This was the first movie we watched in only two sittings. I am not sure if I should thank Kuku or the movie director for that. Kuku, because he did not cry and throw tantrums while we watched the movie and the director for making a movie that was quite gripping. Ok, before I start, I am a big fan of Ben Affleck. I have usually found something to like irrespective of his role or the movie. Glad to get that out - Ok, now to the review: **Spoilers Ahead **
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| Amy |
The movie starts on the day of the fifth wedding anniversary of a couple (Ben and Rosamund) and you feel that Ben (Nick) is not too happy or interested in celebrating the accomplishment from the way he is chatting with his twin sister (Margo). He is called home by his wife (Amy). He reaches home to find the house empty. He wonders if this is something new that Amy has planned and starts searching for her. He is surprised she is not at home but does not seem too upset until he reaches the front room where the glass top of the table has been shattered and the table is upside down. He fears that she has been kidnapped and calls the police.
Amy Image Courtesy: www.hitfix.com
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| The Police |
The detective (Rhonda) and her partner (James) ask questions, check the scene of crime, walk around the house, and find an envelope marked Clue 1, in Amy's handwriting. Nick mentions that that is part of the anniversary and they usually have a treasure hunt. Each clue results in an unfolding of the scene and you wonder what is going on as a red undergarment that does not belong to Amy is found in Nick's office. Nick is quite surprised and tries to solve the clues ahead of the police as he is worried. And then, Amy's parents arrive and you are hit with some information
that Nick obviously is not aware of, some he is aware of but did not
think important enough to share with the police which makes them wonder
what else he is hiding.
The Detectives Image Courtesy: www.collider.com
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| Nick Proposes to Amy |
The movie keeps slipping from the past to the present as you see a charming Nick propose to Amy amidst a bunch of journalists. You wonder how a couple that were so much in love could become so indifferent in 5 years - you wonder if it was all an act or if it was marriage that killed their love.
The Proposal Image Courtesy: www.soundonsight.org
As the media frenzy builds, Nick tries to keep it normal and attempts to do all the normal things with disastrous results. Nick's oddest behaviors were actually the most natural and not so curiously, they were the ones that stayed in my
mind: Nick, Margo, and Amy's parents are attending a press conference
called by Amy's parents. At the conference, Nick comes across as wooden
and does not say "I love my wife, I miss her.." etc but asks folks to
speak out if they have any information about Amy. Amy's parents nail it
by doing all the right things on camera. Nick is ready to leave but
Margo asks him to stay. Then, Nick is asked to pose with one of the
banners that has Amy's picture. He stands close to the banner while a
cameraman asks him to smile and he does.
Nick Poster Smile Image Courtesy: http://blogs.indiewire.com/
He allows another lady to take a selfie with him which also lands up in the hands of the media.
You are wondering at Nick's odd behavior as the media frenzy builds.
As the mystery unravels, you go from thinking "Whoa- Nick is in deep
shit" to "Douchebag Nick" to "Wow Nick" and to finally "Oh man, Nick".
Ben is perfect. He hits all the right notes. Maybe the experience with
the media during his romance with Jennifer Lopez (daubed Bennifer, at
that time) helped. Ben is simply fantastic as Nick Dunne, a gentleman
first, charming, lazy, and totally lovable.
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| Margo chatting with Nick on their Anniversary |
The supporting cast was actually pretty good. I liked Margo (Carrie Coon), a lot. She came across as a natural. She is a typical sister, protective and at times, hitting him on his face with the truth, and always supportive. There are times, when their closeness is also twisted out of context, as part of the media circus, another form of manipulation and it was handled well.
The detective and her partner also do a good job. The male partner is unsympathetic towards Nick while the detective is not as quick to judge which creates some tension between them. The lawyer, whom Nick Dunn, hires is also perfect for his part.
This is a movie about manipulation: of another person, of each other, of
the media, of the police, the list goes on. Amy is fantastic as a master manipulator and Nick is not far behind. I liked the movie. The Arien felt that it dragged a bit. I only felt that you can manipulate some people most of the time, most people some of the time but not all the people all the time. Of course, people become master manipulators with practice. There are some scenes which cannot be watched with the family or with children and so I advise viewing with discretion.
The New Collected Short Stories is a collection of three books: To Cut a Long Story Short, And Thereby Hangs a Tale, and Cat O' Nine Tales. I liked the stories from the "The Cat O Nine Tales" book from this collection but there are some good stories in the other books as well.
