Gone Baby Gone

Denis lehane is an excellent author and the series of books concerning private eyes Kenzie and Genarro place him alongside Michael Connelly and Harlan Coben as one of America's top crime writers.

The film Gone Baby Gone is based on what is possibly the best of the Kenzie/Genarro books and Ben Affleck, in his directorial debut, has created an excellent movie, staying true to Lehane's storyline and getting a knockout performance from brother Casey as Patrick Kenzie.

The film barely surfaced in ths country, as it was originally due to come out at the same time as the Madeline McCann tragedy occurred and the film's storyline of child kidnap was too close to disturbing reality to get the kind of release it deserved.

The film also has strong performances from Ed Harris, Michelle Monaghan and especially Amy Ryan as the missing child's mother.

I highly recommend this film to everyone who has yet to see it.

Based on a novel from the same author as Mystic River, this shares much of the same ambiguity and flawed characters of that movie. Set in the seedier and grittier parts of Boston, the tale revolves around a missing girl. Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan play the private detectives who are requested by relatives to help the search, and the beginning of the movie introduces us to a milieu which shows an unforgiving background for bringing up the child. The characters we meet include pimps, hard-assed barmen, mules (drug runners), dubious cops and various other dregs of society.
What is remarkable about the movie is how convincing is the air of authenticity of the neighbourhoods and houses. It all feels horribly real. And not least the characters, who all have their flaws as well as their streaks of humanity. Be warned, the language, particularly in the first third of the movie, is full of intense profanity which may put some off, but is certainly in keeping with the locales and personalities.
As the film progresses, it takes directions we could not suspect, raising genuine issues on where lines are drawn, how the thin wedge of corruption can take its toll, and should the role of a parent be questioned? It's controversial subject matter, unflinchingly portrayed, and absorbing with it.
There's no doubt that Ben Affleck has done the wise thing and surround himself with terrific co-workers... His brother Casey puts in a blisteringly underplayed performance that never fails to convince us of both his working class credentials and his strong moral compass. The entire effect is completed by the supporting cast comprising the likes of John Ashton, Morgan Freeman and the ever terrific Ed Harris who give real gravitas to proceedings. Harry Gregson Williams has delivered another unobtrusive but powerful soundtrack, and Oscar winning John Toll's cinematography is spectacular (particularly in this crystal clear Blu-Ray).
A stunning debut then from the elder Affleck, and another terrific performance from Casey Affleck further cementing his rise to stardom.

Given no publicity and not shown in cinemas in the UK due to events at the time of release Gone Baby Gone passed by under the carpet.

It is a hidden gem that really shouldn't be missed. If you are a member of the 'yuck, it's Ben Affleck' bandwagon please, don't be put off. If this is anything to go by and he is hanging up the acting, we should have some great stuff in the future - maybe another Good Will Hunting?

Without giving too much away about halfway through there's a major left turn in the way the film is going and it's followed up with a series of them until the end. The only odd thing I found is Michelle Monaghan, I'm not sure that her charactor really needs to be here. Adds a bit of balance I suppose?

For those interested, the HD transfer isn't fantastic to be honest so if you haven't gone exclusively Blu you can happily stick to upscaled DVD.