(**** out of 5)
I had planned on seeing this on opening night, but due to work and a weekend out of town for a bachelor party, I had to wait until Sunday. I've been very excited about Gone Girl ever since they announced a film was in the works, and I was impressed by the outcome of it. While I think the buzz of possible academy awards is being a little overdone, I did enjoy this film.
If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it. Gone Girl is about a man who finds out his wife has gone missing. Evidence is slowly uncovered, pointing to Amy's husband as the kidnapper and possible killer. But don't expect the entire to film to be a mystery. About a third of the way through the movie, the plot completely changes. Unfortunately, that is all I can reveal about the plot. Unlike the book, the movie smoothly transitions through the three parts.
The reason, I believe, that this movie will be so successful is how it was developed. David Fincher is an amazing director when it comes to adapting books (Fight Club, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, as well as The Social Network and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). You may have read and then seen The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which offered very different perspectives. The director does the same with Gone Girl. The book is written with intermittent journal entries. The movie starts out the same, but then lets the writing fade and the characters develop. Another great aspect was that the author of the book also wrote the screenplay, adding a slight change to the ending (and for those of you that were hoping for a major change like me, you'll be disappointed. It changes a little, but nothing major). It's hard to place in a category, because it is part mystery, part thriller, part romance, and part comedy. I hate the characters, because they are terrible people, but I am drawn to them, wanting to know how they are going to unravel. You will laugh, you will be frightened, and you will be grossed out but a gruesome bloodbath scene.
Ben Affleck (Nick Dunne) and Rosamund Pike (Amy Dunne) did such an amazing job of encompassing the characters. I had no issues with the casting. I don't even like Tyler Perry, but his role in the movie was fine.
So, why did I only give it four out of five stars? If I don't leave a theater wanting to call all of my friends and tell them about it, then it only gets four. The film is fun, but it's nothing that leaves a long-lasting impact. For a fun and dark escape, give Gone Girl a chance.
