Review #9 | "Gone Girl" (2014)

"Gone Girl" is one of the films from the 2014 circuit that didn't get as much recognition as it deserved. Although widely successful, the only Academy recognition the film received was for Rosamund Pike for Best Actress. Perhaps Pike should have taken home the award for her role as Amy Dunne because she absolutely killed the role! Pun intended...

Ben Affleck kept the mystery alive as the domestic husband, Nick Dunne. This film speaks to gender roles in a very different way than we have seen in commentary from any medium. Although Amy stays at home all day leading up to her disappearance, Nick is not the breadwinner in the marriage.

Misunderstandings, hurt feelings, miscommunication and misguidance all result in a he-said-she-said media frenzy over the probable murder of Amy. Thanks to his inability to digest the situation,everyone thinks that Nick is responsible. Our culture can crave a murder-mystery saga which unfolds via breaking news, but the mechanics of such a case are peeled away in this film to reveal what actually happens behind the scenes, putting a new angle on the phrase "nothing is what it seems."

Amy Dunne is a psychotic character that you love to hate. You love her for her strength, you hate her for her weaknesses, even when the lines between the two are almost nonexistent. The same can be said for Nick Dunne, who ultimately lives up to his flaws, earning the forgiveness of the media, yet never needing or even wanting the forgiveness of his wife. Supporting these two characters are a slew of friends-turned-enemies-turned friends for both Amy and Nick. No one is ever on the same side which makes the suspense of "Gone Girl" all the more enticing.

You'll regret not having seen this movie in a theater setting, but at least watch it by yourself or with a close friend to revel in the duplicity of human nature. Maybe grab a glass of wine, too...If you're into that.

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"Gone Girl" is rated "R" Runs 149 mins.

Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, and Tyler Perry. Directed by David Fincher. Written by Gillian Flynn (screenplay and novel). produced by Cean Chaffin, Reese Witherspoon, Joshua Donen, Arnon Milchan, Leslie Dixon, Bruna Papandrea, and Jim Davidson.