Best of 2014 (so far)

Rating: 9/10 (2 December 2014)

GONE GIRL is my favorite movie of 2014 (so far). David Fincher - the finest director working today (IMHO) - has himself another winner.
Based on Gillian Flynn's ubiquitous best seller, GONE GIRL chronicles the marriage of Nick (Ben Affleck) and Amy (Rosamund Pike) Dunn following the disappearance of Amy. Through flashbacks told through Amy's diary, the audience gets a glimpse into a once fairy tale marriage breaking apart. Once Amy disappears, suspicion quickly turns to Nick as suspect #1.
That recap does not do this movie justice. Fincher's direction is sure and steady and helps punctuate the moods of every scene he films. The beginning scenes of the marriage are light and fluffy and the screen gets darker and darker as the marriage becomes darker and darker. The action moves throughout building the suspicion and suspense throughout. This is a top-notch director at the top of his game.
As for the acting, Affleck is terrific as Nick. He is appropriately ambiguous in his relationship with Amy. Affleck is a charming presence on the screen and that charm comes across and, at times, moves into smarmyiness, where appropriate.
The supporting cast of Kim Dickens (the detective working the case), Carrie Coon (Nick's twin sister), Neil Patrick Harris (former boyfriend of Amy's) and Tyler Perry (Nick's high priced defense attorney) are all strong and well cast. Even Missy Pyle as a Nancy Grace-type TV reporter acquits herself well.
But make no mistake, this movie belongs to Rosamund Pike's Amy. While the first 1/3 of the movie is mostly Affleck, the 2nd 1/3 of the movie focuses on Pike and she takes hold. We watch Pike's "Amazing Amy" degrade into something else as the flashbacks unfold until we are left with a person we did not recognize - or expect. Nothing Pike has done up to this movie had me prepared for watching what she did with this role. I am excited to see what she does next.
This flick has Oscar written all over it. Both Rosamund Pike (Best Actress) and David Fincher (Best Director) are shoo-ins for Oscar nods, while Affleck (Best Actor), Flynn (Adapted Screenplay) and even Perry (Best Supporting Actor) have to be considered.
I love it when I walk out of a movie energized by what I saw - and this movie certainly energized me. Go see it.
9 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank (of Marquis)