Movie Review - Gone Girl: a (mostly) unhappy union of satire and thriller...

We're all in an unequal, one-sided and unhappy marriage - trapped and unable to escape, or at least 'Gone Girl' would have you believe.  Because although ostensibly a mystery thriller about the disappearance of one man's wife, and how this  exposes the cracks in their relationship, everything unfolds through the filter of media exposure, and under the monolithic gaze of corporate advertising.  Well, at least in America - though it's probably not so far from the truth in any western country dominated by consumerist society.  This is probably the most interesting idea that runs slyly though the film, like a hairline fracture creeping along a pane of glass; because as a mystery thriller, the twists seem almost as predictable as they lack impact, and as a drama about the decline of a marriage, it's heavy-handed and probably been more effectively portrayed in many low-key movies before it.

David Fincher follows his workman-like but mis-handled 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' adaptation with this, another adaptation of a very popular book from 2012 by Gillian Flynn (who also adapts her own work for this screenplay).  I've not read the book, but it apparently has a tremendous fan base - I can't say whether or not they'll approve or be riled by this film version.  For a director renowned for his technical and visual flair, Fincher keeps things low key, focusing us squarely upon the lead performances of Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as Nick and Amy Dunne - and fair enough, as it is their couple around which the film is focused, and their performances hit the mark precisely.  Some of Fincher's trademarks are present (he's the only director who can make a scene outside in daylight and sunshine feel cold and dark) including an opening that flashes (almost disorientatingly fast) through various shots of the setting, contrasting images of affluence, poverty, Americana, and a kind of gentle suburban slumber.  Fincher seems to be presenting this montage as his portrayal of contemporary America, which underpins that this film is trying to say something to the country as a whole, not just one couple's marriage.

The first act is probably the film's most effective - using flashbacks, through Amy's  diary, the couple's relationship is revealed: from courtship, through proposals, early marriage, then the beginning of its decline (against the backdrop of recession).  It is during these scenes that Pike's performance comes to the fore, giving Amy a voice that will resonate with many women - or most couples, to be fair.  This is intertwined with Nick's discovery, on the morning of their Fifth Wedding Anniversary, that Amy is missing, and there are signs of foul play.  Secrets are revealed, and Nick comes under increasing scrutiny from the media, and eventually the finger of blame begins to point at him.  During this part of the film Affleck makes for a believable and relatable - if not always likeable - Nick, just a typical guy who has found his life, career and marriage have ended up in a certain place, not always helped by choices he has made.  The mystery element of the story works best here, as we're never sure whether to trust Nick or believe the accusations being levelled at him.

Affleck as Nick Dunne tries to take the media finger of guilt away from him and refocus on to the search for his wife.  It doesn't really work...

But during the second act there's a twist in the plot, which I won't divulge (but if you've read the book you'll know what I mean), and the focus of the film changes again - the thriller element is still intact, but it takes on more of a darkly comic aspect.  This part of the story still works quite effectively, helped in no small part by the central performances, and especially Carrie Coon as Nick's sister Margo.  However as the film draws to its final act it takes some even darker turns, and ends in a place that - whilst in fitting with the themes of the story and how it depicts marriage - may leave some people feeling unsatisfied.  As the film draws to a close the satire of marriage as kind of prison, almost as an existential hell, is very much fulfilled - but as I said earlier, it's something that has been portrayed before in other films, and most likely more effectively: the thriller part of this story arguably robs this satire with some of its power.  At least, it did for my wife and I, who have been married 6 years now, and are still happy (take that Nick & Amy!) - we joked about the film for a few days after watching it.

Pike's performance as Amy is one that you'll talk about long after seeing the film - I won't say any more though, because spoilers!

If this part of the film doesn't hit the mark as emphatically as it could, then as a media satire it is more effective - as Nick's life is scrutinised by the media we're under no illusion of how pervasive and intrusive television and news can be.  The film might have gone more in to the part the internet plays in this, through social media, but maybe Fincher felt he'd explored that part of life enough with 'The Social Network'?  It's not just Nick Dunne, trying to protest his innocence, that is subject to this pressure, it is all of us: whether we are having our opinion manipulated, or by having these opinions filtered through the demands of corporate interests (one montage depicts appeals for the search for Amy on billboards under signs for MacDonald's and other corporate marketing logos).  If the Dunnes are portrayed as trapped in their marriage, then this film depicts America as a whole as being trapped in its relationship with the media - which, in serving corporate and political interests, can turn the tide of public opinion against those whom the media decides have stepped out of their decreed 'societal norm'.

'Gone Girl' is an effective thriller which will create plenty of conversation, even if you may find yourself disagreeing with, or at the very least having a chuckle about, its dark portrayal of marriage.  It contains at least two performances that will change the perception of certain actors in a largely positive way (without going in to spoilers), though fans of Fincher's work will feel he's still not made a truly great film since 'The Social Network'.  He has stated that he hopes the film ends thousands of marriages - I don't know if it will have quite that impact.  In fact, there are probably films that would make for worse date movies than this one.  Having said that, my wife and I probably aren't the best measure for this - our first date was the first 'Saw' movie..!