy-lacking, but charming mama's boy. Aah, yes, there is no better role for that Affleck smile. Don't doubt him though, Affleck brings a depth and likability to Nick that another actor perhaps couldn't. For a huge part of the movie, he perfectly teeters on being the worst husband in the world, as well as carrying an air of mystery ("did he do it? did he not?"), all while still somehow being weirdly... relatable. It's a role to prove the haters wrong. Although, the show truly does belong to Pike, as many critics claim. She doesn't play Amy; she is Amy. From head to toe, inside and out, Pike shows the dimensions and hidden layers required to play someone as charming, conniving, psychotic and hypnotizing as Amy Elliot Dunne. Embodying multiple emotions in once scene, from anger to vulnerability and just plain iciness, Pike hits all the right notes. She is the person you cannot for one second keep your eyes' off of, especially during the infamous "Cool Girl" speech. She delivers an award-worthy role (you can expect the Academy talk to begin anytime now), that will haunt you for a while to come. Most importantly, Pike captures the most important characteristic about Amy: you never know what she's thinking, yet she emotes so much with her eyes at the same time. It's like you can see the frailty and vulnerability behind her irises, but her thoughts and intentions consistently stay cloudy, leaving you to scream with Nick, "What are you thinking, Amy?" The side characters are perfect. Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry, like mentioned by many, play perfectly against type, proving that they have what it takes to tone it down and play a great dramatic role. Patrick Harris' creeper status never becomes too exaggerated, but is enough to leave you chills and uncomfortable even in your seat. Perry manages to still have some great one-liners as the confident asshole lawyer, Tanner Bolt, but he never goes over-the-top, choosing instead to be a low-key cocky that you still manage to like (and understand why he wins so many cases), and meshes well with Affleck's outbursts. Two outstanding female roles come in the form of Carrie Coon and Kim Dickens. Both women are never weak and play great independent characters, all the while being multi-layered and perfectly teetering the line of doubt about Nick. I'll say it again: Fincher knows his casting.
In conclusion, watch Gone Girl. There is no experience like a Fincher film experience. There's no better directing: the guy knows what he's doing. He knows how to adapt a story and how to tell a thriller so that you're revealed facts at the exact right time, and he knows how to create a mood like no one else. Flynn's novel is the perfect story to constantly leave you at the edge of your seat, with a killer ending that will have PLOT TWIST! written all over it. A Reznor and Fincher collaboration is a gift to the world that one must experience. Lastly, the performances, especially Pike and Affleck's, is one that many critics and audiences will be talking and raving about all the way to the Oscars. Gone Girl is a gift that one should take.
