So far, the best film of 2014

Rating: 10/10 (5 October 2014)

I went to the 6:30 PM showing of Gone Girl yesterday evening. A very enjoyable 2 hour and 29 minute theatrical experience. I even ate a big bag of buttery popcorn - which I usually reserve for special occasions like this. I got there early, watched the preshow, the trailers, then the lights dimmed and the curtains moved to give a 2.35 to 1 aspect ratio. The rush of excitement kicked in again.
Gone Girl opens with a closeup shot of a woman's blonde hair. "When I think of my wife..." the voice-over says. "I think of her head!" I exclaimed, but not too loudly. Then the voice-over finished the line, confirming my educated guess. Just like the opening of the novel! I assumed it would be, since the author, Gillian Flynn, also wrote the screenplay.
It is about a wife, Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike), who goes missing on the day of her fifth anniversary, with an ensuing investigation as to her whereabouts and the possibility of murder. The husband, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck), becomes under police scrutiny. He is also under the media's microscope, perhaps even more so than that of the investigators.
Oh look, Nick is smiling in a cell phone photograph shortly after his wife's disappearance. What a psychopath! No Empathy! Amy's diary is found in a wood stove. There appears to have been an attempt to burn it. Must've been Nick! Why? Inside the diary it describes him as abusive, and so scary that Amy believes he will kill her. Amy bought a gun out of fear of her husband! And what do you know? Nick's been cheating on Amy with one of his college students! Definitely a suspect. Amy's blood was also all over the kitchen floor, as evident with Luminol.
But maybe is isn't Nick who's responsible? Amy's former boyfriend, Desi Collins, has had a scary obsession with her for many years. Maybe it was Nick's twin sister, Margo. After all, she seems unusually close to her brother, and doesn't seem to like Amy.
Gone Girl will definitely keep you wondering, and the above are questions and thoughts that may enter the viewers mind. They didn't enter my mind, because I've read the novel last year, but it was still awesome seeing it on the big screen.
There was even some laughter in the theatre. I always enjoy being in a busy theatre room so I can hear the reactions of the audience. I find it adds to the experience. Leaving the theatre, I overhead many commenting on the viewing experience of Gone Girl. "I didn't like the movie, I guess I'll have to read the book." I heard one woman say. In the lobby, I heard a medical doctor I know say "That was different," but in a humorous way, and with a smile that made be think he enjoyed it. I think that those who didn't like it may have not understood the ending. There isn't one plot hole that I can think of.
I can honestly say that I think Gone Girl is the best film of 2014. Yes, the year isn't over yet, but I'm guessing that it will be nominated for an Oscar, at the very least. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross provide an amazing soundtrack for Gone Girl. The music used in the bloodiest scene in the film - a throat slashing scene - completely wowed me. The directing, the pacing, and the writing were all excellent. To bring such a meticulous mystery and thriller novel to a two and a half hour film is no easy feat, but the cast and crew done amazing work to do so.

Justin Tobin