Trash But Entertaining Trash

Rating: 7/10 (14 April 2015)

!!!!!!! SUGGESTIVE SPOILERS !!!!!!
I notice a lot of people are saying this is our generation's equivalent of FATAL ATTRACTION and I guess the trailers emphasised this a bit with a deranged blond woman as an antagonist . Based on a novel by Gillian Flynn I was reminded of a novel by Sean French called SECRET SMILE which was turned in to a ITV teleplay starring David Tennant just as he was embarking in his role of The Doctor in 2005 . I thought SECRET SMILE was an incredibly daft ,trashy , crime melodrama . . Considering both stories had a very similar premise I have the opinion that GONE GIRL is also an incredibly daft , trashy crime melodrama but one that's far more entertaining than it has any right to be
I've never been a great fan of David Fincher . He does make good movies but I don't think he's made a truly great movie but GONE GIRL does show he's quite good at what he does . Ben Affleck is merely okay which is a backhanded compliment because he's one of those actors that I'm constantly puzzled as to how he became such a star and normally can't stand him . English rose Rosamund Pike who will probably be little known stateside is an absolute revelation as American housewife Amy Dunne a woman whose personality disorder manifests itself as misandry and goes about trying to frame her husband for her own murder and the performance is Oscar nomination worthy . For me however the star of the movie is the soundtrack by Reznor and Ross involving a sort of fusion between classic , industrial and techno beat . There's an absolutely stand out scene about halfway through where Amy gives a long monologue in voice over as to how she conceived her plan and the use of music is compelling and hypnotic and might just be my favourite soundtrack from recent cinema
Despite all this you need a great screenplay in order to make a great film and here GONE GIRL falls down slightly . I've never read the source novel so don't know how faithfully it has been adapted for screen but there is a massive plot turn towards the end that I found rather jarring almost as though the plot realises it has painted itself in to a very small corner and needs a way to wrap up the story . That said the ending is somewhat ambiguous and we're are left with the feeling perhaps Amy hasn't got away with . Her plan however would never have worked in real life but I suppose you're not supposed to give too much thought as to the plot mechanics and sit back and enjoy the ride which as trashy entertainment succeeds very well