Review of Gone Baby Gone (2007) by Sean W — 10 Jun 2011

I've never read a Dennis Lehane novel, but apparently they are ripe for some great cinematic mysteries. Mystic River, Shutter Island and for the purpose of this review, Gone Baby Gone. Technically, the 4th in a series of novels based on investigators Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro but you don't really need to know any of that for the purpose of the film. Ben Affleck directs it as a stand-alone, and that's how it should be.

As the movie starts, a 4-year old girl named Amanda has been kidnapped. The mother, Helene, is a drug user and . . . well, let's just say she's not going to win any Mother-of-the-Year awards anytime soon. But she still misses her girl, in her own way. Her sister-in-law doesn't feel the cops will get any answers out of the local Boston residents, so she (along with her husband, Lionel) recruit Patrick and Angie to find the little girl. Angie's hesitant about taking the case, given what the outcome might be, but Patrick is insistent on taking the case so off they go to dig up what they can.

Right off the bat, Ben Affleck nails the authenticity. The man grew up in Boston, and he used real locals for all the extras. It shows, and you feel it from minute one. Using his brother, Casey Affleck, as the lead in the flick might sound a little typical at first, but Casey slips in this role like you wouldn't believe. I can't say I've seen the man in all that much where he wasn't just, "Casey Affleck," but he also hasn't been given a role as meaty as this. Michelle Monaghan has been a favorite of mine since Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, and despite not having all that much to do here, she sells the sincerity of her character Angie. As for the mother with the missing daughter, Amy Ryan acts her fucking pants off. For those of you who've seen The Office (U.S. version), I think you'll be amazed at how such a sweet girl could be played by the same person who plays this oftentimes vile, and pathetic excuse for a mother. But beyond that, she gives the character of Helene a tiny bit of charm and despair. It makes what could have easily been a two-dimensional character, full and real. Honestly, there's tons of great acting here that rise above the mystery at hand. And I think that's what the meat of this film is about really.

There's a great mystery to get involved in, but the fascinating aspect of this movie is seeing the toll it takes on our main character, Patrick. The movie visits some dark places and can be unsettling at times. It's more suggestive than gratuitous, but your mind fills in the blanks. When the film's climax finally arrives, I found myself struggling with Patrick's situation. And that's what makes the movie so great. You'll find yourself talking about the choices of the characters in this movie. What's wrong, what's right, and what's necessary.

Now, don't let all my talk of character interaction and self-reflection scare you. There's a great mystery/thriller here with a fair helping of action to boot, so there's very little down time. But the final shot will hit you, two people sitting on a couch watching TV, and everything you've just seen will catch up with you. It's a fantastic lasting memory. A small gesture of hope, in an otherwise dark and disgusting world.