Rent Gone Girl (2014)

Read the book. Much, much better - Gone Girl review by RS

Yet another mumbled incoherent American actor. What is it with these actors? Haven't they heard about proper speech projection? Opening the mouth to articulate the words ? Anyway, back to the film. The book is so much more subtle and I agree with the others who say that the film is pedestrian.

Twisted thriller - Gone Girl review by TB

What an excellent, twisted thriller. It keeps you gripped throughout and trying to resolve what’s going on. I won’t say anymore, as it would spoil the movie. Just watch it!!

Ludicrous but fun feminist fantasy thriller, but tiresomely overlong - the end 20 mins should be cut - Gone Girl review by PV

Why must they make such long movies? This was fine at 2 hours - the last 20 minutes and the silly plot developments there really annoyed me as they were just not necessary and make a ludicrous thriller way too worthy.

This is based on a feminist fantasy novel, so maybe the fault lies with the author - but cuts are good! Kill your darlings and make a neat efficient thriller, not one that overstays its welcome!

This starts off really well - the first act is great as is the first half of act 2, and then, right on the button half way through the movie there is an 180 degree turn (which tells, doesn't show) the true nature of the characters (no spoilers here!).

Yes, it's all absurd and silly - but so are most movies and novels too, when you think about it. Just enjoy the ride - it's the best bunny boiler movie for years.

Some genuinely funny scenes, though the plot is so full of holes it could be a Swiss cheese.

Good to compare with another study of female as disease evil, in the recent Brit flick LADY MACBETH (based on a Russian novella).

Just a shame about that unnecessary final 20 minutes - the movie would have been far better if the edit had dispensed of the loose-ends tie-up then. Better perhaps even to change the ending totally from that in the novel, as is usual in movies from GREAT EXPECTATIONS to many MANY more. There were opportunities to end at the 100 minute mark - and the plot does 'jump the shark, rather in the final act.

SO 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

A romantic comedy, courtesy of David Fincher: dark, shocking, violent & completely gripping - Gone Girl review by TB

Whenever I see David Fincher has released a new film, I always get excited. Whilst there are many reasons for this, the biggest one is because you never know what you are going to get. From his magnificent (and completely unfairly traduced,) 1st film Alien3, through to the massively successful & legendary crowd pleasers Se7en & Fight Club, Fincher is a chameleon, incapable of creating anything bland or stale, irrelevant of whether the viewer likes it or not. For his latest film, he adapts another novel, this time a highly successful & critically adored one from writer Gillian Flynn.

Gone Girl is about the sudden disappearance of Amy Dunne, who achieved a certain level of fame as a child after a series of successful books written about her by her parents, on her 5th wedding anniversary. Her husband Nick is a business owner but also in many ways, despite some small successes, basically a loser who has come to take everything in his life, including his relationship, for granted. After Nick calls the police, he then becomes a suspect, a suspicion that is exacerbated by the media hysteria/circus that descends upon the case. Nick then realises that something is very wrong & has to take matters into his own hands.

As you would expect in a Fincher film, everything is technically perfect. The cinematography, sets, costumes, soundtrack & performances note perfect. The actors are amazing, especially Rosamund Pike. In a film where she has to play so many different emotions, she aces every one. But I also feel that huge praise must go to Carrie Coon as Nick's sister. As the story progresses & it dawns on her the full horror of the situation that she has been dragged into, it is a joy to watch.

The script and story is also great. Even though I have not read the book, this did not in any way affect my viewing of it, plus I did also hear that the structure & ending has also been changed to keep an element of mystery. And the story itself is a dark & at times graphically violent one. This is a film where nothing is held back & that is absolutely to the movie's benefit. This film would not work if it was shot with half measures.

Whilst this is essential viewing, it's also emphatically not a "date" film, unless you both really like messed up films, in which case, everything you could want is catered for here.

Ludicrous - Gone Girl review by LC

I was stunned at how inept this movie was, and only kept watching to the end to see what new depths would be plumbed. The plot is utterly ludicrous and unbelievable on any level, the dialogue frequently painful and cheesy, and the acting by the two leads is completely wooden. It's impossible to take seriously as a thriller, my only thought is that it must be some knowingly awful parody of the worst throw-away TV movies in the genre. Obviously, these things are subjective, but I'm seriously baffled as to why this appealed to anyone.

Don't read the reviews - they contain spoilers! - Gone Girl review by CH

The review titled 'over-long pile of manure' gives away the story and the ending. Don't do what I did and read it before seeing the film FFS!

I also disagree with the review 'over-long pile of manure' and... - Gone Girl review by SM

I too recommend not reading it (I didn't until after I'd seen the film - phew!).

I would recommend not listening to a word it says. I wasn't expecting much from this film and loved it. I think that's all that needs to be said. No spoilers here!