Michael’s Review: ‘Gone Girl’- Edge of Your Seat Who Done It, Done Right

Going into this film I had modest expectations from the latest David Fincher book to film adaptation and as always the acclaimed director did not disappoint. Taken from the novel ‘Gone Girl’ by Gillian Flynn, the film tells a story of the disappearance of Amy Dunne and the subsequent investigation into her husband, Nick Dunne’s involvement. Gone Girl is as shocking and suspenseful as any thriller I’ve seen in recent years. A fresh take on a stale genre and one that screams to be seen.

Nick (Ben Affleck) and Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) are normal people looking to find the perfect match when their world’s collide one winter’s evening at a party in New York City. As the fire of their relationship begins to burn, the two decide the time is right to be married. Nick and Amy begin their lives as husband and wife in a whirlwind of bliss. Through the years, the relationship between the two seemed to be blossoming nicely until a recession hits and the two are faced with their first real adversity. After a medical emergency calls Nick and Amy back to his hometown in Missouri, the chinks in the armor of this fairy tale romance truly begin to surface. As the relationship begins to unravel due to years of building resentment and hostility, the couple begin to realize things aren’t quite what they seemed.

On the morning of their fifth anniversary, Amy goes missing under a suspicious set of circumstances. Detective Rhonda Boney (Kim Dickens) and Officer Jim Gilpin (Patrick Fugit) arrive on the scene and determine that the case be taken as a missing person. Nick is called in to answer questions regarding the sudden disappearance of his wife. Through much investigation, Nick eventually becomes a prime suspect in her disappearance. With the help of his twin sister Margo (Carrie Coon) and defense attorney Tanner Bolt (Tyler Perry), Nick must face a barrage of negative exposure and public backlash and search for the answers to clear his name. Did Nick Dunne kill his wife?

I’m going to stop right there. It’s hard to explain Gone Girl without giving too much away and, trust me, I’m not looking for a slew of nastygrams from our readers. The narrative of this film is so air tight that anyone who has not read the book (yes, there are people out there who haven’t), will be taken on a wild ride. David Fincher’s signature style of suspense and attention to detail are just a marvel to watch. The director extraordinaire has never taken his audience for granted and has made a career of making films that are intelligent and thought-provoking. It’s his genius that makes every project he attaches himself to that much more interesting.

The cast assembled for this movie is amazing. Ben Affleck continues to surprise me. Following string of successful directorial films, Affleck has refocused his acting career and has delivered a fine performance as the husband accused of murder. Rosamund Pike is absolutely stunning in this movie. The complication of playing a role such as Amy Dunne is that the actor must meticulously pull back each layer of her psyche and present the character in her most vulnerable moments and Pike pulls it off flawlessly. One of the best performances I’ve witnessed this year and one deserving to hear her name called at Oscar time. The supporting cast is also fantastic, lead by Neil Patrick Harris as the rich ex-boyfriend with an obsession for Amy and Tyler Perry turns in a fine performance as does Carrie Coon as Nick’s loyal sister.

Overall, Gone Girl is one of the best films you will see this year. An intelligent thriller that will undoubtedly leave audiences awestruck and book lovers with a huge grim on their faces. We’ll be hearing from this one come Oscar season.

Stars:

4 out of 5 stars

After Credit Scene?

No

Trailer: