Movie Review: Gone Girl
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
Every few years a book (yes, people still read) comes along and grabs the attention of what seems to be a nation. About five years ago it was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. And then Gone Girl (written by Gillian Flynn) seemed to take over in the same manner. Gone Girl was a rare page turning mystery novel that didn’t necessarily bring anything new to the table in terms of plot, but it was beautifully written and far better than it should have been. Ms. Flynn has a knack for getting into the characters’ psyche and her ability to write from two completely different perspectives is something that can not be overlooked. These novels become the topic of conversations until you just have to read them…or wait for the movie. The problem is those never are as good. However, rest assured fans of the beloved Gone Girl the book is every bit a tortured, twisted, and pleasurable experience when transposed to the screen.
Let’s start with the casting, which was quite controversial when announced. Was Ben Affleck too one-note for the role of Nick Dunne? What about Rosamund Pike as Nora? Many people had no idea who she was until she was cast in such high profile material. The answers are definitively no. It’s a perfect selection by the director, David Fincher, who has a knack for carefully choosing his players and sizing them up for the material. Also, it should be mentioned, Carrie Coon lights up the screen with zinging one-liners as Margo Dunne and gives the film its much-needed comic relief. Tyler Perry is fantastic as the oily and self-assured attorney, Tanner Bolt, whose obsession with winning comes leaps and bounds before any sort of moral code.
It’s difficult to write a review on such twisty and well-known source material without giving away some key details to those who haven’t read the novel, but I will try. Amy and Nick’s union appears like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting from afar, but there’s trouble brewing in paradise. Nick seems just a bit unhappy. However, on the day of the couple’s fifth wedding anniversary, Amy goes missing and Nick becomes the prime suspect. Utilizing flashbacks from Amy’s diary, we are invited into each character’s frame of mind and the unraveling of their union. That’s all you really need to know going into the film.
Also, Gone Girl is much more a dark comedy than you would think. It has its share of creepy moments, but you will find yourself laughing at Margo Dunne’s jokes and the film’s portrayal of the media and their fickle ways.
Ben Affleck in “Gone Girl.”
At the end of the day, Gone Girl is an exploration of the exploitative nature of the media. They just want a good story, whether or not they have all the facts. It’s also a meditation on just how well we know our mates. Do we ever really know what the other is thinking? Can we ever be too sure what they are doing when we aren’t around? It’s fascinating to watch the disintegration of Nick and Amy’s relationship played by the actors with such gravitas.
My only gripe with the film (also written by Ms. Flynn) is the very end. I was hoping it would’ve been slightly tweaked this time around, but it sure remains unsettling. Gone Girl is a must see film with stellar performances and the ability to stay inside your head long after the credits roll.
Matt Santia
Latest posts by Matt Santia (see all)
- Hustlin’ His Way to the Top: The Films of David O. Russell - December 19, 2013
- The Five Best Martin Scorsese Films - December 11, 2013
