Few directors have established dark styles as distinctive as David Fincher. Following the 1990’s, Fincher has told extraordinary stories. You know what to expect from David Fincher’s movies: disturbing violence, obsessive characters and unpredictable twists. A perfectionist dedicated towards filmmaking; Fincher has made celebrated movies worth recognizing. In anticipation of his latest blockbuster “The Killer”, listed below are my selections for Fincher’s greatest films. If you are a movie-buff, these films are worth watching.
1. The Social Network
Friendships are fragile relationships rarely lasting forever. Due towards diagnoses of Autism, I’ve often experienced hardships forming friendships. Being an anti-social person, making friends with people in social settings has always been challenging. Few films I’ve seen have captured my struggle connecting on social networks as powerfully as “The Social Network”. 13 years after release, David Fincher’s film remains a masterpiece about friendships in social networking. Boasting extraordinary production-design, engrossing storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s extremely well-made. However, what makes it Fincher’s finest film is its humanity. At its heart, it’s a relatable story about friendships falling apart. Witnessing Eduardo throw temper tantrums at Mark brought back depressing memories of a friend I parted with in sorrow several years ago. An extraordinary piece of art, it has motivated me to give life a fresh start countless years after I parted ways with celebrated companions holding special places in my heart.
2. Se7en
It’s always raining in the city. Two mismatched detectives investigate gruesome murders. A depressing world filled with gloomy killing that’s rarely a fine place and worth fighting for. This distinct setting establishes dark tones for “Se7en”, one of the scariest movies made about killers. David Fincher’s captivating crime drama catapulting his career was one of the first mainstream movies ever made about serial killers evoking fear. Fincher always excels constructing clever plot twists in his movies, and “Se7en” builds towards most unforgettable reveals of his entire career. It’s a jaw-dropping twist so shocking it must be seen to be believed. Ultimately, however, what resonates most with me every time I see the movie is its pessimistic message. As someone fascinated with lives of serial killers, I’ve related to its meaningful message. As frightening as mysterious boxes opened by Somerset, it’s an extraordinary reminder about regret experienced by detectives investigating murders manufactured by a filmmaker that’s impossible to forget.
3. Fight Club
The first rule of fight club is you don’t talk about fight club. However, it’s impossible for me not to discuss a movie impacting my mental health so deeply. At an early age, I was diagnosed with anxiety impeding abilities to succeed in school effectively. As someone experiencing lifelong fight against mental illness, I’ve always identified with “Fight Club”. Since 1999, David Fincher’s classic hasn’t lost abilities to shine capturing mental health decline. Misunderstood when first released, it has stood the test of time as one of the first films discussing mental illness in Hollywood. Boasting exquisite production-design, clever storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s masterfully made. However, what makes it a masterpiece is its mental health message. Witnessing the narrator struggling distinguishing between imagination and reality sparked memories of my anxiety. So I’ve broken the first rule of fight club, but for understandable reasons. A bright light glimmering in pitch-black darkness, it has inspired me to fight mental health plight.
4. Gone Girl
It’s hard to overcome despair when companions disappear from life out of thin air. Years ago, my family faced sorrow when our beloved housemaid was murdered by a psycho. A cruel crime that was never investigated, it left my family emotionally affected. As someone haunted by frightening memories of a gone girl, I’ve always connected with David Fincher’s “Gone Girl”. In the most emotional film of his career, Fincher demonstrates despair of individuals disappearing out of thin air. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike are a match made in heaven, capturing couples experiencing marriage deterioration. Ultimately, it’s a story about grief. As extraordinary as Nick’s determination to prove his innocence, it has made me recover years after housemaid’s disappearance caused disturbance commemorating a filmmaker with profound influence.
5. Zodiac
Obsession has shaped my identity. Afflicted with OCD, I’ve often engaged in obsessive behavior as a means of overcoming high school’s anxiety. I’ve always been drawn towards a filmmaker fascinated with themes of obsession most evident in “Zodiac”. A nerve-wracking thriller, it documents the frightening case of the Zodiac killer. Fincher showcases effective skill documenting the Zodiac investigative case analyzed by detectives that were obsessive. What makes it one of Fincher’s greatest films is its message about obsession. Witnessing obsessive detectives struggling solving a mind-boggling case reminded me of obsessions I used to face. Nearly 60 years after the mind-boggling case of the Zodiac which the world’s greatest detectives couldn’t crack, it has persuaded me to piece life back together years following an obsessive attack.
6. The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo
Loneliness impacts individuals’ happiness. As a lonely outcast, I rarely fit in with peers at schools in the past. Being a silent rather than talkative student, I was different. Therefore, I identified with David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo”. Ambitious, gripping and thoughtful, it honors Stieg Larsson’s book. Fincher reimagines Steig Larrson’s book from a feminist point-of-view. As a commemorated character in Cinema, Rooney Mara embodies lonely women facing trauma. Put simply, it’s a story about an outcast treated poorly. Like Lisbeth’s investigation of murders’ clue, it has motivated me to adopt a positive point-of-view about loneliness realizing it contributes towards success of a girl with the dragon tattoo.
7. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Aging is a barrier impacting individuals’ well-being. At an early age, I bonded with my grandfather. I looked forward every day to watching movies with my grandpa shaping my love for Cinema. However, age prevented us from bonding together. As someone curious about case of aging seniors face, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is a film I’ve grown to embrace. In his most thought-provoking film, Fincher captures aging. In a career-defining performance, Pitt embodies despair of a man with capabilities to age backwards that are rare. A heartwarming tribute towards curious case of aging seniors face, it has persuaded me to recover years after losing touch with inspiring grandparents that gave me bright dreams to chase.
8. The Game
The 1990’s were a great decade when Fincher achieved prosperity. Fincher made several films in the 1990’s, but few were as successful as “The Game”. A gripping thriller, it showcases the filmmaker’s strengths. In one of his greatest roles, Michael Douglas embodies entrepreneurs’ loneliness. Fincher paints compassionate portraits of an entrepreneur struggling to communicate with peers in the corporate world. As someone struggling to engage with groups, I identified with its message. Nearly 30 years after he achieved fame, it’s reassuring to be reminded one of the world’s greatest directors remains at the top of his game.
9. Panic Room
Isolation is a strong emotion impacting individuals’ mental condition. Several years ago, I was locked up in rooms after injuring my cousin in fights causing sorrow. In a situation filled with doom and gloom, I recall feeling loneliness thinking it was unlikely I would escape my room. As someone impacted by isolation’s frightening gloom, I loved David Fincher’s “Panic Room”. In his most underrated film, Fincher captures isolation leaving people affected. If Cinema is a therapeutic art-form, it has made me recover from claustrophobic isolation experiencing rooms causing panic by commemorating a filmmaker that’s iconic.
10. Mank
Writer’s block is a barrier stopping me from putting pen to paper. A problem, it affected my goals of film criticism. As someone drawing a blank writing reviews, I loved “Mank”. Fincher honors screenwriters overcoming barriers to create one of the best movies ever. Seeing Mank wracking his brain making Citizen Kane reminded me of my pain writing reviews under strain. As inspirational as Mank, it has made me thank a filmmaker whose movies are hard to rank without whom my objectives of film criticism would have sank.
The Film Buff 
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