Saturday, October 11, 2014

MOVIE REVIEW - Gone Girl

After seeing the new thriller Gone Girl, no one may ever get married or have a relationship ever again. Forget all the slasher stuff, this is far scarier.

Gone Girl is based on a terrific book and is now a major motion picture with Ben Affleck, and Rosamund Pike.  And frankly, this is simply terrific.  Oh, there are a few stupid parts, and and a hole or two, but overall this 2 hour, 30 minute movie is suspenseful, well crafted and scary. And doesn't feel that long.

Meet Nick (Affleck) and Amy (Pike).  They are a young and beautiful marrieds couple living in Missouri.  They left New York when Nick's mom became ill, and she has now passed.   Nick is a writer, and Amy is a trust fund woman who also writes.  They have been married for a few years, when the marriage starts to have problems.  One day Nick comes home and finds the house a mess and Amy missing.

As time goes on, Nick now becomes the center of the police investigation, as Amy is now presumed dead.  Problem is, there is no body to even investigate for the crime.  As the circumstantial evidence and public opinion starts to mount against Nick, he hires nationally know defense lawyer, Tanner Bolt (Tyler Perry).  They start to go on the offensive to find out what really happened as Nick has maintained his innocence. But is he innocent?  And where is the body?  And who the heck is Amy really?  Because no one really seems to know.

First off, all three of our main stars here, have never been better in any movie, especially Perry.  All give command performances.  This story is so well woven, and so original that it really does keep you guessing till the very end.  This is told is flashback form for much of it, and that works very well too.  This movie has a nice look to it, as it is a bit melancholy, and suspenseful looking.  This also has a great supporting cast including Neil Patrick Harris (as you've never seen him), Sela Ward, and Carrie Coon (from Copley).  And all are terrific. 

Huge kudos to Tyler Perry.  He is simply great in this movie, as you've never seen him before.  Casting him was genius, as he can hopeully move in a different direction and maybe take of the Madea dress forever.  This movie is thoroughly modern as it shows how high profile cases in our world today as handled through the police, the media, social media, and the ever more powerful court of public opinion.  And the latter, is not always a good thing, in fact here is seldom is.

This is original, interesting and eye opening to say the least.  This is also flat out scary as it makes us all examine, who really are the people in out lives? Do we really know them, and how well?  This will not reew any faith in human decency in anyone, anywhere. This movie makes Fatal Attraction look like Captain Kangaroo,  and Sleeping With The enemy look like Romper Room.  NO one may ever get married ever again!

Gone Girl.   A hard rated R movie.  Very, very good.

No comments: