Gone Girl (2014)

"I will practice believing my husband loves me but I could be wrong."

From the visionary storyteller that gave us unforgettable films like ‘Se7en’, ‘The Game’, ‘Panic Room’, ‘Fight Club’, ‘Zodiac’ and ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ now comes ‘Gone Girl’, another instant classic to add to David Fincher's impressive repertoire of films.

I don’t like to use the term “visionary” to describe a director as it seems to be a word that’s thrown around too likely in trailers and posters nowadays but when it comes to David Fincher it is the best word to describe him as a filmmaker.

The guy just makes really sexy movies.

‘Gone Girl’ was a film that I anticipated ever since the trailer quietly sneaked into cinemas a few months ago. I hadn't read the book so didn't quite know what to expect but what drew me to the trailer was it’s enigmatic structure, unusual cast and dark cinematography. I thought to myself - “looks like a David Fincher film” and lo and behold Fincher’s name crops up at the end of the trailer.

Despite the two and a half hour running time, it doesn’t feel it. There is so much information being dumped on you with so many twists and turns that you don’t have time to think about the time. Although, you’ll feel the two and a half hours as the credits roll and you have to wake up two numb cheeks...

Ben Affleck plays Nick Dunne who, after the disappearance of his wife Amy (played by the fantastic Rosamund Pike), finds himself in the spotlight as her suspected killer.

For me, the film is all about perception.

How we perceive the characters in the film is affected throughout as we receive new information about the events and the characters backgrounds.  Just as you think you've got it, your perception is altered again. Information that you receive may point you in one direction but when you take a second look actually appears a little suspicious... We are constantly one step behind which makes for a really engaging watch. 

The media plays a very important role in the plot as how the media perceives Nick Dunne influences him as a character and those around him.

What I really enjoyed about Ben Affleck’s performance as Nick Dunne is that you never really know what to believe. Affleck plays it perfectly with just the right amount of smugness and innocence, is he guilty? Or is he, to put it bluntly, just a bit of an asshole? Fincher walks along that thin line to keep you constantly guessing and judging him, much like how the media and the police are. The audience become detectives as we scrutinise every move that Nick makes and try and piece together what’s happening without all the facts. Fincher hides details from us in misdirection and plot twists to divert us from what is really happening.

I don’t really want to go into too much detail about Rosamund Pike as Amy Dunne, the mysterious wife that no one really knows what happened to, but what I can say is that she’s astounding in the role. An actress that I can’t really say I’ve seen a lot but I can tell you that she plays the role perfectly. It probably works in her favour that she’s not extremely well known, there aren’t any preconceived opinions on her as a character.

There is an interesting blend of humour to counterbalance the darkness in the story which is so refreshing to watch. Tension is created by humour and tension is also dispelled with the humour, which makes for an unusual dynamic that is always interesting in a David Fincher film.

There is a real flare in the cinematography from Jeff Cronenweth who shot ‘Fight Club’ and ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ with Fincher. There’s a constant contrast of light and dark to reflect the mysterious and enigmatic plot. This is also true of Nick and Amy Dunne who aren't as black and white as the audience, the media and the police see them. Fincher uses a handful of extremely skilled cinematographers and always seems to have a solid continuity in the style of his films which is a testament to him as a director and shows the quality of the cinematographers that he surrounds himself with.

All that can be said before going in to see ‘Gone Girl’ is to pay close attention to the details, not everything is as is seems and the smallest piece of information that might seem throwaway is just as important as the clues that are right in front of your face. 

Overall, ‘Gone Girl’ is an intelligent mystery/thriller that will keep you engaged and make you think. Having respect for the audience’s intelligence makes the film enjoyable and intriguing which gives it the freedom to have a little fun playing with the viewer.

See ‘Gone Girl’ before you stumble across a spoiler or two… or three… or four…