Jun

Gone Baby Gone

Dir: Ben Affleck
Writ: Ben Affleck, Aaron Stockard. Based on book by Dennis Lehane Casey Affleck in Gone Baby Gone

Casey Affleck … Patrick Kenzie
Michelle Monaghan … Angie Gennaro
Morgan Freeman … Capt. Jack Doyle
Ed Harris … Det. Remy Bressant
John Ashton … Det. Nick Poole
Amy Ryan … Helene McCready
Amy Madigan … Beatrice ‘Bea’ McCready
Titus Welliver … Lionel McCready

This film’s release here and in Britain was delayed for a considerable time due to the supposed similarities between the plot and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. I can see what it happened, but in reality there aren’t that many similarities. The film is about Patrick Kenzie and his “associate” Angie Gennaro who have been hired to track down a missing child, Amanda McCready. Almost at once they find out that the media story isn’t quite the truth.

I really don’t want to say too much about this film’s plot. I don’t want to ruin anything for potential viewers and anyway the film is much more than its “find the child” storyline. It is dark and depressing and gritty and tense. But in the very best ways.

Watching you just can’t help but love Casey Affleck. And considering how creepy I found him in Jesse James that is quite an achievement by him. But you also can’t help but appreciate how well directed this film is. I’ve always had a soft spot for Ben Affleck, probably due to Good Will Hunting, but to be honest his acting hasn’t always been the most convincing now has it? As a director he really did nail this one though. Everything just works.

Most impressive are the actors. Every single one really delivers. You don’t doubt them, even when the twists begin to make you wonder just who is lying now.

It isn’t a happy popcorn flick, not by a long shot, instead it is a film that is interested in characters and atmosphere, morals and in asking questions about what you might do in any given situation. If you have the chance you really should watch it.

Tags: 9 Stars, Aaron Stockard, abduction, Amy Madigan, Amy Ryan, based on book, Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, child abuse, crime, Dennis Lehane, Ed Harris, Gone Baby Gone, John Ashton, kidnapping, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, murder, police, R16, Titus Welliver

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 10th, 2008 at 12:23 pm and is filed under Moving Pictures. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

9 comments so far

Ann (Check me out!)

Interesting review - I was very disappointed when the film’s release over here was delayed, but was able to see it in the US. I’m a big fan of Denis Lehane and found that the movie suffered a bit compared to the book, which distracted me. I wish now that I could have seen the movie without the book in my head. (My big complaint was with Angie, I think. that and something seemed not quite right in a way I can’t describe.)

Rate this:

3.2

June 10th, 2008 at 2:13 pm

Fence (Check me out!)

I’ve never read any of Lehane’s books so I can’t compare.
I hate comparing films to books, if I know a book is being made into a film I’ll usually wait to read it, because books are usually so much better

Rate this:

3.0

June 10th, 2008 at 3:24 pm

red (Check me out!)

I’d forgotten all about this film. It came out in Italy last year but only in Italian. Time for me to get my hands on the DVD I guess.

Rate this:

3.2

June 10th, 2008 at 9:22 pm

Harlequin (Check me out!)

I’ve read that there are some deleted scenes with Angie that make her closer to the way she was in the books.

I loved it and will definitely be going again. I read a couple of Kenzie and Gennaros out of sequence but now I’ve ordered A Drink Before the War and am going back to the beginning.

Rate this:

3.2

June 11th, 2008 at 9:56 am

Harlequin (Check me out!)

I’ve read that there are some deleted scenes with Angie that make her closer to the way she was in the books.

I loved it and will definitely be going again. I read a couple of Kenzie and Gennaros out of sequence but now I’ve ordered A Drink Before the War and am going back to the beginning.

Rate this:

3.2

June 11th, 2008 at 9:56 am

Maolsheachlann (Check me out!)