Gone Girl

Spoiler… Despite beautiful and brooding cinematography and sound Fincher’s film falls Prisoner to lack of suspense and failure to supply source’s surplus of suspects.  Spooky Howser and Madea-at-Law arrive too late to save either story from narrative arrogance and improper pacing, or brilliant Ben from bending over for Rosamund’s Pike.

Spun

Ultra-grungy predecessor to Gaga music videos features wide array of stars playing over-the-top caricatures.  Stylistic elements occasionally feel motivated and disguise weak story with moderate success.  Rourke and Murphy’s roles are tragic considering real life issues, but Schwartzman satisfies leading man requirements.  Feels like a pre-pubescent Tarantino emulating Oliver Stone.

We Bought a Zoo

Crowe adopts animals in another half-deep character piece.  Johannson’s team of californicating indie stars bond predictably with good will zookeeping in a film with easily anticipated emotional cues and obstacles more obviously surmountable than the bear’s cage.  Still, cute family film, complete with ‘you had me at why not’ monologue.

Wristcutters: A Love Story

Odd meditation on the afterlife with perfect assortment of pensive characters. Enthusiastic leap into extraordinary premise makes accepting it easy, and Whigham’s Virgil to Fugit’s Dante makes the whole thing enjoyable. Where there’s a Will (Arnett) to distract there’s a Waits to perform sublimely and restore equilibrium. A lovely story.