Third Favorite Flick of 2014: Gone Girl David Fincher is one of those directors that get me really excited whenever a new film of his comes out. Sure there are some that I love more than others, but I can usually expect for his films to mix some dark and brooding thrills with some great social commentary or analysis on ourselves as humans. From his take on masculinity in Fight Club to his dive into interconnectivity with The Social Network, Fincher has always shown to be one of the most socially conscious filmmakers of this generation. Well, after seeing Gone Girl, I can say that not only did this film rise above my expectations, but its probably my favorite Fincher film since his masterworks of the 90s. Now I wont go too in-depth into the movies plot, as it is really hard to talk about the story without spoilers. What I will go into is what the story is speaking to: its satirization of both marriage and the media. In both cases, Gone Girl is a story about appearances and deception: the ways we present ourselves to other people to get what we want and the ways that our own perceptions can lead us to incorrectly judge someone. This plays most particularly into the marriage between Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike within the movie, as we watch their relationship transcend from its idyllic beginnings to its more disillusioned latter periods as their insecurities and warts are gradually revealed. It provides some great commentary on relationships that disintegrate and harm those involved after the romance has faded away. None of this would have been sold however without the performances of the cast themselves, who all knock it out of the park. Ben Affleck, who Ive always thought wasnt quite as good as his brother Casey, is cast perfectly as the highly flawed but still somehow sympathetic Nick Dunne. Tyler Perry proves that he can actually act once he has a capable director, as his turn as Afflecks charismatic attorney is one of the more entreating roles in the film. But most of the notices should go towards Rosamund Pike as Amy Elliot-Dunne, who brings so many layers and complexities to her character that she most assuredly deserves an Oscar nomination or the possible win. It is absolutely one of my favorite characters of the year as hers is one that is endlessly engaging, thought-provoking, and fun to discuss. This is one of the darkest, uncomfortable, and intriguing movies Ive seen all year, and I applaud David Fincher, screenwriter/novelist Gillian Flynn, and the cast for making a movie that has not left my mind since I saw it opening weekend. Also, gotta give kudos to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for that score: its also one of my favorites of the year.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 18:56:03 +0000
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