Few directors can make movies that shock the audience with their gritty narratives while also making them visually beautiful with mesmerizing scores. But David Fincher does exactly this. And while the bulk of his filmography is filled with thriller movies, he even managed to turn a movie about Facebook into an edge-of-the-seat thrill ride.
However, not every cinephile is obsessed with the celebrated auteur. Between complaining about his one-liner-filled dialogue, questioning killers' motives, and dismissing his style altogether, Reddit is littered with hot takes about the director.
Fight Club Has Aged Poorly
Redditor Johnny_mcd's opinion of Fight Club is more aligned with the reviews of the movie when it was originally released in 1999. The film was overwhelmingly negatively received upon release, but it has aged well in the 22 years since. However, the Reddit user believes that it has an "unrealistic portrayal of mental illness" and they jokingly note that it's probably Jared Leto's Joker's favorite movie. Funny enough, David Fincher himself spoke on the portrayal of mental illness in Joker.
But the film is so much more than simply trying to be trendy, which the Redditor also accuses the film of doing. And while the movie certainly isn't perfect in its depiction of Dissociative Identity Disorder, it's isn't universally criticized as a generalization. In fact, psychiatrists have even called the film "groundbreaking" and that it can help "teach psychological concepts," as explained in The New Statesman.
Se7en Is "Garbage"
Though David Fincher's directorial debut was Alien 3, it was Se7en, his second movie, that established his style. The movie is a crime thriller, has a dark tone, is full of mystery, and takes place in a gothic-looking city. It was one-of-a-kind at the time, but Redditor BabyYouGottaStewGoin doesn't think so, as they rip into every detail of the movie. They also argue that it's full of cop cliches and that the twist "contradicts the killer's M.O."
But the twist couldn't be more in keeping with the killer's plans, as it follows the theme of the seven deadly sins, ending with wrath. Interestingly enough, that wasn't the original plan for the finale, as it was Brad Pitt who came up with the ending, so it could have been a lot different if the Redditor got their way.
Zodiac Isn't Dramatic Enough
DamnTomatoDamnit thinks that Fincher failed to dramatize the events surrounding the Zodiac killer in an engrossing way in Zodiac. They explain that it feels like "someone filmed a Wikipedia article."
But most would agree that while the movie is very direct and to the point, that's why it's so great, as it doesn't muddle the facts. Given that there's so much information that audiences need to retain, the movie does a great job of clearly laying it out. And more importantly, Zodiac doesn't inflate the drama to make the movie more entertaining, which is what other Hollywood biopics are guilty of. The procedural way in which screenwriter James Vanderbilt wrote Zodiac and Fincher directed it means that it's as factual about the events as possible.
The Dialogue In The Social Network Sounds Like A Comic Book
In lambasting The Social Network to no end, saying it's from the "MTV teenage clique viewpoint," ammonalprocurer accuses the dialogue of sounding fake and from the pages of a comic book. They argue that there are too many one-liners delivered at too quick of a pace.
Given that the screenplay was written by Aaron Sorkin, who is best known for his fast-talking dramas like Steve Jobs, Moneyball, and the TV show, The West Wing, the dialogue is hardly surprising. But more than anything, it's generally thought that Jesse Eisenberg's portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg is actually quite accurate when it comes to the way he speaks.
The Twist In Fight Club Was Predictable
DakeZirconis admits that the movie is "amazingly well made and written," but they still claim that the twist of Tyler being imaginary is predictable. And there are many other movies that feature the twist of a character being revealed as imaginary the whole time, so it isn't completely surprising if some cinephiles reached the conclusion before the end of the movie.
But whether people found it predictable or not, it was still shocking enough to stand out from countless other movies that have the same twist. It's still talked about and it's one of the ways in which Fight Club has aged well.
Fincher's Directing Style Is Boring
Gravitystar88 isn't a fan of filmmakers with unique styles, as they claim that they hate Tim Burton and Wes Anderson. And though they say that they don't "hate" David Fincher, the Redditor feels that his "directing style is boring."
It's true that the thriller auteur doesn't always go for explosive and exciting screenplays, and he doesn't have a vast color palette, as he usually sticks to dark tones, so his movies aren't for everyone. But Fincher's whole appeal is the way he builds tension and atmosphere, and he's arguably one of the only working directors who can pull off what he does.
Fincher & Reznor Are The Best Director-Composer Duo
Though they're forgetting about Atticus Ross here (Trent Reznor's musical partner,) SudeeraSJ argues that Fincher and Trent Reznor is the best director-composer duo, even better than Steven Spielberg and John Williams. The Reddit user makes a great point, as although they don't compose music that audiences can hum along to, like Hans Zimmer and Williams, they make music that perfectly fits the tone of their movies.
Fincher has worked with the musicians on every one of the director's movies from the 2010s, along with 2020s Mank. Though the two have scored movies outside of Fincher's work, such as Bird Box and even Pixar's Soul, it's their work with Fincher that got them the recognition in the first place. But while the Redditor deservedly calls them "masters of their craft" and they have made some of the best movie scores, they might be jumping the gun a little, as Spielberg and Williams have decades on them.
The Social Network's Score Is Terrible
In a claim completely opposite to the above, Redditor Svarec thinks The Social Network's score is terrible. They "don't understand why it's so popular and revered," as it even won the Academy Award for Best Score in 2011.
However, although Reznor is known for loud industrial music with his band, Nine Inch Nails, the musical accompaniment to The Social Network perfectly reflects the tone of the movie. It's simplistic in its style with ominous tones, and many fans would argue that few other scores have been as inventive in this past decade.
Gone Girl Is Fincher's Best Movie
Fincher is one of the rare filmmakers who many fans feel doesn't have a single dud in his filmography, and so any of his movies could be a favorite. But Reddroast's favorite is Gone Girl, claiming that it's "the best film David Fincher has made so far in his career."
But while the movie was well-received and is one of the best mystery movies on Hulu, not many Fincher fanatics would say it's his best. The 2014 thriller doesn't have the fanfare or the cult following that his other movies have. On top of that, both Fight Club and Se7en have much higher scores than Gone Girl on IMDb, though it does come in third place.
The Game Should Have Ended 10 Minutes Earlier
Twist endings quickly became one of David Fincher's signature trademarks early in his career. Whether it was the "what's in the box" scene in Se7en or Tyler Durden being revealed as an imaginary friend in Fight Club, Fincher's movies are full of surprises. The director's 1997 movie, The Game, is no exception, as it's uncovered that Nicholas, who had lost millions of dollars and his whole life, was simply being pranked by his brother.
But even though the ending is what makes the movie so great, Redditor AAAAAAAaaaalaska thinks the movie would have been better without the twist. They argue that having the movie end with Nicholas losing his wealth to a company that cons rich people would have made for a "satisfying ending."