What have we done to each other?

Rating: 8/10 (9 January 2015)

In this modern psychological thriller, Director David Fincher and writer Gillian Flynn explore the themes of relationships gone wrong, obsession, madness and murder.
Our hero in this movie is Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck). He's married to Amy (Rosamund Pike), a woman with celebrity and money. They have a story-book marriage and a great life together in small-town Missouri. However, one morning Nick comes home to find that his wife is missing. The search and police investigation begin. Because of her celebrity, Nick soon finds himself at the centre of a true American media circus. It quickly emerges that Nick is not a hero after all and their marriage has been far from perfect.
Where is his wife? Is she still alive? Everyone thinks she's dead, and Nick is the main suspect. The movie then takes no less than three sharp turns, with a dark surprise ending that no one could expect. This movie was layered, with the director and writer skillfully revealing the next layer at just the right moment. The writing and direction are excellent. This movie is not just intelligent, it's amusingly witty.
This is a rich movie, with lots of detail about American life. "Perfect" couples, suburban life and the criminal justice system are expertly dissected. The phenomenon of trial-by-media in the US receives special excoriation. (Is it a trend now for American movies to be so critical of the excesses of their culture?) The acting is superb, from everyone involved. It's difficult to single anyone out, because they were all very good. All of the actors could be praised. Ben Affleck — surely recognised by all now as a peerless A-list actor and director — has found another role that showcases his masculine presence and acting skills.
At two-and-a-half hours, this movie felt a little long. I looked at my watch a few times. However, the end was worth waiting for. Not to be missed. It's worth 8.5. I'll give it 8 for now but maybe raise that to 9 after seeing it again.