Director: David Fincher
Cast: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon
Now I've read the best selling book by Gillian Flynn so I already have huge expectations with this film and the fact that David Fincher was announced to be involved with the project, you would assume this would be another masterpiece added to his discography. Despite the questionable cast announcement, I gave this a go, hoping this would be the film of the year. And I'm glad because I start to think it just might be.
I wasn't surprised Fincher would be involved in this psychological thriller because it ticks all the boxes for a Fincher film; themes of betrayal, lovable yet loathing characters, and full of plot twists. After watching this film, I've seen his trademarks all over it, his direction and fluidity is so stellar it feels quite unnerving, there is not one scene where you feel like you're drifting away from the narrative. It feels like a mixture between Zodiac and The Social Network with the overall look. There is not one shaky camerawork that most films use these days. Fincher is all about precision. Beginning and ending with the same shot of Amy looking at Nick (well more like looking at the camera, somehow both shot look different), the entire vibe of this film is just haunting.
It's not a Fincher film until we see the cast's performances giving the best of their abilities. He's a perfectionist so we expect each character to captivate us. Affleck as Nick Dunne, was spot on. I was expecting this smug but sympathetic character and that is exactly what I got from him. Carrie Coon's performance as Nick's twin sister Margo Dunne was filled with quirkiness and ferocity that I just absolutely adored in the book. I was disappointed that Emily Ratajtowski as Andie did not get enough screen time as she seemed more ferocious in the book, but here she was more of a plot device. I just could not take Neil Patrick Harris' performance seriously because of his persona in How I Met Your Mother. Yes he was definitely creepy here but it did not shake me off. Perry as the slick, straightforward Tanner Bolt was spot on. The star here though is Rosamund Pike. I certainly did not expect her to pull off one of the most vicious, manipulative female characters ever, she steals every scene she's in, and throughout the second act, she's terrifying and hilarious at the same time. Expecting a nomination from award ceremonies any time soon. It's the way Fincher handles his main characters, get them burst out so much talent.
It's all about Gillian Flynn's screenplay, it is her own work in the end of the day, and she manages to capture the book's clever humour and realistic dialogue to the screen, and pull off its complex narrative structure. The themes of the film makes you think about the challenges and limits of marriage and the consequences, while I found the whole issue of the media manipulating the audience with wild rumours that can cause horrible outcomes interesting; they approach in such satirical way. If you haven't the read book before, I recommend you do after seeing this. As for the film, I applaud Fincher for successfully capturing yet another adaptation to the screen.
Overall: The screenplay stays true to its source material and I'm not surprised; it still has its dark humour and full of plot twists that book fans admired. Fincher's artistic direction and the cast ensemble's tour de force performances make this disturbing psychoanalytical film about marriage, trust, and media manipulation a true gem that will become a vintage classic in recent memory.
9/10
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