David Fincher is known to slave over every single detail in every single frame of his films. Perhaps that’s why it’s so much fun for film buffs to spend endless hours re-watching his work, trying to find details they might have missed during the first two hundred viewings. Even sixteen years after its release, there are probably thousands of Fincher fans all around the world still looking for a Starbucks cup in the background of every single shot in "Fight Club."
So it should come as no surprise that "Gone Girl," Fincher’s takedown of the sacred institution of marriage and his love letter to crimson-soaked bed sheets, contains a fair amount of repeated frames and blocking in order to visually accentuate the similarities or the subtle differences between the film’s characters. Perhaps that’s why Vimeo user Love of Film decided to create a minute-long clip full of similar shots in “Gone Girl.” For instance, I bet you thought the first and final shots of the film were the exact same footage.
Incidentally, the split-screen video also works as an original and eerie teaser for the film itself. It’s too late for theatrical and VOD marketing, but perhaps it can be used for subsequent showings on cable? Watch the video below. [35MM]
Oh great, another Fincher classicism wankfest. Teaching new filmmakers to be incredibly banal and traditionalist, one video essay at a time.
Don\’t get it for the most part. Hitchcock did it way better!
David Fincher is a visionary with whom a screenplay writer can only dream of working with. The repetition of framing and blocking in Gone Girl was captivating as a movie goer watching the film in a packed theater at the time.
If I could only upvote Kartick\’s comment…
Meh. The script of Gone Girl falls apart on such spectacular levels that no amount technical wizardry can make do for it. Why didn\’t the cops check the videos from Desi\’s house? Or check up as to who received the stuff that Nick allegedly bought? Why wasn\’t she recognized anywhere despite being a national headline? The more I think about the movie, the dumber it gets.
Very cool! This concisely demonstrates Fincher\’s elaborate and sophisticated style.
That was very stupid.