GONE GIRL MOVIE REVIEW [NO SPOILERS!]

 

-★★★★☆

Horrified about the fact that there are numerous psychopaths around you? Thinking that one day, theatrically, you will find yourself locked up in an abandoned garage or being chased down the strange alleyway that curiously no one’s ever walking. Or perhaps, you might believe that your partner has a psychopathic behavior shown after three years of marriage because three months is the phase where you both easily harass each other in bed neglecting the fact that it’s abusive?

Well, then if want these kind of scenarios; Gone Girl is perfect for you.

After watching the movie, I have to say that it’s very, very intelligent. I’m really happy watching this two and a half hour movie because it did not bore me for a bit.

I will try to give a review that will be spoiler free so that you can enjoy reading this with pleasure of not knowing the entire plot or revealing its twist and having an overview of the feeling after you’ve watched this amazing film.

The movie starts off with a twisted line coming from Ben Affleck’s character who nonchalantly gives this chilling thought of murder. And it all follows a certain storyline that will captivate you every single tick of the time there is in the movie.

I love how AMAZING the storytelling of the film is because it really gets your attention; and what I mean to say is that, there are other thriller themed films that have this kind of genre but the winner is always in the execution a great storyteller.

The juxtaposition of the scenes will give you an eerie feeling and deliberately, in your head, you will do a process of elimination on who’s really the suspect and who’s the victim. The storytelling is so perfect; I believe it almost tied up with the Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, which is my favorite movie of all time by the way, that has the style of jumping from the present scene and the past and will eventually reveal the true nature of characters. And the difference between the two films is the actual timeframe of the revelation. And I can’t delve much into that because it’s too spoiler-y.

Anyway, I also love the mixture of a Dark Comedy that is lingering in between shots because it somehow creates a true horror in the midst of an already eerie story.

Ben Affleck’s performance was awesome in this film, and for his co-star Rosamund Pike who plays Ben’s wife: I do agree with the articles I’ve read and the commentaries I’ve heard that she deserves an Oscar nomination for this because of her beyond excellent, chilling performance in Gone Girl. The amazing and believable acting in this film is crucial to make it work and the casting is just flawless for this one.

Also, there is nudity in the film which suggests how they got the R-16 rating and not just that but also blood splattering and domestic violence scenes are also present.

Anyhow, Gone Girl is definitely a must see in this year’s list of exaggerated great movies that will keep you focused in the cinema screen from start to end. A definite 4 and a half stars over 5/

Carrie | Movie Review

(This is going to be a review that will not compare from the original movie)

MAJOR SPOILERS

“Bloody, interesting yet lacking.”

Carrie is an American supernatural horror film about a girl who discovers she has telekinesis; a power of the mind to control things, and her struggle through high school where she experienced a modern kind of bullying especially about her first bloody period. Carrie does not only struggle at school but also directly at home with her mother who’s got some ‘mental illness’ due to being too much enticed religiously, pathetically thinking that wearing a sleeveless is a mortal sin. The film was released on October 18, 2013, after postponing the March 15, 2013 release.

Carrie stars Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass) as the notoriously famous Carrie White and the Oscar Nominee and Emmy Award best actress Julianne Moore (Game Change) as Margaret White, Carrie’s mother.

Carrie is classic redux of the 1976 film and an adaptation of Stephen King’s classic in the same name.

Yet, the popularity of the first adaptation (1976) in other countries did not reach to where I live, therefore, I haven’t seen, heard of read anything about Carrie. It’s a relatively good perspective so that no comparison will be made out from this review, which I appreciate in doing, and I appreciate in reading. Not to disrespect Stephen King or the creators of the first adaptation; but it would be fair for me to review a film as it is.

I noticed how deep the storyline of the story was. From Margaret White’s ignorance of pregnancy, which she thought was cancer; to Carrie’s dreadful first period which she thought was some kind of disease. It also imparts the new age of bullying in the United States that includes technological ways (Cyber Bullying), which demonstrates the range of the modern matter that causes new wave adversary in youngsters.

The build-up of the story was somehow a bore, but thankful for the length of the movie that was only an hour and a half which defer viewers from total boredom.

Then the intensity came where (as everyone expected) the prom began, and Carrie, herself, started to rebel from her mother’s irrational, impractical and nonsensical guard. The part where the pig’s blood splattered on Carrie’s head that had been repeated three times in the movie was interesting and useful that gives the awe moment. Then from there, the climax of the redux extricates from the deepening build-up.

The climax did appease me, somehow, and how Chloe Moretz portrayed a possessed-like girl that murdered numerous of people in one setting and that she lost to her senses due to the circumstances. The plenty of action engrossed me in my seat, making me bend forward to wait for that climatic ‘umpf’ moment. There were loads of bloody sparklers and I enjoyed every bit of vengeance Carrie made from her intimidators.

How grueling the mass murder happened in the movie, gives excitement. Up to the portion where she gets the revenge to the biggest bully of all in the film. But, oh, it was just a normal way to die and it was one of the part where I find lack; I wished there was more of a triumphant feel having the ultimate vengeance from you enemy. (I waited for a part where Carrie tells her enemy, “BITCH!” before she died.)

But no, it was just a simple death. I preferred a death in front of number of people or something else. And they have the choice to redirect the movie away from the past recreation/adaptation of the book. (Yet still Carrie fan boys and girls will be frustrated with my idea for sure).

And another lack I felt was the lack of depth from Carrie’s bullying story. Carrie being thrown tampons and napkins was too much, but that was just the start of it all. The online video leak (Cyber Bullying) did not even take part of a strong portrayal of modern bullying which causes even suicides to some (sorry). But it was just a useless instrument that did not give a strong voice which should be the most important fact of all, since, let’s face it, Cyber Bullying nowadays is the trend on how to crush someone’s dignity and entire persona. That should’ve been emphasized.

The acting was not believable either which roots the blame to the directing. Except for Julianne Moor who gave a chilling performance, applauded her in the movie.

The movie ended with me still hanging on my seat still waiting for that climatic ‘umpf’ moment. But it did not come.

The entire movie was interesting, (from a perspective of non-comparison review) yet not satisfying and gives you a feel of ‘okay, that was it’. I am much disappointed with how the movie went since it stars one of my new favourite actresses, Chloe Moretz. And also the fact of the in-time issue which is Bullying and how awful it is and lastly, I fancy revenge stories. All of those enticed me to watch the movie. But it failed me somehow.

I wonder how fans of the original movie react to the remake.

CRITIQUE:

Story     –              6

Cinematography              –              7

Musical Score    –              8

Acting   –              7

Direction              –              7

Visual Effects (YES)          –              8

OVERALL              –              7.2