“I loved you and then all we did was resent each other, try to control each other. We caused each other pain.”
– Nick Dunne
SYNOPSIS: On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne reports that his wife, Amy, has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick’s portrait of a blissful union begins to crumble. Soon his lies, deceits and strange behavior have everyone asking the same dark question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife? – via IMDB
Finally, I got to see this. Goodness knows that I have waited an age for it, and I was really interested to see what David Fincher could do with it, if he still has the super spark, and if I would at least have been correct for backing the casting decision of Ben Affleck as Nick Dunne and Rosamund Pike as Amy Dunne. I would just like to state here that I was, indeed, correct in having faith. Seeing as I have read the book, I was interested to hear what my other half would think of this, who had no idea what it was about or what the plot twist was. I think Fincher did a wonderful job of portraying Nick in the first half of the movie as a man we don’t quite understand but then grow to dislike, intensely, like the media does. My other half was pretty vocal on what he thought about Nick. However, the twist came as no surprise for him – actually he had worked that out less than thirty minutes in. I thought the camera work was amazing, and the dreary, washed out look suited this movie down to a tee. It is sort of what you feel when you read the book – it’s a thing with Flynn. It’s like she is incapable of writing about a single likable character. That shows here, but ultimately, as much a tool as Nick is, he is the one you identify with the most. The casting choices for this were great, everyone worked wonders with their material. Rosamund Pike did some exceptionally good work as Amy, but (sorry world) I just don’t get the hype. She delivered all the goods, trust me, but… I don’t know. I think the whole movie was blown out of proportion. Then I remember everyone freaking about Neil Patrick Harris’s dong making an appearance. Seriously people, it was so brief I probably would have missed it aside from the fact that everyone had something to say about it. I think that the scene with Pike and NPH there was quite… brilliantly executed. Something like that rarely works and comes across as tacky, but in here it was so much more than that. I don’t actually want to say too much because I don’t want to give out any spoilers, but I must say that this is well worth the watch, truly. Gone Girl was a really good adaption and there was a lot to like about it. It looked good, it was paced pretty well, and had a solid cast to carry it, it shows that Fincher definitely still has the goods.
Been meaning to see this one, looks great !!
LikeLike
It is a pretty good one! Hope you see it soon.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I really liked this one. Such a great story that always seems to be one step ahead. Great review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Ryan! It was quite smart. Did you read the book at all? Or was this the only time you had encountered the story?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Never read the book and had no idea what it was about going into it. I was quite surprised!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed this one. I always have a lot of faith in David Fincher to make good movies and this is no different. Can’t wait for his adaptation of the British TV series Utopia
LikeLike
I think the adaption might work out well (I was unaware of it), but I am making this assumption based on what happened with House of Cards (which I thoroughly enjoyed).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review. I was wondering if people who didn’t know the twist would spot it or not because I think not seeing it coming was what made the book so good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks lady! Well, I have a fifty/fifty split now hahaha. My other half saw it coming a mile off, and my best friend was whacked around the head so solidly I think she is still reeling from the shock of it all xD
LikeLiked by 1 person
Disagreed a bit in my review but still always happy to hear your arguments and reasoning. Your other half sounds a smart cookie btw.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Alex! I liked the movie well enough, but I was not left totally gobsmacked. It cannot be denied that it was put together extremely well, solid direction, and Pike and Affleck worked wonders with their material.
Yep, I would say that he is 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure he says the same of you 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dearest SJB,
I saw this!! I quite liked it – I had no idea what it was about or anything so I had nice surprises! Nice job, here!
Love,
ISC
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kindest PSC,
I am so glad that you liked it so much. Thank you, thank you!
Love,
JJB
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool review Zoe! Very good film but I agree I didn’t totally buy into the hype. I haven’t read the book and I definitely think that helped. If I knew exactly what was coming then I really don’t think I’d have liked it as much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think so. Knowing what was coming helped in the sense of paying attention to the smaller details, the foreshadowing, etc. But I think it took some of the magic away for me.
LikeLike
Best one
Excellent review! You know how I feel about this ❤ ❤ ❤
Kidney
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kind Kidney,
I know that you are super sold on this one hahaha!
Bkushi
LikeLike
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 :D:D 😀 :D:D 😀 :D:D 😀 :D:D 😀 :D:D 😀 :D:D 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pretty nuts, but never boring. Good review Zoe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dan!
LikeLike
I need to see this again I think. The final few mins didn’t work and the final act was a bit OTT but it’s a lot of fun. Smart work Zoe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Yeah see, the final few minutes weren’t perfect, they were different from the book (Flynn wrote a new ending for the film), and it definitely is OTT. It is a good adaption, and Fincher put it all together well, I am just not as sold as most people are, but cannot deny that it was a good outing.
LikeLike
Hey Zoe, did you mean Amy Dunne? You wrote Amy Adams in your review 😛 I was impressed by Fincher’s direction & Pike’s performance. As I haven’t read the book, it also managed to surprise me a few times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Ruth! I did?! OMG thanks for noticing that! I will go fix that up now! Hmmmm, seems that he dealt well with the material for the surprises for those who didn’t read the book, which is a good thing.
LikeLike
I think this Rapid Review format really suits movies like ‘Gone Girl,’ a movie the entire world fell in love with overnight. I wonder how many who did actually read the source material? (Hint: I’m NOT one of them!!!!! 😀 😀 whoops did I say that out loud?)
But for real, so much has been made about the performances, esp regarding Rosaemund’s Amy Dunne. I personally think she ought to be the one walking across the stage in Feb to collect her Best Actress prize, but I can see how after months of reading hyped-up things about her (and the film in general) that this is a little little bit of come-down. Expectations can only get so high! Nice review Zoe.
LikeLike
You didn’t?! Really?! Tom, I am shocked and horrified!
Thank you kindly! Yeah, she was very good, I just don’t get how everyone is going on that she was the best thing ever. She did impress me, because she did capture Amy from the books, but I don’t know…
I liked this, but I am definitely not in love with it the way some are. My other half and my best friends are both big fans of the film, far more than myself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fair ’nuff!!! 🙂 Perhaps the fact i went in blind to the developments it helped make this a sensational outing for me. And I was scrolling through some comments and I have to agree with you and Mark that the final act does get a bit out of control. But, I really do want to get this on DVD at some point I think. I rarely do that these days! Haha.
And yes, my god. I really do need to get my mitts on the book. I’m hearing from most everyone that it is def superior to the film. Holy crap.
LikeLike
🙂 Hmmmm, let’s see how it holds up for repeat viewings!
Hmmmmm… I really liked the book and thought this was an amazing adaption. I am not a fan of Flynn’s writing style, and one of her books I flat out detested, and thought Gone Girl was alright, though there are infinitely superior works. It’s just difficult to love her writing style (though it was infinitely better in Gone Girl than Dark Places) and there are no characters to like at all, which hurts her work a bit. But that is purely my opinion…
LikeLiked by 1 person
For sure. There were a lot of unlikable characters in this film. How crazy though is it that Tyler Perry’s lawyer dude wasn’t one of them?? Haha that performance was so out of left field. . .
LikeLike
xD That is was! I thought he did a great rendition of Tanner!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Been meaning to see this adaptation. 😀 Nice review!
LikeLike
Thank you! I hope that you enjoy it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did! Goodness. Rosamund Pike is so believable! It is one of those few movie who did not put shame on its novel version. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never got the Neil Patrick Harris hate. I think that he did a fantastic job at being the creepy character in this.
In other news, I just got Gone Girl on Blu-ray. It is beautiful! I know you weren’t crazy about the film though haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
I actually didn’t realise there was hate on him. I think NPH is awesome and he did Desi justice… just wish they had explored his back story a little more!
YAY! I hope that you enjoy it time and time again! Yep, not crazy like most, but I liked it well enough 🙂
LikeLike
Looks like we feel similar about this adaptation, although I enjoyed Pike’s performance more than you did. Honestly, I missed BOTH dongs. I’m so unobservant!!! NPH’s was fake, though. Apparently.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, it was a very solid adaption and shot very well. Just not obsessed with it. I thought she was good, but the hype! My goodness. There were two dongs? LOL!
LikeLiked by 1 person