Gareth von Kallenbach (968 KP) rated Gone Girl (2014) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
With this in mind, I was concerned that there was no way this film could capture the dark side of the characters and the story being told. I am glad to say that I was wrong. While the typical statement of “the book is better” does apply here, director David Fincher crafts a film that audiences will be able to understand and fill in the blanks of the devious motivations of the characters based on what is seen on screen. This is a refreshing theater experience as I feel that most novel adaptations often lead to lazy filmmaking that assumes the audience is familiar with the source material. Perhaps Fincher is helped by the fact that Gillian Flynn herself wrote the screen adaptation of her novel, keeping the most important elements in play.
Ben Affleck plays Nick Dunne, an introspective “nice” guy who finds himself the primary suspect in the missing persons/murder investigation of his wife Amy, played by Rosamund Pike. The two shine in their performances. They each took their characters from the pages of the book, breathed life into them and embodied Nick and Amy on screen. Combine them with a strong supporting cast of Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens, Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry, who gave performances that were neither lost nor forgettable. This is important as each are needed to provide contrast to the main characters and propel the story forward.
Though this film is not perfect, if there is any one gripe I have about this movie, it’s that a simple line of missed dialogue may cause the theater patron to miss something important to the story, such as the significance of the woodshed. However this is a small gripe as I feel that the pacing of the film and the constant advancement of the story will keep most patrons’ attention and keep them interested in the destiny of the characters.
If you are a reader, I would recommend reading the book first to get into the minds of the characters and truly feel the thrill of this story. However, if you haven’t the time or just don’t like to read, you won’t be disappointed with this strong film adaptation.
The Cutaway
3.0
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The Cutaway draws you into the tangled world of corruption and cover-up as a young television...
The Roanoke Girls
8.0
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Underneath the Roanoke Girls' perfect exterior lies a chilling secret...'Utterly addictive' LISA...
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
9.0
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Introduction by Gillian Flynn Afterword by Patton Oswalt "This is a one sit-down read. That's how...
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Bones of You in Books
Feb 13, 2018
Rosie's murder causes quite a stir, especially because her father, Neal, is a well-known journalist. Kate becomes closer to Jo after Rosie's death and starts to learn more about Jo, Neal, and Rosie's younger sister, Delphine. As she gets pulled into the family's secrets, Kate finds herself more and more intrigued and confused about what happened to Rosie.
I tore through this book in a couple of days. The reviews comparing it to "Lovely Bones" or a Gillian Flynn novel are certainly not wrong. It's compelling and chilling. The book switches narrators and we "hear" from Rosie, as well, but the format isn't hokey or silly, as it often can be if done incorrectly.
I figured out some of the plot fairly early on, but it didn't make the book any less complex or exciting. The characters are well-drawn and interesting, and there's just *something* about the book that draws you in. Definitely recommend for those in the market for a good psychological thriller.
(Note: I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.)
Tangerine: A Novel
5.5
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'As if Donna Tartt, Gillian Flynn and Patricia Highsmith had collaborated in a screenplay to be...
The Witch Elm: A Novel
6.8
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Named a best book of the fall by Vogue, Entertainment Weekly, Elle, PopSugar, The Millions, and...
Humber Boy B: Shocking. Page-Turning. Intelligent. Psychological Thriller Series with Cate Austin
10.0
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FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER THE WOMAN BEFORE ME 'Superbly written...The plot...
Brilliant, just like Amy.
Can you ever really know someone- completely?
WOW! I loved this book. I believe it is probably because the subject matter is so different from many of the titles I have read this year. I especially liked the way the author used the time frames as the chapters; “One week after…”
Halfway through the book I was very unsure how the story would end or turn out at all. I thought I knew what was going on until I reached the last few pages. I always think there are better ways to end certain stories but even though the ending didn’t turn out as I thought it would it was still an excellent story nonetheless. I wouldn’t change anything.
I hate raving about an author in a review to help others decide whether the read is worth their time or not. I have to say IT IS ABSOLUTELY worth the time. I typically don’t even read e-books unless its one of those books I simply cannot wait for, then I typically drag through the stories since I hate reading them on the computer and the tablet or Ipad is frustrating when all you want to do is turn a paper page. However, I would buy this author’s e-books and proudly on my desktop.
Gillian Flynn is a very good story teller. I am ecstatic that I discovered this author. I will definitely be following this read up with her other two novels: Sharp Objects and Dark Places.
