“Gone Girl,” based on the best-selling thriller by Gillian Flynn, recently hit theaters and has become one of the most talked about films this month. The psychological mystery focuses on themes of marriage, economy and media deception, which produce a smooth and suspenseful film.
The movie stars Ben Affleck as Nick Dunne and Rosamund Pike as Amy Elliott-Dunne, Nick’s missing wife.
Amy is a beautiful, intelligent blonde woman — every man’s dream. One morning, Nick arrives home to an open front door, a destroyed living room with a shattered glass table, and a missing wife.
The story follows Nick as he is caught up in the investigation for his missing wife, eventually becoming a suspect of the case. The movie switches between the present investigation and flashbacks narrated by Amy, which show the conflicts that arose throughout the marriage. The flashback scenes are parts of Amy’s diary, which becomes a crucial part of the film after the plot twist is revealed.
Gone Girl is directed by David Fincher. The actors, notably Affleck and Pike, portray their characters in a realistic way. It’s easy to feel like you’re watching a real life mystery, because the acting is so sincere.
Neil Patrick Harris also stars in the film. He plays Desi Collings, Amy’s ex-boyfriend. His role seems small at first, as he isn’t featured until about the halfway mark. His character, though, plays a huge part in the plot twist and is necessary in understanding the film’s end.
Harris and Pike dominate the most compelling scene in the film. It depicts extremely violent and graphic actions, which are not for the faint of heart. It’s easy to see why the scene will have viewers shielding their eyes, but the cinematography of the scene is wonderful. It is the second turning point in the movie; by this point, viewers are literally on the edge of their seats, fingers tapping anxiously against their legs as they prepare for what will happen next.
This movie is made especially for die-hard mystery fans. The twists throughout keep viewers engaged, along with the sometimes-dark humor that sneaks into select scenes. Although the movie is lengthy-about 2.5 hours- its quick pace and fluid transitions make it easy to watch.
“I liked the movie because it was always suspenseful; it was never what you thought would happen.,” said Marissa McCall, a freshman strategic communications major.
Gone Girl has all the elements of a great thriller: dynamic characters, a substantial plot twist, and an ending that brings up more questions than it answers. If the success continues, it is sure to be named one of the best thrillers of this year. In its opening weekend, “Gone Girl” made $37,513,109.
