Gone Baby Gone (DVD, 2008)

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 very solid here; tough & committed. Though arguments have been made that he seems miscast in the part., needing a more commanding anchor (Matt Damon or Denis Leary would've been perfect); I will still refute; Case Affleck is "On-Target" and 'Far From A Dissapointment' - He's 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 !!

Actor & Screenwriter Ben Affleck is not only a great and fascinating actor, but he is now a fantasticdirector with his movie, "Gone Baby Gone." Leaving a key role in the movie for his brother, "Casey Afleck", which shows great spirit and team work in ht emaking of the film. One of the greatest and unqiue performances by Morgan Freeman.

The story will take you through many life threathening and decision making events in a few people's life. Some decisions whether they be right, my not always be what's best for someone. This story takes place in boston, and tells a story of a little kidnapped girl. The movie shows different points of views of people in their life on an interesting topic. Gone Baby Gone will have you lurking for continuous explanations for the events that are occuring.

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THE CHOICES YOU MAKE,YOU LIVE WITH, BUT TO STAND FIRM AND SAY I STICK TO MY HONOR OR WHAT I THINK IS RIGHT IS THE ......RISK written IN STONE. THINK. THIS MOVIE INVITES TO BOSTON,THE REAL PEOPLE,PROBLEMS &THE HATES & LOVES,THE CRIME.YOU MIGHT WONDER ABOUT YOURSELF/YOUR DECISIONS/OTHER PEOPLE OF YOUR LIFE. CASEY AFFLECK IS MOVING UP AND WIL BE SEEN MORE. BEN AFFLECK READ A GOOD INTENSE SCRIPT/BOOK AND HE DID IT. I'VE ALWAYS SAID & BELIEVE EVERYTHING GOOD,GREAT & MEMORABLE IN THE MOVIES IS...THE WRITTING, DADDY-O, THE WRITING,DADDY-O...KOOL KATS!!! I'M SORRY I GET PSYCHED. GONE BABY GONE AND YES AMY RYAN IS VERY REAL,YOU'LL SEE IF YOU CHECK IT OUT. MORGAN FREEMAN & ED HARRIS ADD GOOD FORMULA TO THE FILM BY GREAT ACTORS. WHEN YOU START TO WATCH THIS FILM YOU'LL DEFINATELY WANT TO SEE WHERE IT GOES.SEE IT AND FIND OUT. jendrey123

Dagskizik

This is a thought provoking movie. Keeps your attention. One knows this goes on out there in the world, and the thought process isn't always positive. Ben Affleck did a good job directing and Casey Affleck did well acting along with the other stars. I am glad I got to see this. I don't necessarily agree with the ending, but know it happens.

What a way to debut a new occupation for Ben Affleck ((directer.) Great cast Cassy Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris. Two youngsters and two great veterans. And all of them glowed in thier roles.

What a heart wrenching story, who's right or who's wrong? This is a movie that will entertain you and make you think at the same time.

I bought this because I like Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris, and can add Cassey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan to my favorites....