Fincher has done it again! A brilliant thriller with outstounding acting turns

Rating: 10/10 (2 October 2014)

As if it wasn't safe to say already, but after Gone Girl there is little doubt or argument to be made against the fact that David Fincher is one of the most consistently great directors working in the industry today, for Fincher's latest efforts behind the camera with this meticulously made, perfectly paced and often thrilling story is movie-making of the highest order. Gone Girl (exactly like it's source text) is a mystery/thriller that steadily morphs into what can equally be described as a darkest of dark comedy, a searing account of married life and an edge of your seat police procedural, all elements that combine to create one of the year's best films. Fincher from day one has shown an uncanny ability for visual atheistic, haunting and atmospheric surrounds and with the help of his composers (this time once more teaming up perfectly with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) finely moulded musical accompaniments and Gone Girl shows off all these skills once more. The suburban surrounds of the world of Gone Girl shun the safety in numbers feel that they provide these residents; it's not dissimilar to a world akin to Blue Velvet where beneath the grassy exteriors lies deep seeded secrets that threaten to tear at the seams of idealistic marriages and those double lives we people lead. Fincher relishes every element of Gone Girl from the mysteries through to the reveals and like only a handful of movies each year this project feels like the perfect meeting of subject and maker who meet in synch to create such a finally tuned product. Fincher really has become the master of the thriller genre, much like Scorsese with his mob pictures and after Seven, Fight Club, Zodiac, Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and now Gone Girl, there is a legacy to his directional work that will forever be hard to match much like Fincher's continued fine work with his actors. Much noise was made initially by rabid fans of Gillian Flynn's source novel about the casting of leads Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as Nick and Amy Dunne but after witnessing first hand one of the year's best double acts by the two on form actors there will be little doubt that the casting choices were staggeringly spot on. Affleck is at his polarising best at Nick Dunne a man we as an audience are unsure of, do we like this man or do we loathe him? It's refreshing to see Affleck put in such an assured turn, from inappropriate smiling through to outright rage, Affleck's turn is an award worthy one that in a less standout year for the male acting category would be a turn featuring strongly come February. While Affleck once more showcases a talent we all know he has, the breakout turn from Rosamund Pike is the films largest revelation. Finally given a chance to chew through not only a high profile but layered role, Pike excels as the "amazing" Amy at the centre of this twisted and depraved tale. Pike truly creates one of not only the years but modern day cinemas most memorable and unique leading ladies, a creation who at any given time can be compelling, outrageous, disgusting and calculated, it really is a stunning turn to witness and it would be unwise to suggest that Pike isn't now head and tails ahead in the female acting awards circuit. Surrounded by quite amazing supports from Kim Dickin's dogged detective Rhonda Boney, Carrie Coon as Nick's twin sister Margo, Tyler Perry (proving there's more to the man than Magdea's fat suit) as high profile lawyer Tanner Bolt and Barney Stinson himself Neil Patrick Harris in a box cutter sharp turn as creepy rich man Desi Collings, Pike and her on screen hubby Affleck are encompassed around by one of the years strongest ensembles. Without spoiling any of Gone Girl's many varied and unexpected twists and turns (this is the type of movie best seen with as little knowledge as possible), this is a movie thriller of the highest order that shouldn't be watched by those expecting an everyday murder/kidnapping mystery, for what transpires throughout this tale is anything but your run of the mill narrative. One of the most involving movies of recent memories, Gone Girl is bitingly funny, white knuckle tense, starkly violent and as we've come to expect from Fincher, quite brilliant. Gone Girl is without question one of the year's best films, one of the year's most unique films and one of the films of this year that you can't dare to miss. 5 Gummy Bears out of 5