Since the early 90s, David Fincher has built a stunning career as a visionary director. While he is probably best known for his darker movies, he has shown tremendous versatility with the stories he can tell. He is the kind of filmmaker that impresses and compels an audience, even with his rare misfires.
Looking at Fincher's entire filmography, he has a distinct talent for creating deeply engrossing movies. He grabs the audience's attention right from the beginning, holds it to the end, and controls the story from the first line of dialogue right to the last.
Alien 3 (1992)
"Stasis interrupted. Fire in cryogenic compartment." / "This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo, g off."
Following the events of Aliens, Alien 3 begins with the pod carrying Ripley, Newt, and Hicks suffering a major failure due to a stowaway alien. Following Alien.
For his first movie, Fincher certainly started with the bold and controversial idea of killing Newt and Hicks off during the opening credits. However, it was certainly an effective opening. The final line seems to suggest this was meant to be the end of Ripley's story with her "g off" taking another meaning.
Se7en (1995)
"Neighbors heard them screaming at each other, like, for two hours." / "Ernest Hemingway once wrote, the world is a fine place and worth fighting for… I agree with the second part."
In the opening scene of Se7en, Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) investigated a domestic dispute that turned into a murder. In the end, after his partner executes John Doe, Somerset narrates the dark yet somewhat hopeful final line.
Both of these scenes highlight the dark and cynical world of the movie and Somerset's place in it. The opening murder scene shows why he is ready to walk away from his job as a detective, while the last line shows why he has to stay.
The Game (1997)
"Thank you, Ilsa." / "Would you like to have a coffee with me at the airport?"
Audiences are introduced to the main character of The Game, Nicholas Van Orton, as he gets ready for work and is served breakfast by his maid. After finding out that the wild events of the past few days were all an elaborate game, one of the actors in the game asks him out for coffee.
Nicholas's introduction establishes his rich and orderly life, which is about to be thrown into chaos. The ending of the movie plants the seed of doubt that "the game" might not have ended after all.
Fight Club (1999)
"People are always asking me if I know Tyler Durden." /"You met me at a very strange time in my life."
Following the wild opening credits, the Narrator teases the mysterious character of Tyler Durden, while Durden holds him at gunpoint. The ending goes back to the beginning as the Narrator frees himself of Durden and holds hands with his girlfriend and they watch his Project Mayhem plan come into effect.
The opening line is a great tease for the iconic character of Tyler Durden, as well as setting up the eventual twist. The final line is a darkly funny way to end this bizarre tale, as they watch the financial buildings getting blown up in the final shot.
Panic Room (2002)
"I wrote it all down: 4,222 square feet, four floors." / "I like the sound of that one."
Panic Room's opening scene finds Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) being led through the busy streets by her real estate agent on the way to a house viewing. After surviving a terrifying home invasion, Meg and her daughter relax on a park bench, casually looking for a new home.
Fincher bookends the movie with two scenes of Meg house hunting, but the way the scenes differ shows Meg's growth. While she was frantic and trying to keep up in the first scene, she is now laidback and making the decisions herself.
Zodiac (2007)
"Where have you been?" / "I am very sure that's the man who shot me."
he believes to be the Zodiac Killer, who shot him years earlier.
It is interesting that the movie begins and ends with Mageau. The opening scene shows he has no idea what a horrific experience he's about to encounter and the final scene shows that it is an experience that still haunts him, yet might finally have some closure.
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008)
"What are you looking at, Caroline?" / "And some people dance."
The first scene of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button finds an older Daisy in a hospital, as her daughter looks out the window at the wind. The movie ends with a Benjamin narrating about all the people he met in his life, including Daisy, who danced.
The movie seems to link an approaching storm with the idea of the inevitability of time, which could for the first line. The final line shows that Benjamin lived a long life filled with loved ones, especially Daisy.
The Social Network (2010)
"Did you know there are more people with genius IQs living in China than there are people of any kind living in the United States?" / "You're not an a**hole, Mark. You're just trying so hard to be."
The Social Network begins with Mark Zuckerberg talking about trying to stand out as exceptional in a world filled with exceptional people. Following the lengthy legal deposition, a legal aide turns down Mark's offer for dinner and gives him some advice on how he presents himself to the world.
The opening line is a great bit of Aaron Sorkin dialogue to hook the audience while setting up Mark's obsession with standing out. The final line highlights the irony of someone creating such a massive thing and yet being so unlikable.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)
"What kind is it?" / "Must be a very good friend."
Fincher's remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo begins with Detective Morell asking Henrik Vanger about the package he received. At the end of the movie, Lisbeth Salander buys Mikael a Christmas present, with the clerk remarking how generous it is.
The movie's opening line wastes no time in throwing the audience into the mystery, even opening with a question. By the end, the movie has shifted its focus to Lisabeth and the clerk's remark about her friend seems to hit her hard as she perhaps hasn't had a close friend before. That makes it all the sadder when she sees Mikael with his old girlfriend.
Gone Girl (2014)
"When I think of my wife I always think of her head. I picture cracking her lovely skull, unspooling her brains, trying to get answers." /"What have we done to each other? What will we do?"
his wife, Amy. The movie ends with David narrating again about what the future will hold for their marriage and what more will be done.
Both of these scenes show the same image from David's point of view of Amy resting her head on his chest, but the perception of that image changes by the end. The dialogue in the opening makes David immediately suspicious, but the last line suggests perhaps he's the one in danger.
