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The GW Hatchet

Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

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Officials name senior vice president, chief of staff
By Fiona Riley, Assistant News Editor • March 26, 2024

What We’re Watching: ‘Gone Girl’

This post was written by Hatchet reporter Jack Alber.

“Gone Girl”

★★★★★

A mesmerizing tale of marriage, manipulation and the thirst of the media, David Fincher’s “Gone Girl” is a strong contender for movie of the year.

Promotional poster for "Gone Girl."
Promotional poster for “Gone Girl.”

The film is an adaption of the wildly popular 2012 novel of the same title by Gillian Flynn. In a rare occasion of the film world, Flynn herself was given control over the screenplay, which she absolutely nailed.

In “Gone Girl,” the plot doesn’t thicken, it congeals.

Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) is a seemingly perfect husband to his seemingly perfect wife, the witty, intelligent Amy (Rosamund Pike). When Amy suddenly goes missing on the couple’s fifth anniversary, the ensuing manhunt grips the country and begins to expose the cracks in the facade of Nick and Amy’s “perfect marriage,” posing the question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife?

Tyler Perry plays celebrity lawyer Tanner Bolt, who specializes in defending husbands, little-known actress Carrie Coon (“The Leftovers”) takes the part of Nick’s loyal sister Margo and Neil Patrick Harris (“How I Met Your Mother”) is Amy’s long-ago and insanely creepy ex boyfriend, Desi Collings.

Affleck gives Nick’s every movement and thought a subtle but striking touch, creating a character that is at times charming and at other times despicable. Perry adds refreshing moments of humor to the dark film, and Harris fits perfectly into a Fincher film with his ability to bottle up his natural charm, appearing simultaneously genuine and strange.

But it is Pike’s performance that truly makes the film.

Granted, she has the most dimensions of a character to work with, and nearly every revolution of the plot gives her a moment to shine. But Pike knocks her role as manipulative, complex Amy out of the park with every word, look and breath.

She is perfectly composed, yet perfect at letting her composure fall apart.

The dark, moody cinematography is nothing too spectacular, but the soundtrack is the true lifeblood of the film, with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross turning in a throbbing and tense score guaranteed to make viewers all the more thrilled as the events unfold – not that you’ll need any help.

As the characters wriggle around in their deceptions, the meaning of the movie itself seems as difficult to pin down as the truth about Amy’s disappearance.

On the one hand, “Gone Girl” presents a sober and pessimistic – albeit highly exaggerated – depiction of the dangers of love. But the film could also represent a satire, or indictment, of the gossip peddlers that dominate news media today, or a warning of the dishonesty and distortion that can come from living a charade.

Maybe none, maybe all three. But whatever you walk away with, “Gone Girl” is guaranteed to make you think long after the credits start rolling.

Surprisingly humorous at parts, poisonously dark, intensely gripping, “Gone Girl” is a film that will be talked about for generations to come.

Released: Oct. 3
Director: David Fincher
Screenplay: Gillian Flynn
Genre: Thriller
Cast: Ben Affleck (“Argo,” “Good Will Hunting”), Rosamund Pike (“Pride & Prejudice”), Tyler Perry (“Diary of a Mad Black Woman”), Carrie Coon (“The Leftovers”), Neil Patrick Harris (“How I Met Your Mother”)

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