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Actor & Screenwriter Ben Affleck now adds Director to his resume; and if he's not held as a natural yet, his helming debut "Gone Baby Gone" should over-justify any doubts. Affleck (along with Co-Scribe Aaron Stockard) adapted Dennis Lehane's Novel Crime Drama while maintaining all it's momentum. The film proceeds onward; set-by-set powerfully, full of sharp dialogue, characters and settings. On balance "Gone Baby Gone", as applaudingly successful as the similarly-themed "Mystic River" — which was also adapted from a Lehane tome — is a cut above, thanks in large part to its many fine performances. Casey Affleck (Ben's brother) stars as Patrick Kenzie, a dogged Private Investigator hired to help the Local Boston Police find a child who's missing from the same working-class Boston Neighborhood where Patrick grew up. Casey Affleck is solid here — tough & committed. While arguments have been made that he is miscast in the part., needing a more commanding anchor (Matt Damon or Denis Leary would've been perfect); I refute Casey Affleck is "GREAT" !! Nonetheless, Casey digs in for "Gone Baby's" dark, morally ambiguous ride and doesn't let up till its thorny ending; one that's sure to leave audiences in hot debate. Patrick and his Investigating Partner — and live-in lover Angie (Michelle Monaghan) sign on to help locate 4 year old Amanda McReady who disappeared from the apartment she shares with her single mother Helene (a terrific Amy Ryan), a hard-living coke fiend. It's actually Helene's brother, Lionel (Titus Welliver) and his concerned wife Bea (Amy Madigan) who bring on Patrick and Angie to track down their vanished niece after it looks like the Cops, led by Captain Jack Doyle (Morgan Freeman) and Veteran Detectives Remy Bressant (a frighteningly hardcore Ed Harris) and Nick Poole (John Ashton) are dragging their heels. Patrick and Angie begin their search, which takes them down a series of Beantown's Meaner Streets., and into dangerous encounters with drug-addicts, crooked cops, pedophiles and other assorted lowlifes, who may or may not be involved with Amanda's disappearance. What eventually looks like an open and shut case, though, leaves Patrick unsatisfied and suspicious, with the latter half of the film involving his further unraveling of the complex criminal plot. And, while you don't see the finale reveal coming; the impact is blunt....and disturbing. (A compliment in telling a hard-tale). Helmer Affleck, with an expert assist from Oscar-Winning Cinematographer John Toll (Legends of the Fall, Braveheart) and Production Designer Sharon Seymour, vividly captures the lived-in, workaday atmosphere of Boston's gritty Dorchester District. Adding to the authenticity, the Director used local actors and actual townies to fill out the many neighborhood scenes, which proves especially effective during the ongoing TV News Reports from little Amanda's tightly knit block. Kudos also go to the ensemble cast's consistently credible Boston Accents; a speech pattern that often seems overdone or false on screen, and that includes Cambridge, MA raised Ben Affleck's acting turn in "Good Will Hunting". For Director Affleck, though, a little distance seems to have gone a long way, baby. Powerful Production....with the inability to fail you. Bring Tissues !!!! 5-Star !!Read full review
If you happen to be from Boston, or are a fan of the city, this film is a must! Like the "Departed" its all about the seedy underbelly and corruption of the police and "Higher ups". "Gone Baby Gone" in my opinion is much more realthan Departed. The Affleck brothers, who are from Cambridge, tell and perform an excellent story. A real clencher right up to the end. Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris are Flawless. Casey Affleck proves he has the stuff to go the distance. Even if you have never been to Boston I recommend this great work!
Affleck and the other actors do perfectly good work. It is the director who did not ensure that, with the heavy South Boston accent and running obscenity, the sound quality met basic standards. Also, the open - and well into the film, you really have no idea is what is going on. A jumble. You don’t need to see this film, despite the presence of some fine actors.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
In many ways, “Gone Baby Gone” was a very impressive film for what you would expect. Ben Affleck, who won an Oscar for co-writing “Good Will Hunting,” takes a stab at directing this film, the screenplay for which he also directed. With this movie, Affleck proved that his “Good Will Hunting” moment wasn’t an aberration, and he also showed that he didn’t need Matt Damon in tow to make a great movie.
Not your average movie. Interesting twist at the end.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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