A History of David Fincher


David Fincher is a unique and talented director with a diverse body of work. Doubtless his resume will get a boost tonight when his take on the popular "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" story opens nationwide.

The American version of the popular European crime novel — starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara — is one of the most anticipated films of the holiday season. Doubtless it will add to Fincher's impressive body of work, which spans 20 years of making feature films. Below is a little recap of his work on the big screen.

Early Career:
Alien 3 (1992) — Fincher's first feature film was the third film in the "Alien" franchise. Doubtless the film isn't as good as the first product from Ridley Scott or the heralded entry from James Cameron, but it does showcase his skills. It's a darker film, including the shocking final frames for Ripley. You can see his talent, even if this wasn't the best vehicle.

Se7en (1995) — Arguably still his best film. It had an enormous impact when it came out, especially for the reveal of John Doe (Kevin Spacey) and his crime at the end. This is a pretty great early performance from Brad Pitt, and it's a movie that I appreciate more and more as time goes by. It's also a great early example that Fincher's take on "Dragon Tattoo" might be something special.

The Game (1997) — This is an under rated movie, featuring Sean Penn and Michael Douglas. You can see Fincher's strength as a director, and this is a movie that is worthy of a second look.

Building a Brand:
Fight Club (1999) — This might be the film that many people think of first when they think of Fincher. It has a passionate fan base that has remained loyal to the film throughout the years. Ironically, this might be his film that I like the least, for various reasons. You either love or hate the story and characters here, but there's no denying Fincher's cinematic eye.

Panic Room (2002) — This was not a well received film and might be the biggest misfire on this list. It was an ambitious project, and when you watch it you can see what he's trying to do, it just doesn't quite get there.

Award-worthy Pedigree:
Zodiac (2007) — Fincher returned to the crime genre with a flourish. This was an under-rated film, and one that landed on a lot of Best-of lists the year it was released. This marked the beginning of a new frame of his career.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) — His third collaboration with Pitt marked the first Best Picture nomination for Fincher, and movie that felt like it stretched him as an artist. This was a much different film in terms of tone, showing the depth of what he can do.

The Social Network (2010) — This is probably his most critically successful film to date. It's certainly a worthy Best Picture nominee. The film didn't win, but I think it was the true Best Picture last year and Fincher should have won the award as Best Director. Incredible performances and an incredibly timely story.

Tonight, the next chapter in his career begins.

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