Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Gone Girl

The girl is missing. So discovers Nick Dunne on the afternoon of July 5, when he walks inside his suburban, Midwestern home and notices that his wife, Amy, is nowhere to be found. A living room table rests flipped and smashed, but no other sign of struggle is apparent. The police arrive as quickly as they’re called. They notice things. A little blood splattered on the kitchen cabinet. An iron that’s still somewhat hot. Nick’s mostly blasé attitude. And so begins the search for Amy Dunne. Amy Dunne, a kind and confident American sweetheart from a well-to-do New York family who met Nick at a party all those years ago. An intense relationship was formed, one based on intellectual stimulation, passionate sex, and ease of wealth.

We learn of Nick and Amy’s early life through extended flashbacks that are imagined solely from Amy’s diary. As the ensuing media clusterfuck surrounding Amy’s disappearance disrupts Nick’s life in the present, we watch as Amy’s life crumbles in the past. After a series of unfortunate events including drained trust funds and cancer-stricken mothers, Nick and Amy relocate to Nick’s hometown in Missouri. A fresh start, but one that begins to collapse for the same reasons many marriages do. Boredom, dependency, suspicion, guilt.
But all of that is in the past. Today, in the wake of Amy’s vanishing, Nick spends his time stating his case to the police, venting to his understanding sister, and helping with the search for his wife. Now, this being a David Fincher film, Gone Girl is, of course, engulfed in a latent danger that always keeps us on edge. Although Nick is suspected of killing Amy, Fincher never reveals more than he needs to. We never really know who’s at fault, because Fincher refuses to portray his characters through a judgmental lens.

The film is based on Gillian Flynn’s wildly popular novel, and although it is unread by me, I can understand how that text reached such massive success. Flynn, who also wrote the film’s script, has created something that transcends a generic whodunit. The film has a lot of very interesting and very damning things to say about the institution of marriage, America’s absurd fascination with “sexy” crimes, and the laughably misguided media cycle. But beyond Gone Girl’s ingenious narrative structure (which I haven’t even begun to touch on), Flynn has a serious knack for accurate language. The way Nick and his sister, Margo, speak to one another, for example, is exactly how two people who’ve known each other their entire lives converse. There’s nothing overtly showy about Flynn’s dialogue; it’s simply real and precise, which is hard to find in a modern movie of this size.
All of the players in Gone Girl are as good (if not better) as they’ve ever been. This includes, but is certainly not limited to, Carrie Coon (so strong on HBO’s The Leftovers) as the fiery Margo, Kim Dickens (perfect in Deadwood, Treme and plenty more) as the lead detective on the case, Neil Patrick Harris as Amy’s former lover, Tyler Perry (yes, really) as Nick’s hot shit attorney, Missi Pyle as a reactionary, Nancy Grace-like talking head, Sela Ward as a steely Diane Sawyer-type reporter, Casey Wilson as a village idiot with a point, and Emily Ratajkowski (perhaps best known for parading around topless in the “Blurred Lines” music video) as a young woman with a secret.

Nick Dunne is, without question, the most fully realized and expertly played leading part Ben Affleck has ever inhabited. Nick is a damn challenging character to portray. His arc begins almost humorously, as if he’s some small town buffoon who has no idea how much trouble he could be in. When said trouble becomes apparent, a panic slowly consumes Nick. In a recent interview with Playboy, David Fincher said he cast Affleck in the role because of a crucial scene in which Nick poses for a photograph in front of Amy’s missing poster. During that brief sequence, one of the photographers asks Nick to smile, which he does. It’s a smile that haunts Nick for the rest of the film. The press calls it smug and creepy, the smile of a sociopath. Scott Peterson by way of North Carthage, Missouri. But whenever we start to feel bad for the guy, Affleck does something that reminds us that he could be guilty. The actor cautiously and consistently toes the line of did he or didn’t he, leaving us with a wonderfully captivating and mysterious performance.
In the ensuing months, you’re likely to hear plenty of praise for Gone Girl. Praise for Affleck’s nuanced turn and Fincher’s tight direction. Praise for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ subtle score, for Kirk Baxter’s looping editing, for Gillian Flynn’s confident script. Noting all this, the amount of praise Rosamund Pike earns for her work as Amy should be endless. It’s difficult to explain the power, depth and emotional frenzy of her performance without revealing too much about the film, but as Amy, Pike delivers some of the finest acting I’ve seen in years. If there’s an actor (male or female) who has given a better performance so far this year, then I certainly haven’t seen it. Gone Girl is Pike’s show, and she seizes it with vigor. You may recognize Pike from her previous work as a Bond girl in Die Another Day, a Bennet sister in Pride & Prejudice, a lethal lawyer in Fracture, or an amusing floozy in An Education. But Gone Girl presents a Rosamund Pike none of us have seen before. Believe me, we’re going to be talking about Amy Dunne for a good long while.

Like all of David Fincher’s best films, Gone Girl demands repeat viewings. I’ve seen it once, and I feel as though I’ve hardly scratched the surface of its layers and intricacies. The girl is missing, certainly. And you’re best to continue to keep looking. A

56 comments:

  1. Glad you liked this movie, Alex! I enjoyed it a lot too. My view of the film was altered by my reading the book prior to viewing it. However, I wholeheartedly agree that the performances were spot-on, and the casting couldn't have been better chosen. The leads really made this film, and I thought that no one could have pulled off the roles quite like Affleck and Pike did.

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    1. Thanks for the comment, Kristin! I really want to dive into the book now, especially since I know Fincher changed the ending. I gotta say, everything about this movie really worked for me. Pike was so damn good, holy shit.

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  2. Finally! I have been soooo looking forward to reading your review, and I seriously cannot wait to see it!! I've loved Rosamund Pike since I saw her in An Education, and I'm so terribly happy she finally gets the chance to get a lead role. Everything about this film, from the cast to the writing to the technical aspects, and of course, Fincher himself, it all looks fantastic.

    I hope Gone Girl comes out soon here, though I doubt it :/ Nevertheless, your review is amazing as always.

    Also, I saw your tweet about Wait. It's great that you've almost wrapped it all up :) Any updates on the festival circuit?

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    1. I really hope it makes it your way soon as well. Because wow, this one is a killer. So damn good. Fincher in top form, no question.

      Thanks for asking about Wait! You know, because I'm going doing a lot of post production on my own, I'm going to wait until the film is fully finished before diving into festival submissions. Kind of a one task at one time sort of thing. But I have a few people who are going to help me out with fest stuff, which is great. Can't believe it's almost done!

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  3. Good stuff... Glad you enjoyed it! I agree with most everything you said and also cannot wait to see it again. I'm searching really hard for some time to go watch it once more in the theater.

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    1. Oh same here. Hopefully get to it this weekend. I think I'll enjoy it so much more the second time around. Thanks for reading!

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  4. Finally, I couldn't wait for your review! So glad you liked the movie so much and so glad to read all the praise for Pike, I haven't seen it yet but I just cannot wait to see some of my favorite scenes from the book - the cool girl monologue, the scene with the spitting in the juice and milk and the final confrontation moment - and how she deals with all of those. It's such a difficult character one that so few understand, I'm sad to read in other reviews that the role of Amy's parents isn't as big as in the book given that they are very much responsible for her issues. I'm also sad to read how many people accuse the story of being misogynistic - I think Flynn writes amazing, strong female characters. Just because they aren't easy, likable or good doesn't mean they are not empowering. We need more characters like that in movies. I'm also dying to see the film's most violent moment which was only alluded to in the book, I heard the imagery of the scene is amazing.

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    1. Okay, first off, that violent scene is the best scene of violence Fincher has ever filmed. Like... holy shit, jaw dropped, loss for words. I was stunned.

      I didn't get a misogynistic vibe from the film at all, and I agree with you, unlikable does not equate to weak. Movies definitely need more characters like Amy. Strong and fierce and a force to be reckoned with.

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    2. SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS :):) (just in case)

      I also like that it ends well for her - unlike say Fatal Attraction or Misery - I think that a very scary female character who wins in the end is something we need in the world where men aren't really frightened of women. All those complains about ending really come from people being terrified.

      I know it's odd to admire Amy but for her not to be all 'well it happens' with what was done in her marriage and take a stand is so rare that her 'insanity' is actually what should be done more often - not on this scale of course, but some reaction - not brushing over serious betrayals, taking a stand.

      I wrote a whole thing about it but I wait for everyone to see it until I publish, which almost everyone but me did - I feel uneasy publishing just based on the book not knowing how much of the story is in the movie.I find her to be such a fascinating character - it's not someone who is just a nut job you get to see clear reasons why she became who she is and there is still something so powerful about her rebellion.

      I'll be very impressed if Affleck makes Nick somewhat sympathetic for me - I hated how weak - taking money from his wife, taking her away from her life without a bit of gratitude for her going to help with his mother, staying because of money and not divorcing her, justifying his affair - his character was.

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    3. I haven't read the book, but based on your comment, I can tell that some differences exist between the book and film. Most appear to be subtle, but basically, I'll be very interested to read your review of this one.

      I too loved the conclusion of this film, because of the exact reason you mentioned in your first graph. We aren't used to seeing that happen to characters of this kind. In fact, I'd say this film was anything but misogynistic.

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  5. God I loved this film. I really want to see it again but my boyfriend is far too scared to let me go see it again now (haha). The editing was absolutely fantastic, especially in the more intense scenes. And ROSAMUND PIKE. That was the most brilliantly structured female performance I've seen in a long, long time. It is so great that she's been given this role especially after her years of good work in films like An Education, and she absolutely kills it. So, so great.

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    1. SO great. And I agree, the editing and overall narrative structure of her performance heightened her work. I loved, loved, loved the shifting evolution of Amy. Easily some of the best acting I've seen in quite some time.

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  6. I've only skimmed the review as I haven't seen the film as I was supposed to this past weekend but there were certain things beyond my control that prevented me. I'm very eager to see this as it's the one film I'm excited to see.

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    1. Can't wait to hear your thoughts. It's a doozy.

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  7. Great review Alex! Also I want to know if you would place Pike as a lead or supporting actress? I hope they place her in supporting because then she would sweep the awards.

    -Dan

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    1. Thanks man! Well, I agree, supporting would be the easier win, but this is a lead performance, no question. Wouldn't make sense to go for anything but the lead. And if it's marketed well, and Pike plays ball (which she may not, justifiably so), then she could take it.

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  8. Saw this with my girlfriend the other night and one of the things she pointed out is the rare role reversal that happens in the film. As Amy points out, men expect to find 'the cool girl'. To quote Flynn's book "Cool Girls never get angry; they only smile in a chagrined, loving manner and let their men do whatever they want. Go ahead, shit on me, I don’t mind, I’m the Cool Girl." A switch happens during the middle of the film and by the end of the film, the gender roles are swapped. It's something that at first is terrifying but when it sinks in gives you a hell of a lot to think about.

    Also great: the first shot and the last shot are the same but have completely different reactions elicited from the audience.

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    1. Oh and the violent scene ended up giving me a panic attack in the theater. Agreed with how you think it is the best violent scene Fincher has shot. Fuck.

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    2. I've always longed to start and end a film with the same exact shot, for the exact reason you mentioned. So difficult to pull off so effectively. Loved it.

      I think gender reversals intimidate people, which is partly why, I believe, Gone Girl is getting some flak. So often in movies with role reversals (Fatal Attraction, Misery), the resolve is to get rid of the female. Not doing so makes people uncomfortable.

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  9. gawd yes, so good. and ben affleck is PERFECT.

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  10. Great review, man. I'm with you top-to-bottom. As much as I was damn near giddy at what Affleck did here, Pike's performance literally stole my breath. The insane confidence in every aspect of the role f--king jumps off the screen. It's masterful work.

    Oh, and Nick's smile....so good. How something so innocent could be so damning is a perfect way to capture what's so genius about this film.

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    1. Thanks buddy. Couldn't agree more about Nick's smile. And we see stuff like that all the time in our culture. A seemingly innocent act that is exploited to no end. Amanda Knox kissing her boyfriend shortly after Meredith Kercher's body was found, Aileen Wuornos adjusting her hair in court, and on and on. Now, I'm not saying Knox and Wuornos didn't deserve much of the scrutiny that faced them, but those specific acts were harmless little things that the media flipped shit over. That's partly why I loved Missi Pyle's performance so much. A total whackjob.

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  11. Nice review as always Alex - especially given the difficulty level of discussing this film without sliding into spoilers! I gotta disagree with this comment, though: "Flynn has a serious knack for accurate language." I liked - not loved - the film, but I thought that a great deal of the dialogue (including the exchanges between Coon and Affleck) felt consciously false, reflective of the film's take on performance. I didn't take this as a bad thing, necessarily - it makes sense for Pike's diary entries to come across as overly-stylized, and you're clearly not supposed to take dialogue like "Octopus and scrabble" as authentic!

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    1. Thanks man! You know, I've seen other reviews of people praising the film for its "pulpy" dialogue, and, man, I didn't get that at all. I do agree that Nick and his sis had a rat-a-tat-tat-ness to their conversations, but what I meant was that, within 30 seconds of their first exchange, I believed that these two had known each other their entire lives. And (at first) I thought Amy's diary entries were overly-stylized, because very few people write like that in the moment, for themselves. But when I found out that... well, you know... I thought they were very appropriately written. But either way, I guess all that matters is that we both liked it, ya dig?

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  12. Fantastic review. Couldn't agree more with you on everything you wrote about this miracle of a film. There's not a frame, an element, a detail that isn't there for some reason, just like it always happens with David Fincher's phenomenal work. It's a film so PERFECT it's almost scandalous. It's that kind of thing where you know a film becomes an instant classic and makes you proud of yourself for being a cinephile. And Rosamund Pike's performance is really something that has to be seen to be truly believed. The whole hype around her mesmerizing work actually can't do any justice to her achievement here. It's psychotically brilliant. Definitely among the finest female performances of the last decade. Congratulations again for that GREAT review!

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    1. YES! Love this comment man. "It's a film so PERFECT it's almost scandalous." Couldn't agree more. I was sitting there, watching it, going, "My god, this thing is great." Over and over. Fincher at the top of his game - what could be better?

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  13. I mean, right? That's really something, especially for people who love cinema as much as we, cinephiles, do. To watch something and while watching it having those goosebumps, wanting to shout "What is this masterpiece that I'm watching" or something! I mean, I don't know man, I rarely get so enthusiastic for a film and a filmmaker's whole body of work but Fincher always brings that to me every single time. To me, it really is a film that is absolutely perfect in every possible way. It's such a monumental piece of filmmaking we'll definitely talk about it for years to come.

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    1. I loved the entire film, but the moment that death scene happened, I knew Gone Girl went from a really good film, to a truly great one. The way he faded in and out during the sequence... so simple, so ingenious.

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    2. That scene was pure magic. If I had to rank my 50 favorite movie moments ever, it would definitely make the cut. Ingenious indeed.

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  14. Love this review. It really touches on everything! The narrative structure is indeed "ingenious" and the performances were just great all round. And Rosamund Pike. Perfect. Breathless. Accurate. Distinct.

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    1. Thanks Angela! So happy to hear you liked the film. Ahh, I still need to see it again! Loved it so much.

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  15. Dammit! Many of my favorite bloggers are writing about this movie, and I've sworn not to read any reviews until I've seen the film. I've already read the book, so I'm not worried about spoilers, but I like to go into a much-anticipated movie with a completely open mind.

    The narrative structure of the book is great, and while I was expecting a fun read of the typical popular fiction variety, it was actually quite psychologically complex. Add David Fincher and Rosemarie Pike to the mix, and I can't imagine anything better.

    I'll be back.

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    1. Oh I'm with you - I never read reviews of a film before I've seen it. Even if you have read the book, it's best to go into a film as blind as possible. Can't wait to hear what you think of this one! SO good.

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  16. As a Fincher fan, you should check out this video that someone did on what Fincher does, or in this case, doesn't do: http://vimeo.com/107779620

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    1. Tweeted about that vid the other day. A fantastic watch. His breakdown of that conversation in Se7en is incredible.

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  17. Just saw Gone Girl last week and I was blown away. Fincher still proves to be one of the most exciting voices in film today. The biggest surprise in a film with as many twists and turns as Gone Girl, Tyler Perry's performance. I was floored by how focused and controlled Perry was alongside Affleck and Coon. To say that Fincher's visuals are his own is to wax redundancy but to say that Fincher's visuals belong to us all, in how his vision permeates the modern music video, the fashion ad, the thriller, now that's fact.

    David Fincher has never been my favorite director but I have a unflinching respect for his school of filmmaking and his dedication to the craft. Gone Girl is another example of Fincher doing what he does, be consistent.

    Also I wish Pike wasn't so sexy so I could hate her more said every man in that theatre under their breath, adjusting their Levi's.

    A man behind me yelled SPOILERS SPOILERS

    "Shit! Bitch just killed Doogie Hauser! Oh my God!" in a cadence reserved for tokens in Bay films. That said, I've never laughed more during a movie as tense as this one. The humor, that's the hallmark of a great movie, when there are laughs. Gillian Flynn's script was so tight, the script of someone who owns her work, who owns the voice of a tired Nick and a cold Amy.

    Amazing fucking Amy's getting fucking married and all of America is watching. That's what I left Gone Girl thinking. Amy became her fictional counterpart and we all read the fucking book.

    Fincher, you beautiful son of a bitch. I want to make movies as good as this one!

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    1. Haha, you gotta love when people just call shit out like that. Usually it's really annoying, but if delivered at that perfect moment, it can be priceless.

      Really glad you liked this film so much. I'm a huge Fincher fan, and damn if he didn't deliver yet again. Amazing Amy is one of my favorite film characters from recent memory. And I love how far Pike went in with that role. I STILL need to see this one again!

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  18. My jaw dropped to the floor with this one. I have a feeling that SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE YET STOP READING THIS RIGHT NOW Amy Dunne is going to go down in film history as one of the all time great villains. I also think this is perhaps the most well-acted film of the year. Every performance was spot on. Also props go out to the score, and I'm just a sucker for Fincher's cinematography and editing (is there any director today with a more visually impressive aesthetic?). All in all, one hell of a movie.

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    1. Hell yeah man, this is one hell of a twisted flick. And I agree, Amazing Amy will join the ranks of the all-time great screen villains. All told, I don't believe I've seen a better acted film this year either. Because holy shit, everyone is so good. I'm a sucker for Fincher's craftsmanship as well. It's always immaculate.

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  19. Great review Alex. Glad you loved it too. I saw it last night and I was speechless for so many reasons. First, it’s a brilliant adaptation. I think Gillian the screenwriter did better job than Gillian the book-writer. And Fincher is just Fincher, making it all as brilliant as it can be. But Rosamund stole the whole show; she literally disappeared in the skin of her character. I’ve not seen such a strong portrayal for so long time.

    Basically, I agree about everything from supporting actors to music. Also, I have to mention cinematography – the film had some brilliant shots.

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    1. Thanks Nika! Really glad we're in agreement here. Speaking of the cinematography, I've read some criticism of Fincher's choice for a mostly mustard palette, but I thought it fit so well. I love when the palette is so warm like that because it makes the cold sequences pop that much more.

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  20. Great review. I completely agree with you that: "I’ve seen it once, and I feel as though I’ve hardly scratched the surface of its layers and intricacies". There is so much more to Gone Girl than it's twists and I think this is what will make the film endure. I'm looking forward to seeing it again!

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    1. Thanks! You know, I STILL haven't had time to see this one again. Which is a shame, because I'm sure there is so much more to gain the second time around. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!

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  21. I can't recommend the book enough, especially if you want to dive further into the mind of Amazing Amy. There were plenty more diary entries, all of which show how incredible words can be when they're used in the right way.

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    1. I need to read it ASAP. I've heard nothing but good things. Thanks so much for the comment!

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  22. O.K. -- I'm back. I was saving this for after I'd seen and reviewed the movie. Brilliant review! Ben Affleck, who I've never liked as an actor, really impressed me here. When I heard he'd been cast I remember thinking that I could actually see him being just right for this role, somehow. In the book, Nick is charming but passive aggressive, and his good-guy persona camouflages some deep-rooted issues with women. Most of this is under the surface in the film, but with Fincher's direction, he really makes it work. And as you pointed out, he keeps us wondering.

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    1. Fincher is a master caster. Nearly all of his films contain questionable casting choices that turn out to be genius. I thought Affleck crushed this role, for all the reasons you mentioned. So glad you liked this movie - I was really hoping you'd enjoy it!

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  23. Wow... fantastic analysis... the movie does deserve an 'A'.

    My thoughts on the movie:

    Gone Girl comes across as a typical crime mystery-cum-thriller that involves search for a missing person, but, in essence, it’s a satire on: the lack of fidelity in modern marriages, the ever increasing influence of media on public opinion and how it invariably curbs personal privacy, and the drastic impact of economic changes on the quality of human relationships.

    Gone Girl is quite high on entertainment quotient, and, at the same time, it offers some good fodder to ruminate upon.

    The full review can be read here:

    http://www.apotpourriofvestiges.com/2014/11/gone-girl-2014-david-finchers-satire-on.html

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    1. Just read your review - really solid write-up, Murtaza. I absolutely loved this movie, and still need to see it again ASAP. What a thrill.

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  24. Excellent review. Affleck has never been better, and Pike is flawless. The film is strong across the board, but I was still a little underwhelmed (A-). I didn't buy NPH at all in that role, and the story was a bit too ludicrous, which I usually don't mind, at times. I've liked every Fincher film I've seen, but I long for the days of the Se7en and Fight Club Fincher.

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    1. I get what you mean. Fincher is one of the very few directors making very big, very commercial, and very good films. I think his days of the nit and grit of Se7en are over. Gone Girl, loved it though I did, is all glamour and gloss. Even that death scene looked gorgeous. But I would love for him to tackle another Se7en-type flick, for sure.

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  25. One think. Fuck the Golden Globes. Nomination for actress, director and script, but not for film. Wtf just happend? The Theory of Everything or/and The Imitation Game shouldn't been nominated at all. I'm pissed off, now.

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    1. Yeah, those movies did nothing for me. Gone Girl should definitely have a better showing.

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