In Gone Girl, Ben Affleck plays Nick Dunne, a man who falls under suspicion when his wife goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary.
On the surface, Gone Girl looks like the story of a man (Ben Affleck) believed, by many, to have killed his wife (Rosamund Pike). With little for him to prove his innocence with, it’s up to Nick, his sister Margo, and a renowned defence lawyer to ensure he has a shot at proving his innocence.
Story and Writing
Gone Girl is based on a novel, so right off the bat you’d believe it has a fighting chance as a movie. I *may* not have read the book (first time for everything, guys – sorry!) but I must say this movie makes me want to read it. It’s great when a book and its movie can work off of each other. Clever lines, characters with so many layers, and plot twists with enough to make you say “HOLY COW.” It will get you so engaged in the movie that it’ll feel like you’re at the forefront of it all.
Acting
Superb acting on all fronts. Ben Affleck does a great job as the husband under suspicion to the point I had flashbacks of the Laci Peterson murder case. Rosamund Pike was equal parts thrilling and chilling. The surprise stars of this movie? Carrie Coon (Margo) and Tyler Perry (Tanner Bolt), who played Affleck’s sister and lawyer, respectively. Some of the best lines actually came from them. If I had to pick a weak link in the major cast of characters, it’d have to be Neil Patrick Harris. I’d attribute this, however, to his short and deadpan appearance in the movie.
Visuals, Production and Editing
I’ve been finding recently a number of movies aren’t using these three things in a smart way. By that I mean they’re not shooting, editing and producing with a full-on combined vision in mind. It’s clear director David Fincher and his team tied everything together from the very beginning. Shots don’t linger, scenes move well, and even with all the plot twists you don’t get lost. Sometimes, simple is great – and there were no complicated, over-the-top shots that took away from the experience.
Overall
This is a must-see, and I’d say the best thriller I’ve seen all year. It’s fresh, original and smart. If a movie can make you engage with the story – feel anger, joy, betrayal – within such a small span of time, then it’s done what it’s supposed to do as a piece of entertainment. I give it nine mysterious Ben Affleck smiles out of ten, and hope you guys check it out! In case you missed it, check out the trailer below:
If you go see the movie, tweet me @NewsHoundNouf on Twitter to let me know what you think!
Ria Renouf is an Associate Editor for BCIT’s Link Magazine. A second-year Broadcasting student, she’ll report on anything; her first loves, however, are movies, music, gaming and technology. Outside of BCIT she reads many books and cheers for the Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Seahawks. She also aspires to be a new generation’s Tintin, and does so by reporting for radio station CKNW News Talk 980AM’s news desk.
