Screened Out – Gone Girl

[four-star-rating]Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Carrie Coon, Tyler Perry, Neil Patrick Harris[/four-star-rating]

Gone Girl will get people to talking. This thing is loaded with secrets, subterfuge, psychological games, and a whole host of other stomach-churning, nerve-wracking things that go into some sicker marriages. It’s no wonder people love Gillian Flynn’s best-selling novel. The film version combines provocative, gut-punching material with Affleck, hot commodity Pike, and director David Fincher. There are bound to be major shockwaves.

So, it’s actually surprising that Fincher didn’t do more directorially. Oh, the air of doom is there, but nothing else. He is the man who gave us Seven and Fight Club. He provided electrifying camera work in The Panic Room, The Game and The Social Network. He expertly used special effects in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Here, Fincher just sets the camera shots up and lets this monstrous marriage play out.

Perhaps Fincher thought the solid acting and the tangled plot would be enough.

And it sure is a whiz-bang of a tale! Affleck and Pike are the perfect, handsome couple who, unfortunately, hit some rough patches – recession, job loss, the death of a parent. One day, Pike ends up missing, possibly kidnapped or murdered. Slowly, Affleck becomes the prime suspect. He always maintains his innocence, trying to convince others that Pike has set an elaborate ruse to frame her husband for murder.

There are so many things that work by having Affleck in this role. He’s accused partially because of his charm, and Affleck brings his own natural affability to bear. Also, his character gets eviscerated under a national media spotlight, something Affleck knows all too well.

Pike is also perfect in a frigid role that requires her to change her tactics on a dime. In one moment she’s sweet and innocent; in another, she’s so manipulative that it’s bone chilling.

Flynn adapted her novel for screen; she does a commendable job. However, it still feels a little drawn out, a little ponderous. Fincher could’ve easily fixed that problem with more editing and some of those nifty camera tricks cinephiles have come to love from his films.

[rating-key]

Even with these missteps, Gone Girl is likely to start some serious, relationship-ending debates. Audiences will want to talk afterwards, about marriage and the evil games husbands and wives play.

Perhaps Fincher felt that the material was strong enough that he didn’t need to reach into his big bag of tricks. Like the test of a good marriage, only time will tell if his choices were successful.