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DAVID FINCHER
Born: 1962, United States
Starting out as a director on some of the most acclaimed music
videos and advertisements, David Fincher is one of the most well-known
and popular American directors in contemporary cinema. His style
is known for grim subjects. Fincher's notable trademark is bringing
a realistic approach to the dark subject of the serial-killer
genre. His films typically begin with highly artistic title sequences
that are among the most notable in the history of filmmaking.
For me, Fincher is a filmmaker I felt mixed as one of the very
best artists of his generation but have grown appreciation for
more and more the last 10 years.
1… The Social Network
(2010)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1285016/
The Social
Network takes basic storytelling ideas from classic American
films like The Treasure of Sierra Madre and Citizen
Kane, blended with the fast and sharp dialogue rooted in the
classic Hollywood screwball comedies, all within a concept and
ideas that are incredibly relevant today. The result is a film
that is certain to be widely celebrated as a modern American classic
of it's own. The Social Network wins you over immediately
with a pitch-perfect, tone setting opening sequence where Mark
Zuckerberg (brilliantly played by Jesse Eisenberg) and his very
soon-to-be ex-girlfriend Erica (Rooney Mara) engage in a His
Girl Friday-esque fast-paced, out-of-synch conversation to
which Erica at one point fittingly says "Sometimes, Mark,
seriously, you say two things at once and I'm not sure which one
I'm supposed to be aiming at.... It's exhausting. Going out with
you is like dating a Stairmaster." After getting dumped
the film follows Mark in a masterful title sequence as he walks
through the campus to his dorm (reflecting both his emotional
state but also that of his physical alienation to the social world
that surrounds him. His reality is only when he returns home to
his computer and codes.) These opening sequences establish the
story, characterizations and tone of the entire film, and screenwriter
Aaron Sorkin smartly returns to Erica's character a few more times
throughout the film.
->
click here for The Social Network in A2P Cinema's 'Moments of
2010'
2… The Girl with
the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1568346/
Fincher's
adaptation of the beloved international novel is (to me) vastly
superior to the mediocre Swedish adaptations. Both films are held
down by the source material's heavy plot, but Fincher masterfully
crafts the film into something that fittingly looks and feels
like his films (which in many ways works as a nice companion piece
to his previous film The Social Network). Fincher gives
this film more humor and a much more alluring atmosphere overall
- starting as early the awesome opening title sequence! Rooney
Mara (a scene stealer in The Social Network) is given a
juicy role here, and she delivers with a powerful performance
that is both fragile and tough. The films master touch, is its
ending, and Mara deserves much of the credit... It is a heartbreaking
ending and a defining emotional portrayal of Lisbeth Salander.
3…
Zodiac (2007)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443706/
Zodiac
is likely the consensus critical choice for Fincher's best film
and I understand that. It's masterfully crafted and such a definitive
film of its own filmmaker in its study of obsession…..After
a five year hiatus from filmmaking, Fincher returns to the serial
killer mystery thriller genre that resulted in his best film (to
me anyway) Seven, which was made in 1995. Here however,
Fincher is working with a true story (based off the books by Robert
Graysmith, which detail the facts about the still unsolved case
of the Zodiac killings in San Francisco during the 1960s and 1970s).
As such, Fincher treats the subject with far with an approach
that is less philosophical and thrilling then Seven, instead
focusing more on the investigation. In other words, Zodiac
is less stylized then Seven instead aiming for realism,
while still remaining an effective genre suspense film. Those
familiar with the facts, details, and history of the case are
likely not to be surprised by everything that unfolds. What pushes
the film beyond the level of a simple crime detective film is
that Zodiac is ultimately more centered around the key
characters obsession with case and how the obsession consumes
their lives. It is here that the film grasps it's emotional humanity
and Fincher along with screenwriter James Vanderbilt never lose
focus of this element, even at a lengthy 158 minute running time.
As the final title cards indicate, the case remains unsolved and
Robert Graysmith's obsession with the case remains. It is this
obsession that makes the film most haunting.
4…
Seven (1995)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114369/
The first
film dealing with a genre Fincher would (and has) continue throughout
his career - serial killer. Seven is also a film that details
one of Fincher's finest trademarks as an artistic filmmaker -
opening title sequence. Seven's brilliant opening credits
immediately establish the films grim and philosophical tone as
well as its layered meanings. The film has become notorious for
its famous ending but what raises this film to great heights is
the way it does not exploit its anguish.
5…
The Game (1997)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119174/
Paranoid
head games drives this film and its strength is the looming sense
of dread that builds. Michael Douglas gives a convincing lead
performance. The films ending does feel off and too well put together
in a way that seems forced or inconsistent with the rest of the
film but only slightly and not enough to ruin what is overall
a very good film. Everything prior to that it is very involving
and well shot , paced and performed.
6…
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/
The
Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a beautifully visual film.
Fincher adapts Eric Roth's screenplay based off F. Scott Fitzgerald's
short story. The film deals with time (life and death) but is
ultimately a tragic love story, in that it follows the lives of
two people meant for each other but sadly on opposite timelines
of life. While the screenplay (which shares many structure comparisons
to Roth's Forrest Gump screenplay) occasionally feels rushed
or sometimes hollow, the beauty and emotion of the film comes
from the visuals (be it the radiant presence of Cate Blanchett,
the seamless digital effects, or the stunning deep composition
cinematography by Claudio Miranda).
7…
Mank (2020)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10618286/
Mank is a longtime project for Fincher, who's dad wrote
the screenplay before his death. Fincher structures this film
in a style and approach similar to that of the film it is centered
around - Citizen Kane particularly with its use of narrative flashbacks.
Mank is superb from a technical level and it looks/feels very
much as if it's a film from the 1930s-early 1940s right to the
tiniest of details. Overall I wanted to enjoy this film more that
I did but it struggles to invest you emotionally (even for those
who appreciate old Hollywood) and it doesn't offer much outside
of its technical achievements which are enough to make this a
good film.
8…
Gone Girl (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2267998/
There
is a campy tone that Gone Girl embraces which makes it
entertaining but overall this film is hurt by its own overplotting.
Gone Girl does have some fine performances notably by the
supporting characters and Fincher does a fine job of creating
the films solemn approach, and he provides his usual slick style
and pacing.
9…
Panic Room (2002)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0258000/
Fincher gives
this standard genre thriller all he can in style with flashy camera
movement and slo-motion. Ultimately he gets his hand in it a little
too much technically as the film plays out best when played straight-forward
and in real time. Panic Room is entertaining all the way
through even if its nothing all to memorable afterwards.
10…
Fight Club (1999)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137523/
Fight Club has a huge cult following and I get it, but
it just doesn't work for me. I love the early promise of this
film but it gradually loses me more and more from the second half
on to its gimmicky twist and heavy-handed conclusion, which to
me is not as profound as it seems to be intended.
11… Alien 3 (1992)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103644/
With
Fincher's first film, you can see the visual skills of a gifted
filmmaker in the way it uses dolly shots and impressive claustrophobic
atmosphere. Too bad it all is made in a really bad film…
one that completely throws away everything great about the previous
Alien film. As a big fan of that 1986 film, I'm strongly of the
belief this should not have been made!
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