Synopsis: With his wife’s disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it’s suspected that he may not be innocent. (c) Imdb

 

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There might not have been a more controversial and talked about movie in 2014 than Gone Girl. The film is now available on DVD and Blu-ray everywhere. Based on a novel by Gillian Flynn, David Fincher’s on-screen adaptation is just as extraordinary as the book.

 

If you haven’t seen the movie in theaters yet, or read the book, be prepared for a wild roller-coaster ride. The story follows Nick and Amy Dunne, a seemingly normal and happy young couple. On their fifth wedding anniversary, Amy mysteriously disappears. Nick is left searching for his missing wife, while the entire town is pointing the finger at him for her disappearance.

 

From the ensuing disappearance of Amy, the film twists, turns, and teases till the very end. Unless you read the book, it will be nearly impossible to figure out the true reasons for Amy’s disappearance. The culprit is even harder to predict. Director David Fincher does a masterful job of tricking the viewer from scene to scene. Gone Girl is a like a 3,000 piece puzzle that you can’t piece together. The deception is what makes this film uniquely spectacular.

 

Ben Affleck is as good as he’s ever been on-screen. His portrayal as the suspicious, charismatic, and intriguing Nick Dunne plays out perfectly. Affleck has made a career out of being a charismatic charmer, he puts it to good use in the film. It’s unfortunate the Academy voters overlooked his performance in the film. If anyone still has doubts about his acting skills, look no further than this film.

 

 

Rosamund Pike is flawless in her role as the deceptive and crazed Amy Dunne. It’s a performance of a lifetime that garnered her an Oscar nomination. Her performance alone in this film is worth getting the DVD for.

 

 

David Fincher does a glamorous job directing the film. His use of lighting and shadows to illustrate mood and setting is supreme. The gloomy and creepy vibe that he displays in conjunction with critical plot elements sets the tone for incoming scenes.

 

Not to be overlooked is the performance delivered by Carrie Coon as Margo, the twin sister of Nick Dunne. In a film with career best performances by Affleck and Pike, she secretly steals the movie. It was a shame she didn’t get any awards consideration for her role.

 

 

The DVD features for Gone Girl are limited. The standard DVD only includes the directors commentary. The Blu-ray version includes the Amazing Amy Tattle Tale book, in addition to the director commentary. The book is a 32 page booklet that includes various illustrations in addition to a text. Go with the Blu-ray version of the film, the booklet is a cool piece of memorabilia.

 

Gone Girl struck me on a personal level. Watching the movie gave me some flashbacks to my own life and dating experience. I once was involved in a long-term relationship to someone who I weren’t who I thought them to be. I’ve dated a Gone Girl! I learned a valuable lesson when it comes to dating and life from this experience. No, there was nobody physically harmed in my experience, unlike the movie. The movie will give you a pause and cynically make you question your personal relationship with your significant other. No matter how well you think you know someone, they can hide life altering secrets that you would never expect. Gone Girl is a movie that stays with you. It will have you thinking for days after seeing it. That’s a mark of a special movie.

 

This is a different sort of psychological thriller that doesn’t come around often. It’s slick, smart, chilling, and twisted. Gillian Flynn’s novel turned movie is something special for any reader and movie fan, not to mention fans of suspense. It’s a shame that this movie wasn’t nominated for best picture, as it’s easily one of the best films of 2014. Ben Affleck and David Fincher deserve much more praise for their work on the film than they have received. Even though the DVD’s special feature content is disappointing, this is still a must own movie.

 

GONE GIRL DVD-  9 out of 10! 

Best mystery-thriller in years