Review of Gone Girl (2014) by Patrick L — 01 Apr 2015

"Thanks to director David Fincher and two great performances from Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike, "Gone Girl" lives up to it's hype".

Movie Review: Gone Girl.

Date Viewed: October 3 2014.

Directed By David Fincher (Seven, Zodiac, Fight Club, Panic Room, The Social Network.

And The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo).

Screenplay By Gillian Flynn, Based on the novel by Gillian Flynn.

Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike,.

Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon,.

Kim Dickens, Patrick Fugit, Casey Wilson, Missi Pyle, Sela Ward, Emily Ratajkowski, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Lisa Banes and David Clennon.

David Fincher's "Gone Girl" absolutely lives up to it's hype. Based on Gillian Flynn's best selling book, it unravels the secrets at the heart of a married couple. Flynn also wrote the screenplay for "Gone Girl" and the result is a smart thriller filled with lies, suspense and shocking twists. It also has two great performances from Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike and a top-notch supporting cast (led by Neil Patrick Harris and... Tyler Perry?).

"Gone Girl" examines a lot of subjects including dishonesty, the economy's effects on marriage and the media (with Missi Pyle playing a Nancy Grace-type character and Tyler Perry, I can't believe this, playing a hot-shot attorney). On the day of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Affleck) returns home to discover that his wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike) has gone missing. Soon, a media frenzy and suspicions ensue on Nick. When he makes an awkward statement to the press (regarding the disapperance of his wife), people start to think that Nick was responsible for Amy disappearance because awkward behavior is a good indication that he could be a killer.

Nick and Amy have just lost their jobs in New York City due to the recession and soon they move to Missouri because Nick's mother has been diagnosed with cancer. When Detective Rhonda Boney (Kim Dickens) and officer Jim Gilpin (Patrick Fugit) uncover evidence of financial troubles, domestic disputes and a sign of a struggle, they start to point the finger at Nick. Soon, Nick turns to his twin sister, Margo (Carrie Coon, from TV's "The Leftovers") and hot-shot attorney Tanner Bolt (Perry) for help proving his innocence.

You better not read more of this review because I'm about to reveal some major spoilers. We later find out that Amy faked her own death to frame Nick for her murder in revenge for his infidelity. Ever since they moved to Missouri, Nick has been lazy, distant and unfaithful to her. Amy is now hiding in a distant campground and she has also changed her appearance. Under a lot of pressure from the police and the media, Nick decides to do an interview with cable TV host Sharon Schieber (Sela Ward) in a last ditch effort to prove his innocence.

"Gone Girl" is one of the most compelling and twisted thrillers I've seen in quite some time. Not only is it dark thriller, it also works as social commentary. After many supporting roles in Hollywood junk, Rosamund Pike gives a star-making performance as a woman who is so unhappy with her marriage to an unfaithful husband. Ben Affleck gives of his best performances as Nick Dunne, a man who is in hot water. Neil Patrick Harris is also good as a creepy ex-boyfriend of Amy, Carrie Coon gives an excellent supporting turn as Nick's sister and Tyler Perry is a revelation here as Tanner Bolt. Finally, you're not wearing a wig and dress.

No stranger to making dark movies, director David Fincher (Seven, Zodiac and The Social Network) has made a terrifically lurid thriller. Some people have said "Gone Girl" is his Hitchcock movie but he has made that movie already. "Gone Girl" will no doubt receive Oscar attention (I'll be shocked if it gets left out by the Academy) but it has earned a spot on my list of the best movies of 2014.