I had high hopes for this Fincher flick. How couldn't I, as an absolute die-hard, seasoned Fincher fan? I had been looking forward to it for 3 years. And finally, October last year, I witnessed the tour de force that was...Gone Girl.
I have not read the book, so my opinion is purely based on the movie.
It's hard to say if it is on par with previous movies directed by Fincher, like Se7en and Fight Club.
These movies were released in a time where we, as a society, weren't flooded with movies that are way too similar. Try to imagine what kind of impact Gone Girl would have if it was released in 1995. Se7en was a breath of fresh air, so was Fight Club. The more movies there are in existence, the harder it is to stay original. More and more has been done before.
Affleck is doing great but it is Rosamund Pike who steals the show. There is not much I can tell without spoiling the plot.
Expect a hurricane of events that will leave you flabbergasted and numb. This movie is not a joke. It does not compromise. It does not play around.
As always, the cinematography in a David Fincher is highly-stylized. He has a unique vision. Typical Fincher shots, beautiful. I've seen so much of his work so many times that I can instantly see it's his work if I didn't know it was his beforehand. Gone Girl has this blueish hue, just a little blue tint. It adds to the emotion AND the story.
The soundtrack is scored by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails!). They both worked on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Social Network, both Fincher movies.
They absolutely nailed it on these films and Gone Girl is no different.. It is dark and foreboding, and at times ethereal. Fincher knew what he wanted. Here's a sample; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fp-9cgcRHE .
Suspense. It's the life blood of this cinematic masterpiece. I found myself clenching my fists and I rarely do this during a viewing. The build-up of suspense is almost palpable. This lead some critics to compare Fincher to Hitchcock.
Exaggerated? You be the judge.
-O
