Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl” was and is a must read. This
book defied expectations – forget cooking, cleaning, eating, or the kids.
Anyone who picked up this book could not put it down, and then the discussion
was a lot of OMG, and “Are you kidding me?!” Now “Gone Girl” is in
theaters and does not disappoint its fans. David Fincher, the director, with
Gillian Flynn’s own screenplay brings this cold calculating book of a marriage
gone wrong, of successful people failing, and of a murder/kidnapping mystery to
film in fine fashion.
I shall not reveal key plot points, thus this review dances
a bit about the story. Just know that Ben Affleck’s Nick comes home
midafternoon after a call from a neighbor saying his cat is out and his front
door is open. He walks in calling out to his wife, Amy, and finds living room
furniture upended and blood in the kitchen. He calls the cops and soon a search
for a missing person, Amy, becomes arrest for murder.
So, did Nick do it? We see the story develop forward and
backward. Head over heels love in the early parts of marriage. Huge success in
New York. Nick and Amy are the cleverest, cutest, and most accomplished couple.
She is still the focus of her parents, having been analyzed as a child with the
Amazing Amy series of books. A bit resentful. A tad petulant. Rosamund Pike, as
Amy, is icy blonde, fiercely brilliant, and now bored in Missouri. She and Nick
had to leave NYC during economic fallout and return to his hometown to help his
dying mother. Now his mother is dead, he runs The Bar with his twin sister,
Margo (a really good Carrie Coon), and they both feel trapped and resentful.
What happens? I won’t tell you. Just know that Affleck is
perfect as Nick – the cool guy who’s just a bit too good looking and can come
off as smug. Is he tired of the perfect Amy? Money troubles always stir the
pot. He counts on his twin. They are so close, and yet even she has to ask –
did he do it? The two detectives offer contrast – the guy is sure Nick is
guilty, the female detective has her doubts. The fact that Amy herself left
written clues (it was an anniversary game) seems contrived.
In flashbacks and forwards, we see Amy’s side of things
through diary entries. Rosamund Pike is Oscar worthy in this role. She’s so
calculating and smooth. History of past boyfriends/alleged stalkers proves
interesting. Maybe Nick never had a chance.
That’s all I can write. Read the book. See the movie. Find
out what happens to that “Gone Girl.”
