GONE GIRL REVIEW
3.5/5
A wild psychological thriller that keeps you guessing up until the very last scene, GONE GIRL is definitely a film that stays with you long after you’ve left the cinema. Directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, Panic Room, Seven) Gone Girl is based upon the novel by Gillian Flynn and stars Ben Affleck (Armageddon, Argo, Good Will Hunting) and Rosamund Pike (Jack Reacher, Wrath of the Titans, Pride & Prejudice). Gone Girl explores the complicated themes of gender roles, martial equality, dishonesty and trust and takes you on a jarring journey through Amy and Nick Dunne’s relationship from the perspective of Amy’s diary.
Whilst I wouldn’t say Gone Girl is the most compelling thriller I’ve seen, it certainly keeps you guessing and analysing both during and after the film. These are the films I love the most, the ones that keep your brain working, over and over, trying to grasp what it was you just spent over two hours watching. Mindfuck, is probably the best phrase for this film, pardon my bluntness but it’s the most appropriate word I can think of in relation to Gone Girl. It absolutely had some ‘WHAT!?’ moments and they certainly added to the films twisted interior. The film challenged the ideals of marriage and gender roles and for a good portion of the film, I found myself rooting for the character of Amy. However, I feel as though my allegiances shifted between both parties several times throughout the films duration and in the end, I don’t even know where I stood; by the time the 149th minute came around, I was exhausted and perched myself neatly on a fence to re-evaluate.
The acting on Pikes behalf is to be praised, considering she was the instigator or perpetrator in a lot of the ‘WHAT!?’ moments, I definitely felt moved by her method; she absolutely put a great deal of effort and insanity into her role and is to be commended for such. The overall look of the film was also very beautiful and visually, it was a very aesthetically pleasing experience. The film was well paced, pleasingly objective and didn’t overcompensated or bypassed important plots in the film; I’d argue overall, it was a very well balanced film.
Whilst I think 149 minutes was excessive, and found myself a few time’s anticipating the end only to be followed by an additional 10 minutes, I find I appreciate Gone Girl in retrospect, more so than what I did when I was viewing it. I stays with you and I still find myself thinking back to certain moments. If you have a few hours spare and are up for some brain games, give Gone Girl a crack; I guarantee you’ll be thinking about it for days after.