Anyone who's a good friend will not dwell too much on the plot of Gone Girl - the title eerily reminds me of the other Affleck-directed piece
Gone Baby Gone which starred his young brother Cassey.
Gone Girl and Gone Baby Gone, could almost be companion pieces. They both have females at the centre of the stories as subject but the story is told from a perspective of the man (anyways in the beginning) - both deal with a disappearance that reveals something really rotten in the heart of America. Let's dig in.
Based on a novel by Gillian Flynn (if you've read the book - the ending is changed in the film to keep things fresh) who also writes the screenplay. It's screenplay that has depth and moves along nicely although takes a bit too long at the resolution. Yet Gone Girl is very gripping - it kinda shows what happens when the "fake it till you make it" saying, is attributed to relationships.
It also showcases white male insecurities and fears of a strong and powerful woman. Yet the less said about the plot the better, it's better enjoyed with as few details as possible, especially for those who love the Crime and Investigation channel.
David Fincher - he who gave us
Se7en,
Zodiac and
Fight Club ... seems to hark back to his early days of Se7en in the visual treatment of Gone Girl. Gone Girl may not be as grimey as se7en but the heavy sense of foreboding that exists in se7en hangs in this film.
It's like a serial killer movie without a serial killer. Fincher is not afraid to bring that kitchen sink drama to the open and to throw mud at everyone in this film. With a great score at the work to accompany the undressing and shaming of the characters and nature of marriage and relationships today.
There are no angels here nor holy cows when it comes to the themes of this film. Fincher not only uses Gone Girl to comment on marriage but also on celebrity culture in the USA. Gone Girl shows how fickle celebrity culture is; how easy it is for it to be manipulated and manipulate the public, something we've had a taste of with the Oscar Pistorius trial.
Ben Affleck trading on his all American boy persona does a great job as the usual number one suspect when a wife disappears. He piles on the charm, the guilt and the anguish. Rosemund Pike really chews up the screen. Her character could easily been a carricature or even a cliche but kudos to her for bringing it, as the cool kids say.
This film is so good that it made me like Tyler Perry ... or maybe it was just its offbeat, dark humour in it which is deliciously funny. Although I don’t think everyone will laugh, some may just be scared that the film is mirroring their existence.
So one could say Gone Girl is not really like se7en but more like those 80’s horror’s (Carrie, Hallowean etc) that touched on primal fears of the audience and writer. Here the primal fear is located in our homes, bedrooms and spouses.
The thing that brings fear and anxiety is not the chainsaw murderer but the person you share a bed with. It can be quite unnerving or quite funny to see a man emasculated by what he desired; which ends up destroying him.
So do yourself a favour and check this film out - try not to read about the plot …it's long and has three places it could have ended before it finally does … but it’s a great film and very insightful about modern day biases and fears, especially around men and women.
Rating ***1/2