2014: The Year in Film: "Gone Girl" Review

Gillian Flynn's novel "Gone Girl" was kind of everywhere a few years back. I definitely read it and really liked it, and I think most of the people I know read it. It's a fascinating mix of Americana, noir, murder-mystery and domestic drama all set against the backdrop of the late 2000's economic downturn. Basically a "Lifetime" movie with a twist, the book was a fascinating twist on a familiar narrative, and even if the ending was a controversial one, the book was a pretty massive hit in 2012. The film went into production pretty much immediately thereafter, and once David Fincher's name was attached, I immediately focused on this flick as one to watch. Fincher, the auteur behind films as diverse as Se7en, Fight Club, The Social Network, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, has a visual style all his own, and his willingness to delve into the darkest sides of the human condition in a brutal way made him an ideal choice for the adaptation of "Gone Girl". Throw in the fact that Gillian Flynn, the author, was brought on board to help write the adaptation, and there was quite a lot of buzz around this flick upon its release.

In Gone Girl, we're introduced to Nick Dunne, (Ben Affleck) a handsome, aloof, all-American type of guy whose wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike) has just gone missing.  Through a mix of flashbacks and following the investigation of the disappearance, it becomes clear that there is more to this picture-perfect couple than meets the eye, and as the media circus descends on the sleepy Missouri town, the entire case begins to spiral out of control.

The Good: it's Fincher, one of the most visually distinctive directors of our time, so the visuals certainly do not disappoint. As Fincher has matured as a filmmaker, he's able to convey simmering tension better than just about anyone in the business, and even though the film isn't able to keep the same sense of mystery going that surrounds a first-time reader of the book, the outcome remains in doubt and keeps you glued to the screen. Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck are pretty-spot on casting, and Pike especially shines, in a role that's not quite like anything else I've ever seen her do. The supporting cast is strong as well, with Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry (?), Kim Dickens and (Ohio native!) Carrie Coon performing admirably as well. Carrie Coon, fresh off of The Leftovers (which I kind of love, btw) shines, and I really hope that she continues to find steady work. The narrative flows and progresses pretty seamlessly, and despite a long runtime the film is pretty tight, without much meandering or wasted space that seems to be a hallmark of many film adaptions of books.



The Bad: The character of Nick is a problem. But he was a problem in the book as well... he's just not interesting, charming or compelling. That's not an indictment of Affleck's performance, because Nick is a big, aloof lug in the book as well, it's just a criticism of the story as a whole. Additionally, the film suffers compared to the book because you, an audience member, never really believes that Nick did it. In the book that remains an open mystery, and the story suffers as a result. Additionally, the ending of the film, even though it's a marked improvement over the ending in the book (I told you the ending was a problem..) still feels abrupt and disappointing. In a film that seems to pride itself on quasi-realism, the ending just... isn't realistic at all, and that is pretty jarring.

In all, if you're a fan of Fincher, a fan of the book, or a fan of neo-noir-ish mysteries, there's a ton to like in this movie. It's dark, it's cynical, it's bleak, but it's also wild and fun in a crazy way. Well worth a watch.

7.5/10