Mike and I saw Gone Girl last night. I felt like one of the last people on Earth to read the book, tackling it last year when our family was on vacation. This was the first book I’ve ever hate-read. I kept wanting to abandon the book but Mike and my mom (who’d both read it) kept telling me I had to finish it. I’m glad I listened to them, although I’ve never despised fictional characters more in my life. I’m pleased to say I enjoyed the film much more than the book…and I think that’s because I knew what was coming and I’d already worked through my anger. That being said, here are some of my (somewhat-spoilery, so you’ve been warned) reactions to the movie.
~I did not hate Ben Affleck’s character, Nick. I’m not sure if that’s because Ben’s a good actor (he’s excellent in the movie) who put a human face on an unlikable character, or because I knew what his role was in his wife’s disappearance. I wanted to punch book-Nick in the face, but I pitied movie-Nick.
~I. Hated. Amy. The actress who plays her, Rosamund Pike, was brilliant. If I hadn’t known how it was all going to end, I would have instantly been on her side, like I was when I read the book. Reading the book made me wary of everything Amy did…I found her to be very creepy, even in the scenes where she was allegedly earnest and “good.”
~I was delighted to see that Matt Saracen’s mom has a very large role in the movie. That sentence will mean something to you if you watched Friday Night Lights.
~The “penis shots” are no big deal. I’d read some articles this week that made it seem like this movie was practically an X-Rated porno (are things still rated X these days?), but it definitely wasn’t like that. Neil Patrick Harris and Ben Affleck are both naked in two scenes, but other than a few shots of their butts you really don’t see anything. And NPH’s nude scene has so much going on…you’re not looking at/for his penis because you’re too busy screaming internally (or externally, like one person in our theatre).
~The movie is very faithful to the book. There were a lot of rumors that the third act of the movie was a total departure from the book, but that didn’t turn out to be true. It would have been interesting to see how they would have changed things, but I appreciated seeing that insane final third of the book on the screen. Plus, changing the original third act would have deprived me my favorite part of the movie:
~The reactions from the audience members who hadn’t read the book were amazing. We had Gone Girl virgins on all sides of us in the theatre and hearing their gasps during the plots twists was a riot. At one point I turned in my seat to watch the audience instead of the screen, that’s how awesome the reactions were. But their faces when the movie ended and the credits came up…priceless. I now know exactly how my face looked last year when I finished the book.
I definitely liked the movie much more than the book. Mike didn’t hate the book like I did, but he enjoyed the movie more as well. I’m really curious to hear the reactions of the people who saw it this weekend who hadn’t read the book, and for those of you who did read the book and saw the movie, did you like it more or less?
susan says:
We saw it and i knew nothing on book. I agree with your first to points. Man i didnt like Amy. I liked the movie. Not the ending. I liked the female detective and his twin sister. She was good for Nick. The ending sucked and the rest of theater thought so too. Im showing my age but enough of the graphic sex scenes. I know,the world wants to see it. But movie was good.
Heather says:
That sex scene was REALLY graphic, though! So I don’t blame you one bit for that.
Maggie says:
i had read the book, I hated both their characters by the end of the book. You are right, I didn’t hate him as much in the movie. I’m not sure if it’s because I knew what was going to happen or if it was the acting. On the other hand I did not like her at all! I guess I do t know which I liked better.
Sinead says:
I saw Gone Girl last week and really enjoyed it. I wasn’t expecting to because like you I HATED the book. I thought it was awful and didn’t know why it was so popular. I liked Nick’s character in the film but I remember him being much more selfish in the book (although I read it a good while ago so can’t remember the finer details). I hated Amy in the film and I don’t know if was just the character. It will put me off seeing anything with Rosamund Pike in it in the future. I still feel the same way about Matt Dillion after the sleazy character he played in Crash. I probably need to let that one go.
Aubrey says:
I still need to finish reading but from reading her other books I can only imagine the twists. Have you read them? They are great. But then again I love V. C Andrews and all her crazy twists and turns too.
Christy says:
@Aubrey, I have read her other books. Twisted mind Gillian Flynn has!
Kate says:
I’d read actual news articles that said Flynn was rewriting the ending. I wonder if they decided against it in the end. Because I originally said the only way I’d bother with the movie was if the ending changed, because I absolutely loathed the ending. Like, I always hated Amy, but I felt sympathetic toward Nick . . . . until he made all the wrong decisions in the third act.
But that said, people seem to really enjoy the movie, so I may need to try it and see for myself. Especially since I really (really really) like Ben Affleck.
Shannon says:
Well…. I didn’t even know it was a book! Now I am uncertain as to if I want to read it or not…lol!!
Kate says:
Also, additional thought: I love how movies can have a dozen naked women and nobody cares, but a mere GLIMPSE of peen and suddenly the world is ending. The double standard for male and female nudity astounds me. I like knowing that a movie managed to hold onto its R rating with some man-bits in there. Good on them.
Katrina says:
Seriously! I feel the same way. Double standard, indeed. Blah.
Brandi says:
I liked the book and movie…I really can’t decide which I liked more (though the ending to both frustrated me enormously). That said, I wish I had not read the book before seeing the movie. I read it last week in preparation, but I wish I’d seen the movie with virgin eyes! The reactions of those who hadn’t read were just awesome. When she got out of the car during the third act? Loved to hear everyone gasp! But I wish I had that moment for myself.
Casey says:
I actually loved the book – hated the ending, but still loved the book. I’m going to see the movie with my book club tonight – I can’t wait!
Johanna says:
I also really disliked the book. The characters were so easily hateable… sociopathic and pathetic. Because of this, I was not going to see the movie. However, I promised a friend that if she read and liked the book, I would see the movie with her. I gave her my copy, and I will just have to wait and see what she thinks.
Several friends loved both the book and the movie… It’s nice to know I am not the only one who did not like the book.
Jocelyn says:
I also liked the movie and had a true love/hate relationship with that book! I found Ben’s character to be likable and, like you, found Amy to be creepy in EVERY situation. Good job Rosamund Pike! She played crazy…brilliantly! I’m mainly commenting to thank you for your Matt Saracen reference. Oh, how i miss Friday Night Lights!
Anna says:
So, I read Gone Girl on my honeymoon. Like an idiot (although it makes for HILARIOUS jokes). My husband and I (woohoo! still married despite stupid reading choices) saw it on Friday and I was really happy with it – although I missed the full version of the “Cool Girl” speech that I (and everyone else) love so much. Like you, too, I hated Amy more and liked Nick more in the movie than in the book (I kind of was rooting for Book-Amy in the hotel when the skeezy neighbors stole her money). But overall, I thought it was really good!
Rachel says:
I read the book, but it feels like it was a long time ago. (I read a lot of books, so have read quite a few since then.) I came out of the theater wondering if people are really that crazy. (Great acting.) I would say I had a like/hate relationship with the book (didn’t love it but at times I hated it). I thought the movie was good. I took my husband who hadn’t read the book & usually doesn’t care if he sees movies in the theater. He thought it was good, but a little long. What happened to 2 hour movies? lol
Emily e says:
I really thought I was the only person in America to hate the book. At least I’m not alone! I need at least one of the main characters to be a descent person and that just doesn’t happen in Gone Girl. (I do give the book credit for being well-written.) I refused to see the movie with my husband and he thought that was probably a good call since he thought the movie was a lot creepier and more disturbing than the book. I also am not a fan of movies in general, so not seeing this was an easy call.
Julie says:
Reading this is such a relief! I am surrounded by friends and co-workers who just loved the book, while I hate read the whole thing! Sometimes I wonder if many people just say they like/love/oh.my.god.that.book.was.so.great! because it is the bandwagon to jump on at the time. Because no. That story and those godawful despicable characters? Awful. But, yeah I give mad props to the author because no doubt she is talented. I can see how the storyline is perfect movie material, but I just have no interest in seeing it. Although, it’s nice to hear it makes a better movie than it does a book. Just wish we could have a “Gone Girl was really awful” book party instead of the squee fest that surrounds it instead.
Lisa N says:
Yes! I can not believe that so many people love this book. Glad to know there are quite a few of us that hate it!
Kat says:
The book bugged me too! When I started seeing the rave reviews for the movie I was feeling so proud of Ben Affleck, because I was worried about him signing on for such a terrible book. Thought it would be the end of his career for sure, but look how he turned that right around! What a relief!
Rachel says:
I hated every single character in the book. I’m going to see the movie on Thursday. Glad to hear a fellow book-hater liked the movie. I hope I feel the same!
amourningmom says:
I have been avoiding reading the book – based on your review maybe I should just skip it and see the movie. . .
Heather says:
My boyfriend was LIVID at the end of the movie, although I did warn him he should have read the book. I too hate-read the book, but the movie was surprisingly enjoyable and I was also totally on Team Nick throughout the film. Also, the woman they cast as Andie was perfect and I loved seeing NPH play a creep.
GreenInOC says:
Was he livid because Nick stayed or … ? What did he think should have happened? I was reading an article about Fincher’s casting choices and the author pointed out that Andie was played by Emily Ratajkowski, who was in the “Blurred Lines” video, was a perfect example of his process.
Heather says:
He was angry that Nick stayed and that Amy basically got what she always wanted. Oh wow, I did not know that was the same girl. She definitely fit the role of the “hot college girl”
GreenInOC says:
Interestingly, the people around us in the theatre who hadn’t read the book were confused about why he would stay which I think is a function of the adaptation.
In the book you realize that they are both sick and deserve each other.
I also remember feeling that they were being kind to the world by not exposing their craziness to other people which would have happened if they divorced and were dating/married to other people.
GreenInOC says:
Loved the book and the movie!
In the movie, Nick was much more likable – he was the good the guy, on the receiving end of Amy’s craziness. The non-readers around us in the theatre were baffled why he stayed. In the book, he was the ahole on the receiving end of Amy’s craziness.
Sadly, I missed Ben’s peen! There are articles online giving step-by-step directions of how exactly to see it – needed because your eye is drawn elsewhere if you don’t know where to look – that I read after watching the movie!
I love Ben Affleck and thought he was brilliant. Neil Patrick Harris was perfectly creepy & controlling. Rosamund Pike was astounding in all her many incarnations.
Really impressed with how Flynn & Fincher were able to work out an adaptation that would shock non-readers while delighting, instead of alienating, readers.
TwinMomJulie says:
I liked the movie more…much more! The book was awful – it kept my attention, but I need someone to like in a book, someone to side with.. and there was NOBODY! I still hated movie Nick, although Ben Affleck made him a little more palatable. Movie Amy was wonderfully sociopathic. I guess I’m going to have to watch it again though, as I admit to being a little bummed at not noticing naked Neil Patrick Harris!!
Stephanie says:
I saw the movie yesterday with two friends. One had read the book like me, the other hadn’t. My friend who had read it agreed that Nick was much more likable in the movie, but she also pitied the character slightly more in the book than I did. I really thought they deserved each other in the book, but I felt bad for Nick at the end of this one.
Valerie says:
I wanted SO bad to love this book and, like you, had to force myself to finish it because I hated it that much. I keep trying to convince myself to actually go see the movie but I’m afraid I’ll hate it just as much. When I heard Ben Affleck was playing the main character, I almost hated him as an actor. I am so torn!! Wait until it’s out On Demand?
Nicole says:
I read the book and like most, it was the most frustrating book I had ever read but I am still glad I read it. If you haven’t read her other two books, you should. I plan on checking out the movie once it comes our on video.
Ciji says:
I didn’t know it was a book. I really liked the movie. So proud of Ben pulling this off. He usually doesn’t deliver and his characters always feel the same to me. I hated him then pitied him. But Rosamund…wow. Stellar acting. I’m disappointed with the ending though and want more. Now I will have to find the book.
Debbie says:
Wow! Loved the movie! Loved the twists! Absolutely hated Amy! Now I wish I had read the book, but most of the time the movie does not live up to the book. I was disappointed at the ending; however, after reading some of the comments above…Amy got what she wanted.
Heather says:
I’d be interested to hear what you think of the book if you read it now!
Amy G. says:
I saw it Saturday with my sister, who was the one who had urged me to read the book. Somewhere early on I had read that the ending would be different, so both of us were expecting some kind of mind blowing twist at the end, so I was a tad disappointed at that. That being said, I really liked the movie. The acting was superb.
Glenda says:
I read the book and saw the movie Saturday. Lovedthe movie. I enjoyed the book hated the ending. Love that the movie went along just as the book and nothing was changed. I enjoyed Amys acting & Bens. They hyped the nude scene in the shower in the media. Only butts
leanne says:
Count me among those who hate-read the book. Just so utterly twisted — wasn’t expecting that at all. But I did read it through to the bitter end, despite wanting to give up on numerous occasions Not sure about seeing the movie. Though I can definitely see Ben Affleck in the role of Nick.
Lisa says:
I always have a bit of a natural bias against anything that becomes hugely popular, so I too took a while to read the book. I thought it was deliciously dark and twisted, and basically felt the same about the movie. I do feel that movie Nick was more a “protagonist” than book Nick, and Amy was more clearly the movie’s villain, which I feel was much more a gray area for her in the book. I do wish they could have worked more of Nick’s dad into the movie, as he was such a large part of the book, and central to Nick’s character development, as well as Desi’s mom. Also, I felt Desi was MUCH creepier in the book than in the movie. Not to mention the book made a much bigger deal out of Amazing Amy and how the real Amy always lived in her shadow her entire life, etc. Again, more character development there would have been welcome.
I spent much of the movie swooning over the oral scene early in the movie (SO. FREAKING. HOT.) and Desi’s absolutely GORGEOUS house. LOL
Anyway, I did very much enjoy the movie, but I felt it could have been even better if they’d made Nick and Amy each more “gray” morally.
Melissa says:
I think I must live in a cave because I’ve never even heard of the movie until this weekend! It’s so weird because it’s totally my genre. I skipped your spoilers and plan on dragging hubby this weekend… I’ll probably have to agree to see Box Trolls in return.
Kathryn M. says:
I read the book and saw the movie yesterday too (fist bump!)I liked the book and it really held me in it’s grip with all the twists and turns. Eventhough I knew the plot going into the movie, I was still enthralled. Great actors and I also liked the movie Nick a lot more than the book Nick. it gets two thumbs up from me
Bianca says:
I thought Gone Girl was so appallingly written that I didn’t even make it past the first chapter, so I won’t be pouring any money into the coffers of the “author” by going to see the film. Sadly it’s just come out where I live, so I probably haven’t heard the last of it…
BrenMom says:
I’m so glad you wrote this post! After your post last week, as I was watching the movie this weekend I was wondering/hoping if you would see it too and discuss!
Okay, so:
Completely agree with your comments. The actress portraying Amy was brilliant! She portrayed what you thought was “innocent” Amy so well….but the crazy was definitely there. My daughter, who had not read the book, was along at the movie too. I kept sneaking peeks at her to see her reaction. She was SO ANGRY with BA’s Nick and her eyes were so sad watching Amy….and then, when things were shown how they “really” were, the look on her face was priceless – exactly how I felt when reading the book.
I have to give rave reviews to Gillian Flynn because I was so….taken, I guess is the word I was looking for, when reading, wondering what the fuss was and then being blown away when Amy’s true character was revealed. I’m so glad they stayed true to the book and I too enjoyed the movie more than the book, which is unusual for me. I’m anxious to see it again.
AuntieMio says:
Read the book in 36 hours. I could not put it down. I was equal parts incensed and intrigued by the Amazing Amy. I really enjoyed the movie and agree that Rosamund Pike was breathtaking in this role. Ben Afflek can do no wrong in my eyes. I have even forgiven home for Pearl Harbor. Oddly, even though I knew what was coming, I was probably one of those faces you would have enjoyed watching. I gasped, laughed, hissed and boo’d in all the right places. I have been so disappointed in movies of late. Since the Harry Potter series ended there has not seemed to be any good book to screen offerings. I was super pleased with this one.
AuntieMio says:
Just re-read this, damn typos! Apologies to Ben Affleck!
RookieMom Heather says:
I hadn’t read the book and I hurried to see the movie as soon as I heard it was out so I wouldn’t see or hear any spoilers. Wow. I liked it and then I was so squirmy for the rest. I think you would have enjoyed watching me twist in my seat and wish I didn’t have to bike home in the dark at 11pm.
Mel says:
I saw it the day it was released here with a friend who had read the book and loved it, I hadn’t read the book, but was happy to go along, as I am with most movies. I agree with you Heather, I absolutely hated Amy, I haven’t hated a character like her so much, almost ever! Both lead actors did amazing jobs in their roles. I wish somehow she’d managed to get what she deserved instead of what she wanted in the end. I wasn’t fussed on the ending, I just would have liked to have seen something happen instead of it fizzle into nothingness… it just left a sour taste in my mouth that I couldn’t shake for quite a while.
I was glued to my seat the entire movie, so it had me there! No gasping or twisting, so I would have been a very boring person to observe. lol
Mel
Rachel - A Southern Fairytale says:
I hated the book. Despised. It was painful, but I had to finish it, because I wanted to know dammit!
I will be seeing the movie, but will probably be paying more attention to other’s reactions.
Leigh Elliott says:
I liked the book til the end and then I wanted to rip every ounce of it with my hands. I am very much looking forward to seeing theories though. Thanks for the tip on watching the reactions on the Gone Girl virgins faces, sounds good!
Annalisa says:
Let me say this to begin with: I didn’t read the book. I purposefully avoided this thread until I could see the movie so I wouldn’t be spoiled.
So here goes: first act, I wondered if the wife faked her disappearance. Second act, I wondered if maybe it was the crime it was staged to be, and in the third act I was like: “aha! I knew it. Except that it was a lot worse than I suspected.” (This happens to me a lot. I once ruined the reveal for Unbreakable for my brother and his girlfriend by predicting the twist ten minutes early. I’ve since learned to keep my aha-ha moments to myself).
At the end of the movie, I told my husband “well, this is probably the scariest horror movie I’ve seen in a while”. I was kinda being sarcastic right then and there, but upon more reflection, I’d still stand by that comment. Imagine knowing someone like that…
Kristin says:
I finally saw it last night! (I couldn’t read your post Monday just in case lol) I too, read the book prior to the movie and I was so upset with the ending. I couldn’t believe that Amy got what she wanted; so infuriating. I really enjoyed the movie and thought the casting was great. Ben Affleck was superb and I empathized with his character more in the movie than the book. The actress for Amy was perfect- calculating, crazy, and chilling. I also thought they did a great job with Margot’s character. She had just the right amount of humor and emotion in the movie. I’m glad I read the book first, but I enjoyed the movie more. I also thought the nudity wasn’t a huge deal.