Gone Girl, the 2012 thriller from author Gillian Flynn, was publically and critically acclaimed, and for good reason. The novel has some great observations on relationships, tells its story in an original way, and is, well, thrilling. With David Fincher directing the screenplay written by Flynn herself, there was little doubt about the high quality of the film adaption on this one.
The trailer for the film was surprisingly restrained - as it should have been, considering the twists and turns within it. The story begins ‘The Morning Of’; Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) finds that his wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike) has gone missing on the day of their fifth anniversary. With the media spotlight on Nick, it isn’t long before the evidence starts to point towards him having killed her. And then...well, that would be telling.
The two leads are perfectly cast. Affleck plays the American everyman – square jawed, probably ex-high school jock, seemingly nice, seemingly predictably male – and balances it with hints at a darker, more violent side bubbling under the surface. Pike captures Amy’s ever shifting personality with what seems like ease, switching emotions convincingly throughout – she, despite being British of course, is hugely believable as the all-American sweetheart that the US public lap up.
Fincher’s direction, as always, is superb. Accompanied by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s creepy and atmospheric score and Jeff Cronenweth’s crisp and beautiful cinematography for the third film in a row, he forces the film down its dark path with style and atmosphere. Though, however dark and violent this 18 certificated Gone Girl gets, the humour remains throughout.
There is even a level of ridiculous to the whole thing but it works because it is pulled off with such skill – plus, despite the twists and turns, you always kind of feel like you’re in on the joke. Of course this is a crime thriller about a, thankfully, out of the ordinary event, but it keeps the novel’s frightening truths about marriage and the media and popularity as it relates to justice. It is also all very tense and exciting. It is also very brilliant.
Gone Girl will be shown at Broadway Cinema until Thursday 16 October 2014.
Gone Girl official site
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?
