Gone Girl
I don't know what David Fincher is up to but this wasn't a David Fincher Film. Or was it? Why has he ditched the style that got him where he is? Questions unanswerable to be honest. He just does what he does. The hidden effects shots have been put away and replaced with dramatic intention. Films that don't have any effects, just filmed stories. I'm sorry Davo, but this is boring. Go do this on stage. Movies are for exploring the boundaries of Mass Audience and flicking the unreality switch on for a couple of hours. I feel like he's rebelling against the forces that pushed him into his own realm, and his growing maturity stifling his usual creative output.
But to the film. It's standard mystery type fare. Some humour, lots of emotion stained strains of electronica with beautiful cinematography, committed actors and tight pacing. But, it's all fairly HBO. Like watching a couple of episodes of the flavour of the Month on TV. Rosamund Pike is delicious as the ****spoilers ahoy***** completely unhinged housewife, used to identity exposition from her overbearing parents, but all the while building an airtight Public coffin for her lazy Husband to be buried in.
It all adds up to a easy tale - suspenseful and teasing, but the biggest thing I took away from it was the ending. I think I found myself falling for Pike in an even more seductive way. And is that what Fincher wants? Does the whole point of this exercise boil down to some kind of primal urge? Would you stay on with the woman that tried to have you executed? Knowing what she was capable of? Or would knowing what she was capable of make her even more appealing? Knowing that it would be far wiser to keep her in your corner and on your side? Knowing that such intricate deviousness could be exploited for your own gain?
Maybe not, but good to see old Doogie Howser getting some good gigs.
