*DISCLAIMER:
I’m going to start off this post with a spoiler warning because it’s going to
be impossible to talk about the movie without ruining the huge twist. So if you
haven’t seen it yet, or haven’t read the book, please don’t read any further
because I wouldn’t want to spoil such an awesome plot twist.
I
was so excited when I heard that David Fincher would be directing this film. I
loved the book, and was relieved that the movie adaptation would be in his
capable hands. I was a little wary, however, because I remembered how he had slightly
changed the ending from the book in his version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and I was worried he would do the
same with Gone Girl. My fears
intensified when I heard a rumor that the ending was going to be changed, but I
learned after the saw the movie that the rumor was simply that, a rumor, to
keep readers of the book interested in the movie. I was pleased that they kept
the ending pretty much the same, as infuriating as it is. Hearing the
disgruntled and shocked reactions of my fellow theatergoers once the credits
started to roll was priceless. With Fincher’s expert direction and author
Gillian Flynn’s clever screenwriting, it’s not a surprise that the film turned
out to be a success, even if it does cause audiences to leave the theater a
little unsatisfied. The way Nick and Amy ended up stuck together certainly
doesn’t give you a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
In
true Fincher fashion, there were more than enough graphic sexual and violent scenes,
but the most graphic and horrific of all was the climactic scene where Amy
slits Desi’s throat and is sprayed with his blood. I knew the scene was coming,
but it was still very intense to watch. In fact, I was stressed the whole time
I was watching the film, even though I knew the story already. It may have had
something to do with the absolute perfect casting. Rosamund Pike is “amazing”
(haha) as beautiful, perfect, cold Amy. She is terrifying, especially when she
smiles at her husband, her victim’s blood still coating her neck. Ben Affleck is
also good for the role of Nick, with his jerk face and his cockiness. Even the
actors for the more minor characters like Margo and Detective Boney were
terrific choices. They were just like I had pictured them while reading the
novel.
I
only rated the movie an 8 because for me, it’s probably just going to be a
one-time movie experience for me. It’s very much shock and awe, and I’m sure I
wouldn’t enjoy it as much the second time around. It’s a spectacular movie,
however, and I would highly recommend it. It left me just as breathless and
horrified as the book did. Breathless, because I had never seen or read
anything like it before. Horrified, because it shows that you can never really
know someone, or what they are capable of.
IMDb rating: 8/10
