Gone Girl

Movie Name: Gone Girl
Year of Release: 2014

Director: David Fincher

Stars: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens, Patrick Fugit, David Clennon, Lisa Banes, Missi Pyle, Sela Ward, Casey Wilson, Emily Ratajkowski, Lola Kirke, Boyd Holbrook
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 9

Synopsis:

Director David Fincher is back, after the wonderful "The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo" (which was one of my favorite films of 2011). "Gone Girl" is the adaptation of the novel by Gillian Flynn, which focuses the story on a married couple, Nick and Amy Dunne, who after meeting cute in New York and getting married, are forced to relocate to Missouri (due to Nick's mother being ill). Nick settles into the life in Missouri as a bar owner, and Amy stays around the house. This seemingly idyllic existence is shattered, when Nick comes home one morning to find the house vandalized, and Amy missing. He immediately calls the police, and a whirlwind of press and attention descend upon him. As this attention increases, the ridges and frictions that existed in the marriage become apparent to everyone, and the question starts to arise if Nick did indeed have a part in the disappearance of his wife. And is Amy indeed gone or not.
David Fincher is a director that is known for rigorous detail in every story he approaches. There's a methodical approach to his films, and a polish and aesthetic that are intrinsically his. He also tends to focus his attention on stories where the heroes and central characters are damaged individuals, where the whole view of that person/character, invariably brings to light the fact that it is indeed a flawed individual (such is the case of the core characters of "The Game", Fight Club" or even "The Social Network"). "Gone Girl" is a perfect example of this - the film works as a dissection of media in general, how quickly portraits are painted of people without having a notion of whom is being sanctified or vilified. It's also a portrait of a crumbling marriage, one where both people are ultimately not right for each other. There are scenes that feel like a clear inspiration from "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", but this film succeeds in it's own identity, again featuring fantastic performances from a trio of female performers: Rosamund Pike, Kim Dickens and Carrie Coon. The cinematography from Jeff Cronenweth is as usual stupendous, as is the score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. A fantastic film worth watching.