Fun house satire, suspenseful but lengthy.

Rating: 8/10 (3 November 2014)

Ben Affleck's wooden ways work to his advantage in this suspenseful missing wife tale based on the bestseller of the same name. Going up against a determined and ambitious mate his dim abilities prove to work to his advantage in the role as the craftier wife played with homicidal aplomb by Rosalind Pike runs circles around him and the community.
Nick and Amy are about to observe their fifth wedding anniversary in less the best of circumstances where the home dynamic has become frayed over time. Upon arriving home one day he finds she has disappeared with evidence of perhaps a struggle. He reports her missing to authorities but becomes the focus of a possible murder investigation instead as he contradicts himself and evidence he can't explain pops up. Meanwhile Amy makes herself as scarce as possible by going trailer park chic as Ben squirms before authorities and the bright light of the media with a vile Nancy Grace type (played with unctuous relish by Missi Pyle) leads the attack. When the resourceful Amy runs into a road block with a couple of low rent operators she is forced to restructure her diabolical plan and works a former paramour into the scheme (Neil Patrick Harris), raising the stakes.
Gone Girl is part Gothic horror part parody of todays rabid 24 hour news cycle and internet village descending on a befuddled working stiff being pummeled by a comely harridan who has done her homework with a vindictive zeal not seen around these parts since Glenn Close boiled the rabbit in fatal attraction. Affleck's vapid acting chops work well with his clueless character as he fumbles over his alibi again and again as the focused and out of sight Amy makes life a living hell for him. While Affleck garners audience sympathy it is Pike's ruthless Amy that fascinates and lights up the screen with energy and venom.
Director Fincher's deliberate style lags occasionally and the plot reeks of incredulity at times but with logic suspended he delivers more than a fair share of powerfully edited tension filled scenes balanced against a sardonic take on media and society. When combined with a villainess for the times Gone Girl is one fine entertainment.