Sunday, October 12, 2014

Gone Girl movie review (NO SPOILERS)

Ben Affleck is chasing amy.


Gone Girl is a film adaptation of the novel of the same name written by Gillian Flynn. The film is directed by David Fincher and also written by Gillian Flynn. The story focuses on Nick Dunne (played by Ben Affleck), as he comes home one morning to find that his wife, Amy Dunne (played by Rosamund Pike), is missing. The police and the media soon get involved in the search for his wife, but overtime, the question soon turns from "where is his wife?" to "did he kill his wife?"

Now, I might get a bit vague with some of my comments in this review, but you'll be thankful because watching everything go down in this movie is part of the experience and the fun this movie brings to the table.


First things first, the aspect of this movie I'm very ecstatic (and also very frightened) about, Rosamund Pike. Pike was amazing (pun sort of intended) in this movie. She was so, so, so good... scary good, even! She steals mostly every scene's she in, and I have no doubt she's going to get a lot of recognition come awards season. 

Ben Affleck is also really good in the movie. I'd say he played it perfectly. It's not a very diva performance and it's not a performance that really draws a lot of attention to itself, but that probably isn't the direction Fincher wanted for the character. Affleck carries the movie, for the most part, because the movie focuses on his character the most, and there's not a single scene I thought Affleck delivered poorly.

However, Affleck and Pike aren't the only ones who deliver great performances. Packed with a stellar supporting cast, this movie is just ripe with a number of standout performances. Carrie Coon, who plays Affleck's character's twin sister in the movie, does a fantastic job, and steals quite a few scenes herself. Also, possibly the most surprising part of the cast, Tyler Perry does a good job playing Tanner Bolt. I give props to Tyler Perry, because he has now proven to me that when he does serious roles like this, while still bringing that comedic side of his personality, it can really add something special to the film. Unfortunately, I thought Neil Patrick Harris was the weak link among all these actors. Although he isn't in the movie much, I just felt that his performance was mediocre and his character just never clicked with me. That being said, the cast as a whole knocked it out of the park.


At first glance, this would like just another "missing person thriller", but through twists and turns in the story and David Fincher's directing, it becomes something more than that. It even goes into subjects such as media and its manipulative power over the public, and how much media outlets harass the popular/controversial thing at the moment. This film's themes about marriage, commitment, and identity will keep your brain active for days. I love thought-provoking films, and through Fincher's brilliant directing, this film is really one that will keep you up at night.

This is possibly the most engrossing movie I've seen this year, mainly because it's a slow burn type of movie. It sinks its claws into you, and it will keep you invested all the way through. You'll laugh in some scenes, try to solve the case in others, and you'll be in horror as you see things unfold before your eyes. The film does kind of drag somewhere in the middle section, but by the time it ends, you'll be wishing for at least twenty more minutes.


Gone Girl is an engrossing and thought provoking movie, filled with rich themes and near flawless acting. I'll certainly be watching this in theaters again, because it is one of the bests of 2014.



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