Gone Baby Gone (2007)

Original with lots of surprising twists

It's not often that something totally original comes out of Hollywood. It wasn't what I had expected, which made it interesting. August 30, 2008

Movie: 3.75/5 Picture Quality: 3.5~4.5/5 Sound Quality: 4/5 Extras: 3/5

Version: U.S.A / Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
VC-1 BD-50
Running time: 1:53:55
Movie size: 29,634,091,008 bytes
Disc size: 34,935,467,038 bytes
Average Video Bit Rate: 23.51 Mbps

* English Uncompressed PCM 5.1 Surround (48kHz/24-bit/6.9Mbps)
* English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (640kbps)
* French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (640kbps)
* Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (640kbps)

* English SDH
* French Subtitles
* Spanish Subtitles

#Director and Writer Commentary
#Deleted Scenes (HD, 17 minutes)
#Going Home: Behind the Scenes with Ben Affleck (HD, 7 minutes)
#Capturing Authenticity: Casting Gone Baby Gone (HD, 9 minutes)
#Trailers (HD, 6 minutes) August 30, 2008

Afleck at home in South Boston

Casey Affleck's performance was huge. Felt like I was right there with him during those life/death decisions as an anti hero. Of particular note was the first bar scene where Casey's character is interviewing an old class mate about the case and the local hooligan bar patrons decide to start a throw down. The suspense is immense, especially if like me you view it as the old school yard bully against the little guy with spunk. I heard myself say "YES" as my anti-hero pulls out a Glock...sweet, take that you crap head. My adrenalin was flowing after that exchange, which came as a surprise to me. I don't usually get so involved in a film that my physical life sign stats peak. The story line has the typical twists and turns with no moral right or wrong answer throughout. Our anti-hero simply has to go with his gut and call it based on his experience growing up in the neighborhood. No matter what his decision there is always a cost that weighs heavily on his soul. As Gitano said, Ben Affleck's direction was excellent. After watching the special features I find out why he did so well. Ben and Casey grew up in this area of Boston and were quite comfortable acting and directing with the real people of the area. Ben made sure he used the real folks in the movie. The street dwellers, the cops, even the bar room hooligans were all locals. They delivered their lines and acted as naturally as they would every day. This gave the film a realistic quality that you seldom find.
This is one to purchase. Be warned however, the Southey language is not for the faint at heart. August 27, 2008

YUCK BABY YUCK

Who wants to watch a movie about drug addict trash mothers who have no business breeding? Crappy story, crappy ending. August 26, 2008

Auspicious Directorial Debut for Affleck

"Gone Baby Gone" heralds director Ben Affleck as an artistic prescence to be reckoned with. The film teems with a highly individualistic style informed by Affleck's upbringing in working class Boston. You can taste it in the art direction and the authentic dialogue espoused by the film's denizens. The film also contains one jawdropping performance by Amy Ryan as the crack-addicted mother of a missing child. That you can engender any sympathy for this apathetic character is a credit to Ryan as an actress. Oscar got it wrong on this one. I would be a little more enthused by the film if not for a slightly lackluster script, cowritten, ironically by Affleck. It's not that the plot is convoluted but a little too labyrinthian for my liking. Another thing that is blatantly obvious is the casting of Morgan Freeman in a role originally intended for a white actor. You can never quibble about employing an actor of the high calibre of Freeman but wouldn't it have made more sense to give his character a black wife? Nonetheless, an interesting film that's well worth your while. August 23, 2008

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