dvd of the week
David Fincher’s fantastic adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s bestseller about a missing woman and the husband who is accused of making her disappear was a huge hit this fall, and with good reason. Ben Affleck has never been better as an ethically challenged Midwestern man who desperately wants out of his marriage and may have taken extreme measures to do it, while Rosamund Pike is the missing woman, a stunning blonde snob who may be much more conniving than anyone could have imagined. The supporting cast – in particular Kim Dickens as a detective, Carrie Coon as Affleck’s sister, Tyler Perry as his media consultant and Neil Patrick Harris as Pike’s ex-boyfriend – is fantastic. Fincher’s taut scene-making, perfect pacing, chiaroscuro light and great use of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ music make for a thrilling film experience, but Flynn’s adaptation of her own novel is the real star; the story is just insanely fun.
