Media Maven: “Gone Baby Gone”
Gone Baby Gone
Casey Affleck, John Ashton, Morgan Freeman, Amy Madigan, Ed Harris, Amy Ryan, Michelle Monaghan
Kudos to Ben Affleck in his turn as the director of Gone Baby Gone. There were good cinematic film transitions, nice camera shots and a pace that kept the audience absorbed in this crime drama.
Gone Baby Gone is the story of a kidnapped little girl from one of the toughest neighborhoods in Boston. The investigation is headed by Morgan Freeman of the police department. Frustrated with the lack of answers, the little girls aunt hires a local investigator team to dig deeper into this unsolved mystery.
Casey Affleck plays the lead character in this drama as the local neighborhood boy turned investigator who has a history in the community. Megan Monahan plays his partner. Both carry their respective parts with conviction.
Freeman plays the chief investigator of the crime. A plot twist makes for an unsuspecting turn of events. Not quite sure if the story is truly plausible. But its Freeman, and he is such a pleasure to watch. He could recite the alphabet and he would be believed.
John Ashton and Ed Harris are the police detectives assigned to work with the private investigators. Ashton gives a reliable performance as a police detective on a mission. But its Ed Harris who shines in his characters portrayal of a cop with questionable motives.
The script was based on a novel from Dennis Lehane who gave us the book Mystic River, which also was made into a movie. Ben Affleck, along with Aaron Stockard, adapted the book Gone Baby Gone into a screenplay.
As good as this ensemble piece was it could not have been conceivable without the casting of Amy Ryan as the little girls mother. Her pivotal depiction of a drug addicted, single mother was gripping. Ryans narcissistic behavior and disregard for her child were achingly apparent. Gone Baby Gone paints a poignant picture of one childs discarded life; not really mattering whether she is with her mother or if shes Gone Baby Gone.
Rating: Three Chic Stars
Jans Movie Rating System:
5 – Top notch entertainment
4 – Compelling, Heartwarming, Thrilling, Comical
3 – The a) story b) actors c) special effects saved/made this movie.
2 – If you are bored watch it, or wait for DVD
1 – Dont bother. Too morose, too violent, too blasé, an enigma.
