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Gone Baby Gone [2007]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Reviews

For his initial offering as director, Ben Affleck returns to the site of his first Oscar: South Boston (he and Matt Damon shared the award for Good Will Hunting). Hot on the heels of his moving turn in Hollywoodland, Affleck's Dennis Lehane adaptation marks one of the more seamless actor-to-filmmaker transitions in recent years. Ostensibly, a procedural about the search for a missing child, class and corruption emerge as his primary concerns. First off, there's low-rent private eye Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck, equally adept in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford). Then there's the girl's drug mule mother, Helene (Amy Ryan, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead). She and Patrick grew up in Dorchester, but he took a different path, setting up an agency with his girlfriend, Angie (Michelle Monaghan). Helene's aunt, Bea (Amy Madigan), hires the duo to augment the investigation, and they team up with Captain Doyle (Morgan Freeman) and Detective Bressant (Madigan's husband, Ed Harris). The authorities don't appreciate the interference, but Patrick knows how to get the local populace talking, and he soon finds there's more to the story than anyone could possibly imagine. Hard-hitting, but never soft-headed, the evocative end result proves Affleck has a flair for this directing thing and that his little brother can carry a major motion picture with aplomb. Gone Baby Gone belongs on the list of great Boston crime dramas, along with The Departed and Mystic River, Clint Eastwood’s take on Lehane. --Kathleen C. Fennessy


A decent character-driven drama for once
Review date: 2008-11-20 Rating: 8 out of 10

Even before the film starts, a little girl of 4 has gone missing from the seedier side of Boston, and a police search is already well under way. A young private investigator is called in, employed by the child's aunt, because he is thought to have connections on the street that the police cannot tap into. He and his female partner set about their task but, somewhat against stereotype in such stories, they are at all times willing to work with, call in or support the police. Eventually lead character Patrick Kenzie, the PI, becomes obsessed with finding little Amanda, perhaps a little more obsessed than the background story leads you to expect.

First of all it's a good story that is never what I would call gripping yet holds your attention at all times. It has few weak points in the screenplay, direction or editing but I found the casting of Casey Affleck in the lead role a slight distraction; he's been in a few blockbusters before (American Pie 2, and all three of the 'Oceans' series) but in a pivotal role here, and one which ultimately decides the outcome and the moral conscience of the whole movie, I don't think he's quite up to the task. Inevitably questions will be asked about his selection given that big brother Ben Affleck was the director; I do wonder though that with a different person at the helm, he would not have been so much as auditioned. Fortunately his shortcomings are overshadowed somewhat by a couple of reliable old pros in Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris, but the star for me was Amy Ryan who played the negligent, coke-dealing Helene McCready, mother of the missing girl. I have never heard of Amy Ryan before but I was very impressed with how convincingly she played her part.

I haven't read the novel by Dennis Lehane (Gone, Baby, Gone) and I'm tempted to assume that there's no point, because if the film accurately portrays the written tale, I probably know all there is to know. But I have a few other as yet unread Lehane novels and this film has certainly pushed them nearer to the top of my 'to-be-read' pile. He's widely respected as a top-class writer.

As a film I think it works as suspense drama and with some excellent cinematography depicting the less attractive side to what I had previously thought was a classy American city with a rich history; it still is of course, but none of that is seen here because from beginning to end it is pretty dark and depressing, very much a different impression to picture-postcard perfect that some novels make out.

So there may be a whiff of cronyism on his part but Ben Affleck has made a highly accomplished directorial debut. There's a lot of profanity in it, especially at the beginning, so it's not a film to watch while the kids are around. There's no sexual element visually, but there are some very unpleasant issues discussed (such as child abuse) and there are some bursts of violence, some shocking. A 15 certificate is barely acceptable in my opinion, as this is overall a very adult themed movie. Having said all that, intelligent dramas seem ever thinner on the ground these days so this, unpleasant though it is in concept, is still like a breath of fresh air. Definitely worth buying or renting.

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Reviews


Disappointing...
Review date: 2008-10-29 Rating: 6 out of 10

I'd looked forward to watching this film for some time, but it unfortunately turned out to be a rather underwhelming experience. "Gone Baby Gone" is one of those films which tries to be clever and fails miserably. The convoluted plot sadly becomes more and more unbelievable as the film wears on to the point where you're left wondering who would actually buy such a thing happening. I certainly couldn't and I wasn't the only one.

If the poorly thought out plot wasn't enough, matters were not helped by Casey Affleck's incessant mumbling. Trying to decipher what he's saying is an ordeal in itself. The use of subtitles really is a must. Whilst his enunciation did improve as the film wore on, it did raise a question as to why it was not nipped in the bud before filming had even began. It was a silly oversight and just added to the whole disappointing experience.


Fantastic film
Review date: 2008-10-19 Rating: 10 out of 10

I'd been lookig forward to watching this after the good reviews when it was released at the cinema and was not dissappointed. Exciting, brilliantly acted (especially Casey Affleck) and extremely thought provoking. A Hollywood film that recognises that life is not just black and white and really grips. Highly recommended.

A powerful drama that tackles an emotional moral dilemma, but the plot gets confusing
Review date: 2008-10-05 Rating: 8 out of 10

There is some excellent acting in this film, Casey Affleck puts in a very convincing performance as the streetwise but surprisingly conscientious private investigator brought in to assist the police. Amy Ryan is also excellent playing the mother with dubious priorities, her behaviour eliciting mixed emotions from the viewer of disgust and genuine sympathy. But the star of the show is the superb Ed Harris, who plays one of the cops involved in the investigation. His revulsion at these crimes translates into an intense anger and determination not to let the perpetrators get away with these heinous acts, even if that means him having to cross the line of the law in order to tilt the balance in the law's favour.

The story is gripping and extremely hard-hitting, this is certainly no Hollywood 'hero to the rescue' type film. It very realistically portrays all the emotions those involved in a case like this must go through, as well as the unpleasant circles they have to enter in order to find answers. The only problem is that this intensity sometimes gets lost in a storyline that seems unnecessarily complex and, at times, confusing. It's the sort of film where you very much have to concentrate or you'll soon lose the story thread, and considering the high emotions the film tackles, adding such a demanding storyline does leave you feeling a little exhausted.

Nonetheless the film has some very emotive drama and some very powerful performances. It effectively presents a moving moral dilemma but doesn't try and impose it's own opinion on you, instead it cleverly leaves you, the viewer, to make up your own mind.

superb
Review date: 2008-09-30 Rating: 10 out of 10

I was shocked at how good this film was. mainly coz it was dircted by affleck.

but honestly, if there is one dvd you buy this year, make it this.

just fantastic

the acting is second to none. the story is very dark and upsetting, and just wen u think its gona end thers just a bit more. i loved every second. i bought it the first day it came out

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Morgan Freeman
Casey Affleck
Michelle Monaghan
Ed Harris
Amy Ryan

Creators:
Casey Affleck (Primary Contributor)
Michelle Monaghan (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
EAN: 8717418167745
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-09-22
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 109 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2007

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