October 4th in Shaumberg, IL. This is a really good perhaps borderline excellent film. Based on Gillian Flynn's book, director David Fincher stays close to the source material. The acting is solid and the narrative sucks you in but can be confusing at times. I didn't read the book but when Fincher directs something, I am going to see it. What makes the film interesting is that it gets people talking. It sparks debate, "dude, she was crazy!"
I don't feel the need to delve into the plot too much but I will try to be brief but not give anything away. Ben Affleck is Nick Dunne, he meets Amy (played brilliantly by British actress Rosamund Pike) at a party in NYC and hit it off. They hit it off so well they get married. Why not? They're the two best best looking people in whatever room their in. Nick and Amy are both writers (explains why they're both so damn interesting!) but Nick is a regular guy and Amy is a trust fund New Yorker. Things go bad financially for both, then Nick's mom's cancer takes a turn for the worse so Nick decides to move from NYC to a St. Louis suburb. While in Missouri, Nick's mom dies, Nick and his sister put their dad in a home. Nick and Amy continue to live in Missouri and Nick takes a job as a professor at a community college. Surprisingly, Amy doesn't work and is living an empty, miserable life in the suburbs (as most trust fund New Yorkers would).
Since I'm trying to be brief, Amy concocts an elaborate plan to frame Nick for her murder. While "missing,"the town and media turn against Nick and he eventually hires a renown lawyer (played brilliantly by Tyler Perry) for help. Things don't look good for him as the noose begins to tighten around him. Amy is hiding out and since the case has captured the nation's attention, relishes in Nick's suffering. Eventually Nick figures out what Amy is doing and starts to go on the offensive. He digs into Amy's past before they met and starts to learn some disturbing things. Amy's plan hits a snag (she gets robbed) and turns to an old boyfriend (Neil Patrick Harris) for help. That plan didn't pan out and she finds her way back to Nick (in brutal fashion). Always the victim.
Fincher is an excellent director and the flows seamlessly and doesn't really slow down. Dark and noirish, it is a great psychological thriller that never gets too clever for its own good. The acting is top notch (I suspect that Rosamund Pike will become a household name) with all of the cast giving excellent performances. There's a lot of notable faces and some some not so familiar faces. This is a must see film in any venue.
As I said before, like this film or not (I liked it!) this film will get you talking. Much like Fatal Attraction did for extra marital affairs in the 80's, Gone Girl will do for couples who think the "know" each other. Nick is no saint. He cheats on Amy and that's what sets her diabolical plan for revenge in motion. Nick isn't very hard to figure out but Amy is complex. Very complex. Is she sociopathic? It was clear that Nick had no idea what was beneath Amy's intelligent and beautiful exterior when he approached her at party. She clearly had a history of manipulative behavior and always seemed to be a victim. Amy narrates the film, she tells a story of a wonderful romance that just turned sour after time. But as the film went on, I wondered what was the truth. She writes everything down in her journal which is used to put the screws to Nick. But how much of it was real. Fincher makes the audience figure it out on their own. The ending is similar to that of Presumed Innocent, when Ford finds out who the real killer was, he goes on as if what happened didn't happen. Nick is in a similar spot but Amy has kind of got him by the balls.
To me, the film seemed a bit like a shot at the media and society; a beautiful, white, blonde woman gone missing gets national attention. Then there's also something that Amy touches on in her narration, how people portray themselves. When Nick and Amy first get together they each put on their most interesting "faces." Nick portrays himself as a suave, cool and romantic guy. Amy in turn, portrays herself as the cool, beautiful yet somehow still down to earth woman (a long shot for her being a trust fund New Yorker who was probably raised by au pairs and maids). They both pull it off and when times are good, everything is fine. It's only when their lives start to get hit with misfortune (they both lose their jobs, Amy's wealthy parents are actually broke and need her trust fund) that their "true" selves come out.
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