A Film-Going Experience That I Just Wanted To Be 'Gone' In
When I was watching this film, I felt quite a chill running through my veins at first because of how the opening sequence showed that horrific events can happen anywhere. Yet as the film progressed, it had a sudden switch and took on a completely different mood and direction. But I still found myself absorbing the experience of watching the mysterious odyssey that is Gone Girl.
Story:
Gone Girl follows the story of a man named Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) who is about to celebrate his fifth anniversary with his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike). But that intended celebration comes to a halt when Amy suddenly goes missing. Nick then finds himself in hot water once he tries to find Amy and the media slowly become on his tail as they ask the burning question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife?
Ups:
First off, I will discuss the performances. All of whom are incredible. Ben Affleck gives the performance of his career as Nick. Affleck is very multi-faceted as a man who showcases a rather animalistic rage yet is unsure of his own enigma once people start questioning him and he is an anti-hero without going into too much ugliness. But now onto Rosamund Pike. Pike was so freakin' good as Amy and is so transcendent that you wouldn't even notice it. She disappears into the different facets of her character without having to physically disappear into them. Another actress I'd like to discuss is Carrie Coon, who plays Nick's sister Margo, or "Go". Coon is just astounding as the film's "voice of reason" who tends to tell the truth without being too judgmental and she even has some of the film's best lines (Ex. "I've been with you since we both came out of the womb"). Patrick Fugit, who you may remember as William Miller from Almost Famous, is also in this as Jim Gilpin, a cop trying to solve the film's case and even he is amazing despite having a smaller role. So, every actor in this film really brings in their A-game, just like the director, who I will get to next.
When it comes to David Fincher's direction, what else can I say? The man is a visual artiste. This film may have the same look as his other works, but this has a more different story. I especially liked the angle that he and cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth went in terms of the character of Amy. In about the first act of the film, Amy is surrounded by a very bright light and given Pike's pale figure, it gives the character a luminous yet haunting ghost-like quality that surrounds her. I also thought the score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross was very haunting and had my nerves running like crazy.
Lastly, I will get into the story. What surprised me about it was how it starts off as one story, then, not to try and spoil the film, but it becomes something else then it becomes something else. It takes different twists and turns as it goes from being a missing person thriller and a film about marriage to a film about the media and celebrity culture. It tackles different themes and I just found myself wanting to tangled in the film's crazy web. Plus, a good chunk of the film has Amy's voice over narration that carries over flashback scenes involving Amy and Nick's marriage, The narration slowly takes us from a lighter place to a more dark place as the film progresses.
Downs:
NIL.
Consensus:
Overall, Gone Girl is an entangling dark thrill ride that is crafted to perfection. The performances are phenomenal, the score has you on edge, the direction by Fincher is astounding, and the film as a whole is quite a trip.
Would I Recommend It?:
Yes, but with a warning. This film is pretty violent with a good amount of sex scenes. If you are a huge Fincher fan or a Ben Affleck fan though, or even both, then I would say this film is a must.
Grade: A
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