Director: David Fincher
By Alex Watson
Gillian Flynn's novel Gone Girl was the subject of mass critical acclaim upon its release back in 2012. Its dark investigative theme of a man involved in a missing person case involving his wife became the perfect page turner. So who better to bring this the big screen than David Fincher? In recent years he has proven himself the master of black and bleak suspense, but will he be able to bring a beloved book to life?
Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) is a former writer turned bar owner who used to enjoy a prosperous existence in New York his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike). But the recession forced them to return to his home town of Carthage, Missouri. On the day of their fifth anniversary, Amy appears to have gone missing! But soon Nick finds himself at the centre of a massive media sensation and murder investigation as cracks in his story and their relationship begin to reveal themselves.
Gone Girl proves to be a fine adaptation of Flynn's novel and its shadowy story fits Fincher's direction like a glove. Aided by a stunning yet ghostly soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, he succeeds in grabbing the novel's raw feel. His direction is less ostentatious than before but his images are by no means less grabbing. The movie opens on a shot of Amy's head while Nick in voice over ponders the questions “What are you thinking?” “How are you feeling?” yet more importantly “What have we done to each other?”But his wife is no easy book to read and this will be come the movie's recurring theme.
The first act like the novel, alternates between the past and the present and it is here that we get a glimpse into the life that was once was. Nick and Amy are the original cute couple and their early scenes together including a kiss during a sugar storm in a bakery have a bright glow to them. As his wife observes "We're so cute I could punch us in the face." but soon the dream becomes a fractured nightmare when Nick in a desperate state of mind returns them to Missouri and this paves the way for an awkward and increasing tense future! Nick's life soon becomes a living hell as he finds himself scrutinized by local detectives Rhonda Boney (Kim Dickens) and her partner Jim Gilpin (Patrick Fugit), even his fiercely loyal sister Margo (a superb Carrie Coon) begin to doubt his innocent explanations!
Cleverly Fincher makes an observation of the media influence that often surrounds these events as Nick soon find his past, family and suspicious bumped up life insurance paperwork are aired out for the world to see! Talk shows are screaming bloody murder and the evidence against keeps increasingly mounting. But the film benefits from a smart change of pace midway through as a shocking revelation comes forward. Those who have read the novel will be familiar with this, but the shocks do not stop there as more lies and in some cases, extreme violence (a Fincher staple) come forward. Amy is a wife that you would instantly want to marry, but years down the track you may just realize that beneath the facade is perhaps the most troubling nemesis you could ever wish to face!
For all it's merits, Gone Girl trips up in the final act and slowly the air gets let out of this bursting at the seams story. A subplot involving Amy's obsessed ex-lover Desi (Neil Patrick Harris) doesn't quite ring true and the aftertaste to this whole thing feels flat. But you can't help escaping the feeling that in some ways this was inevitable because this is one love that is truly at war with itself and with Amy you can't go in guns blazing because she may be better equipped! This mistake aside, Fincher has still made a great version of this novel and few other directors could possibly have captured the dark side of love better than this man!
Ben Affleck makes for perfect casting as Nick Dunne, with the world continually question his recent casting as Batman, Affleck shows just what he can do in the right hands. Smartly, Affleck doesn't play Nick as an outright victim, just as a man pushed into the worst place on earth with nowhere to dig himself out! But Rosamund Pike is the one who steals the acting honours with an icy yet versatile performance as Amy. In possibly her biggest role to date, Pike makes for both a great femme fatale and the charming girl next door rolled into one. She brings to life Amy's complex and dangerous persona to great effect and makes you truly fear what may come.
Gone Girl is a movie that is guaranteed to make you think twice about the people that you love and will no doubt leaving dissecting events from the past. David Fincher is a man who has now officially earned his place among elite directors, just make sure you keep hiring Trent and Atticus because together great moments are made!
