BY: ORANGECHAIR
Shocking, brilliant, disturbing, the list of adjectives that describe David Fincher’s most recent masterpiece, Gone Girl, could go on forever. It will be quite a challenge to write a review of this film without giving away one of its many spoilers but it is a promise that the following is a spoiler free review. Prior to seeing this film, I had almost no knowledge of the story so Gillian Flynn’s screenplay and Fincher’s camera walked me through this highly disturbing story for the first time.
The plot overview section of this review is going to be a little bit light because the twists show up quickly in the film and don’t stop. The story begins when Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) comes home to find his wife, Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike), missing and evidence of a struggle in the living room. Nick immediately calls the cops and it does not take long for the media to turn its attention towards the case. The case grows like wild fire as lead Detective Rhonda Boney (Kim Dickens) attempts to determine if Nick Dunne killed his wife or if it was someone else, all while America constantly chimes in. The truth about the disappearance of Amy Dunne is only finally revealed as the film’s twisted plot unravels itself.
David Fincher’s directing style can be best described as dark and Gone Girl is certainly no exception. Only those with strong moral mind and, for one scene specifically, a strong stomach should attempt to view this film. Gillian Flynn, who wrote the novel the film is based on, wrote the screenplay filled with twisted and morally ambiguous characters. Coupled with Fincher’s directing, the two created a dark tale that searches the depths of the human soul. The story is written to keep the audience guessing the entire time and Fincher uses the camera to make the film a thriller. Each line delivered has the same effect as a villain jumping out of the shadows and each new piece of information uncovered is a suspenseful chase through an abandoned warehouse. The film is a masterpiece but like many cinematic masterpieces, it is not easy to watch.
This film was subject to one of the worst snub years in the 2015 Oscars. Earning only one nomination, the film deserved to be nominated in at least three other categories. Rosamund Pike holds the films only nomination, earning one for Best Actress. From what I’ve seen of the other nominees, Rosamund Pike has a legitimate shot at the Oscar. Her performance was unreal, bringing a very dark character to life. The film should have been given a nomination for Best Picture, David Fincher should have been nominated for Best Director and it could be argued that Gillian Flynn earned herself a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Beyond simply what was and what should have been nominated, the rest of the film was great. Ben Affleck played Nick Dunne perfectly, playing the character without letting the audience easily decide if he was a mourning husband or a deranged killer. Every character was well acted, including Tyler Perry and Neil Patrick Harris in unique roles for the two actors. This is a 9 out of 10 film, one of the best of the year. It is unfortunate that the 2015 Oscar nominations do not reflect how great a film it is.
Gold and Silver Listvision 