Review of Gone Baby Gone (2007) by Matthew E — 22 May 2013

Beautifully shot, a different view of Boston, even after the countless films shot in the urban areas of the city. The way it is written and filmed is very different from most movies of this generation.

Aside from the commonly used narration, Boston attitude and help the community mentality, much of the movie gives a real life feel. Casey Affleck is persistent, not incredible but believable. The true realism of the movie is brought forward mostly by Amy Ryan.

The guilt and emotional issues she displays is unavoidable. Her lack of emotions and hard spirit makes the audience grow more afraid for the missing child. She is the grit the movie needed that the novel was so successful at bringing to reality.

This film is the underlining reason she should never be sold short or assumed to be only a comedic actress. The hardball "never talk to police" aspect is more poetically portrayed in this screenplay but too frequent in these types of films.

Monaghan is nothing to rave about, clearly acting and not suitable for the role. The movie is meant to show the line between humanity and the lack of humane attributes within a single community. Harris and Freeman are easily grouped together as cliche cops bringing nothing special to investigational scenes.

Especially Freeman, he fails at showing true emotion. Harris though ends up developing as a character and is strongest when telling his story about planting evidence. Freeman also comes into his natural talent at the end of the film.

The cheesy cop play was apart of the screenplay. The script is touching but not very believable. The action is exciting but not very true to life. Affleck does not come cross as the tough guy he is supposed to and is transparent when trying to do so.

Everything does however pick up for the benefit of the audience just past the halfway point, just when you start to lose hope. This is when you are forced to the edge of your seat and the story becomes more gut wrenching, and the writing becomes tricky.

The story evolves like you could never expect and the twists are smartly placed. At first the end seems too far fetched but really it is the necessary twist and the glue to the moral. Who decides what is right? Who picks the fate of those who cannot decide for themselves? This is one of those films you cannot decide weather it is good or bad, but the last few moments quickly make it great.

Most films have a clear ending, either it is an audience pleaser or less occasionally a depressing conclusion. This film is a rarity that lets you decide.