Gone Baby Gone

Ben Affleck is not the greatest actor in the world. I want to admit my opinion of him right from the start. I can count on one hand the roles I actually enjoyed seeing him on screen. They're probably the obvious ones: "Good Will Hunting", "Daredevil" (yes, I thought he did a good job, despite the movie's imperfections), "Bounce", "The Town"...that's pretty much it. And he's starred in so many more movies than those four. So, yeah, Ben and I don't see eye to eye.

Having said all of that, Ben Affleck the DIRECTOR is phenomenal. As mentioned before, "The Town" which was directed by Mr. Affleck and starring the director, is an amazing heist movie. Not to mention it brought the world's attention to an awesome actor: Jeremy Renner. But I digress, for "The Town" is, indeed, a good movie...but it isn't Ben Affleck's directorial debut. That title is held by "Gone Baby Gone", and trust me, it's just as good as "The Town".

"Gone Baby Gone" is about this couple who are also partners in a private investigation business in Boston that they are the sole members of: Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) and Angela Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan). One day, they get called upon to assist the Boston Police Department in finding a missing child. They receive assistance from Police Chief Jack Doyle (Morgan Freeman) and the two chief investigators of the case that are in the Police, Remy Bressant and Nick Poole (Ed Harris and John Ashton, respectively).

Despite the difficulties the case presents, such as a druggie for a mother of the missing child (Amy Ryan), the young couple and the police get closer and closer to finding out the truth. But the closer they get, Kenzie and Gennaro soon find out that not everything is as it seems.

Ed Harris easily steals every scene he is in. Easily. In a film with Morgan Freeman in it, when another actor besides Morgan Freeman is the best performer, you know a great job when you see it. Of note in this film, though, is Casey Affleck, the director's younger brother. Mostly known as one of the getaway driver twin in "Ocean's Eleven", "Ocean's Twelve", "Ocean's Thirteen", and as one of Matt Damon's buddies in "Good Will Hunting", Casey Affleck is often a character actor and a supporting actor, but hardly is he given the lead role. By the film's end, however, you will realize just how vital it was that Casey Affleck was the lead, and not someone else, someone "bigger". Casey was perfect, and his performance was certainly up there with Ed Harris'.

Morally ambiguous, philosophically challenging, and demanding debate amongst moviegoers, this film is not only worth viewing, it's worth owning.

"Gone Baby Gone" is out now online and physically in stores.

REVIEW RATING:
★★★★★