A case of the movie being better than the book

Film review: Gone Girl

MANILA, Philippines - Who is Rosamund Pike? That is a question that a lot of people are asking these days. Well, she was James Bond girl Miranda Frost in Die Another Day and Tom Cruise’s leading lady in Jack Reacher. But no need to bother with those flicks anymore. The beautiful actress gave a stunning performance as Ben Affleck’s wife in Gone Girl and has now ascended several rungs into stardom.

Gone Girl is the film adaptation of a best-selling novel by Gillian Flynn. Directed by David Fincher, with screenplay also by Flynn. It stars Ben Affleck and Pike.  Affleck is Nick, a journalist married to Amy, a writer played by Pike. They had a seemingly ideal marriage in New York until a series of events put their relationship to an extreme test. First, they both lose their jobs. Then she returns most of her trust fund back to her parents.  They must next leave New York to live in Missouri to care for his ailing mother. Then, Amy discovers Nick’s year-long affair with a teenaged girl. And then, one day Amy just plain disappears. To top it all and unknown to Nick, she is pregnant.

Nick came home on their fifth wedding anniversary to find the house in shambles and Amy gone. As with what usually happens in mysterious occurrences involving couples, the one who did not die or disappear is the main suspect. And that is what happens to Nick, whose sins, faults, lapses, indiscretions, even a simple smile, etc. etc. are exposed and dissected in media. All his protestations of innocence come to naught and he becomes the heartless, deceitful husband who has gotten rid of his beautiful wife.

Told through Nick’s story and Amy’s diary, Gone Girl starts off as just another thriller that will lead to finding Amy dead or alive. But Flynn introduces a twist here, another one there, and another. Red herrings are released. Suspicion mounts. And the mystery has taken a back seat for something profane that chills but also fascinates. And Fincher rides along, gleefully peeling off pieces of the tale and assaulting the audience with unpalatable truths. And the masochists that viewers are, they eagerly accept every blow and savor every thrill to their ultimate satisfaction.

But, of course.  This is a David Fincher movie and what you see in them are not always what they seem.  Just when you have settled down and gotten ready to watch this mystery unravel, he tosses in a bigger, more convoluted one. Marriage. This is a satire about marriage and all its complications. Now, isn’t marriage the scariest thing ever invented? Can you imagine the sort of courage it takes to spend your days and nights, awake or asleep with a stranger? Not a stranger? Think again.

Whether you intend to accept him as Batman or not, it cannot be denied that Affleck is a very good actor. After Argo and the Batman controversy, I had actually relegated him to the good director list but Gone Girl has brought him back to the good actor line-up. He is perfect as Nick, all-American boy from a small town turned flawed husband in the big city but with all his naivete intact. It takes guts, sensitivity and intelligence to be that and to perform beside somebody like Pike. Affleck is up to the task.

Also impressive is the supporting cast of players interestingly all cast against type but who delivered masterfully throughout the film. Actor, producer director and writer Tyler Perry of the Madea films as Nick’s lawyer, Neil Patrick Harris of the comedy series How I Met Your Mother as Amy’s former boyfriend and Carrie Coon as Nick’s sister.

Gone Girl is one instance when I was honestly glad about not having read the book before I saw the movie.  You know what usually happens with books turned into films. It is very seldom that the movie is better than the book. They always end up disappointing in comparison. The book is almost always better. Not in this case. I ended up more amazed, more disturbed and more thrilled because I have not read the book. Of course, I will make sure I get a copy soon.

On the other hand, though, it should not really surprise anybody that Gone Girl is such a well-made disturbing film. It was directed by David Fincher. I admit that I still do not like Fight Club to this day, not because it is a movie that insults the audience but because of the gore and the violence. But remember how he was able to twist Edward Norton into Brad Pitt? That was a preview of what he now did with Pike. And have you forgotten The Social Network. I never thought of networking as exciting until Fincher made it so. Now, he has found a way to further expand his gifts with the puzzling premise proffered by Gone Girl.