Like so many others, I read and loved the book Gone Girl and was both excited to see it come to life like it had in my mind’s eye and trepidatious that it would fall flat like so many adaptations before it. With those feelings along with my Junior Mints I went into the theater opening night.

I wasn’t worried that Director David Fincher would be unable to capture the twists and turns of the book, as he’s more than proven with Se7en and Fight Club that he can bring the suspense.  No, it was the changing feelings that come with the twists and turns that make the audience also twist and turn emotionally towards the main characters.  I’m pleased to say, Fincher took me along for an emotional ride.

I have in the past found Rosamund Pike to be wooden, and she is at times here as well, but she works. She captures the controlling, manipulative nature of Amazing Amy and her coldness only stood out in the lovely scenes which chronicle Amy and Nick’s blossoming romance. As for Ben Affleck, while I actually believed in him and his ability to play a narcissistic douche bag and he delivered completely. I’ll let you decide if that’s because I’m an optimist or a realist. I found Kim Dickens and Tyler Perry were the voice of reason, and that Carrie Coon to be an honest portrayal of the reactions a normal human would have to these situations. And, any time I can see Neil Patrick Harris and Patrick Fugit doing what they do, I’m happy.

As a whole, I think the movie captured the nuances of the book. Though some scenes and characters were cut to make the story concise, the film resonates with the true nature of the novel and takes the audience to the same conclusions about the characters, their fates and what they deserve.