#7: GONE GIRL

#7: GONE GIRL (15-1-15)

Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens and Tyler Perry.

Written by Gillian Flynn and directed by David Fincher. 145 mintues long.

A tricky film to talk about too much without spoiling it and although this is a film that doesn't have a twist ending, saying too much will spoil this film for anyone who hasn't read the book. On the morning of his 5th wedding anniversary, Affleck's Nick Dunne comes home to discover his wife, Amy Dunne is missing - seemingly the victim of an abduction. He calls in the police and soon becomes a person of interest when evidence surfaces that seems to implicate the husband in his wife's violent abduction and possible death. The film flashes back and forth from the present to five years earlier, through Amy's journal, and the start of the Dunne's relationship. And where as the present is told through Nick's eyes, the past belongs to Amy's. But is everything as it seems or is someone hiding something?

A thoroughly dark, involving, engrossing and intriguing film with spot-on performances from, not only, the two leads but also the supporting cast too. Never short-changing the audience this is a fascinating and chilling film that is an absolute delight from beginning to end, although it's the end that costs this film a perfect 10/10, lacking as it does a satisfying ending. I wanted a solid full-stop but all I got was an ellipsis.

Directed with precision and skill by David Fincher this is a film that is never less than utterly engrossing and it no doubt helps that the screen writer is also the writer of the novel on which this film is based.

Second time round for this one, it came back as part of Cineworld's Take 2 program. So, did it hold up as well as it did the first time I saw it back in October.

A big, fat yes. The things that were great the first time round remain so, Affleck has never been better, ditto for Pike. The story and direction is tight and the film retains its power to surprise.

The only down side is the sound track, whenever the film flashes back to the beginning of Pike and Affleck's character's relationship, the dialogue is almost drowned out by the soundtrack and you find yourself straining to hear what's being said. But it's a minor quibble and doesn't effect the score.
9/10