Review: GONE GIRL is an Enthrallingly Well-Constructed Web of Lies

So often, movies adapted from books are unable to navigate the pitfalls of translating introspective thoughts and first person narration on the page into tangible action on the screen. However, in GONE GIRL, author Gillian Flynn has effectively boiled down the very essence of her novel into a taut, enthralling script. Since no one knows this story better than Flynn, she was able to hand-pick the perfect elements from the Best Selling book to create a screenplay even more suspenseful and exhilarating than the source material, believe it or not.

Despite the very worthy praise that Flynn is owed, the fact that GONE GIRL, a wildly popular novel, has effectively been turned into such a well-crafted big budget thriller is impressive. Each member of the film's ensemble, from leads to bit parts, seems not to have been cast for his or her role, but rather to have been groomed for it, especially the titular girl, Rosamund Pike, and her potentially murderous husband Ben Affleck.

Discussing plot points beyond what is available in the movie's trailer is treacherous with GONE GIRL, so I will stick to the talking points: Nick and Amy Elliott-Dunn are married. Amy goes missing on their fifth anniversary. Many believe that Nick killed her. He claims that he did not. In this unnerving story, nothing is as it seems. Beyond that, the rest of this article will be as spoiler-free as possible, but there are no guarantees as performance and direction are discussed.

At the center of this complex story of lies and betrayal is Affleck's Nick. I like Ben Affleck; he is an exceptional director, and an underrated actor; so I do not want what follows to come off as a backhanded compliment. However, one thing that all of his performances have in common is a base unbelieveablity. Just like the fact that Kevin Costner always sounds like he is reading his lines, Affleck has managed to make his inherent distance from the truth seem somehow honest; whether it is by playing CIA agents, career criminals, or masked superheroes. However, never has it been more effective than in GONE GIRL, as he plays a grieving husband who may or may not have murdered his wife. Affleck likely won't receive wide-spread popular praise for his performance, as it isn't in vogue to think that he can actually act, but this performance is one of the best of his career; peppered with regular glimpses of layers that we aren't supposed to know exist.

Similarly, Rosamund Pike is disturbingly appealing. Not only is she beautiful, but her very presence on screen is mesmerizing. Like Affleck, she transforms a character that could come off as flat and cliché into a nuanced, surprisingly absorbing figure. She is such a compelling force on the screen that even though her character turns out to be not as sympathetic as one would believe, you almost understand, and root for Amy nonetheless.

In supporting roles, Tony-nominee Carrie Coon is phenomenal as Nick's conscience and twin sister, Margot. Tony-winner Neil Patrick Harris is appropriately creepy as Amy's ex-boyfriend Desi Collings, and watching Missi Pyle as Ellen Abbot is nearly as infuriating as watching her character's inspiration, Nancy Grace. Also enjoyable are Tyler Perry as Nick's high-powered defense attorney, Kim Dickens as the detective investigating Amy's disappearance, and Casey Wilson as Nick and Amy's oft-pregnant neighbor.

Despite the somber look and feel of the film, the cast has a playful nature that suggests that they enjoyed making the film as much as we enjoy watching it. While nearly everybody is lying or being lied to, they seem to do so gleefully. From the opening snapshots of a decaying Midwestern town, to the bookending bits of narration, the film feels to be a collection of all of director David Fincher's most practiced calling cards. The film's pacing is near perfect, never allowing the forward momentum to lag towards a destination that always seems just out of sight. With each question Fincher answers, he expertly unravels even more.

Not only are Flynn's script and characters dark, but so is the cinematography. It took my eyes a few minutes to adjust to the gritty and dingy look of the film, but coupled with the underscoring by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the depressed essence of this small town begins to overwhelm you, as it did Amy.

There has been quite a bit of discussion about how true the film would stay to the novel's ending, and while it mostly does, it also doesn't, and I will leave it at that.

There are a lot of movies out right now about complicated, crazy people, but GONE GIRL has such an understated madness, that you nearly forget that it is even there. You routinely find yourself giving over to each characters' individual psychosis, but man, is it one surprisingly enjoyable trip. While Amy wants, more than anything to get out of North Carthage, Missouri, it's a place that I wouldn't mind going back to.

Check out the trailer below:

GONE GIRL, starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, and Carrie Coon is rated R (for a scene of bloody violence, some strong sexual content/nudity, and language). The movie opens today nationwide.

Did the adaptation of this beloved novel meet your expectations? Did the film version of GONE GIRL compete with what you had imagined? Let me know what you think in the comments below or on Twitter @BWWMatt. Also, make sure to follow @BWWMovieWorld for all of the biggest news from the world of movies.

---

Photo Credit:
1) Affleck: Merrick Morton | Twentieth Century Fox and Regency Enterprises
2) Cast: Merrick Morton | Twentieth Century Fox and Regency Enterprises
3) Pike: Merrick Morton | Twentieth Century Fox and Regency Enterprises

To post a comment, you must register and login.