Movie Review: 'Gone Girl' Starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike

By DAVID BLAUSTEIN

Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike

Rated R

Four-and-a-half out of five stars

Based on the bestselling novel of the same name and adapted for the big screen by the novel’s author, Gillian Flynn, "Gone Girl" stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as Nick and Amy Dunne, a fantastic-looking couple who met and fell for each other in New York City. Nick, as Amy writes in her diaries, was the man of her dreams. Both were writers, in fact, until life dealt them a few hard blows.

Now they’re in Nick’s hometown of North Carthage, Missouri, where he owns a downtown bar tended by his twin sister, Margo (scene-stealer Carrie Coon). Nick’s nightmare begins when he gets a phone call and races home from the bar, only to find the cat wandering outside and his wife gone. He calls the cops and we have the pleasure of meeting Det. Rhonda Boney (Kim Dickens) and Officer Jim Gilpin (Patrick Fugit). Boney, armed with a smart pantsuit and cup of coffee, has some questions for Nick.

In the meantime, we’re treated to flashbacks to various parts of Nick and Amy’s relationship, accompanied by Amy’s diaries entries. At first, they paint a picture of a couple very much in love, but the relationship devolves, suggesting, along with many other clues, that Nick might have been behind Amy’s disappearance.

Once the media gets hold of the story, there’s a tidal wave of negative public opinion against Nick. In the meantime, we get to meet several of Amy’s ex-boyfriends, including the erudite and filthy rich Desi, played by Neil Patrick Harris. Also in a strong supporting role is Tyler Perry, who finally makes us forget about Madea in a confident, hilarious turn as a Johnnie Cochran-type defense lawyer.

"Gone Girl" studio Fox asked critics and journalists not to give too much away because there are quite a few surprises. If you read the book, you pretty much know what those surprises are going to be, but not all of them!

"Gone Girl" defies expectations. Even at its weakest moments, this movie sucks you in like a black hole. None of the characters needs to brood: director David Fincher’s muted tones and slithering pace broods for them. Affleck delivers what’s easily his best performance, while Pike should become a household name, and Coon and Dickens will likely see their stars rise, as well.