Post by Bob Schlapowitz on Nov 16, 2007 1:04:39 GMT -5
I wrote up this review about a month back and lost it, now it has been found.
Gone Baby Gone (2007) ****
Directed by Ben Affleck
Starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Monoghan, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Amy Ryan
Rated R (Strong Violence, Language, and Drug Use)
"Gone Baby Gone" is story set in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood about the family of an abducted child, and the P.I. they hire to work with the BPD to bring the girl back.
Casey Affleck plays Patrick Kenzie, the P.I. on the case, and proves beyond any doubt that he did NOT get the job just because Big Bro Ben was in the director's chair. He is outstanding in the role, as are all the stars. The absolute standout is Amy Ryan as Helene, the abducted girl's alcoholic cokehead mother, who is such a despicable character that you almost hope they don't bring the child back to her!
The trailers are somewhat misleading, They make the movie seem like a straightforward kidnapping drama, but there is so much more to it. There are more twists and turns than Boston's own Big Dig itself. Just when you think you have things figured out, another curveball is thrown at you.
Ben Affleck seems to have found his true calling. As a director, if this movie is anything to go by, great things can be expected from Mr. Affleck, maybe even another Oscar.
As a resident of the Boston area, and having lived, and worked, in Dorchester for a bit, I have to say, the representation is absolutely spot-on. Not one of the Boston accents sounded too fake, as they usually do. (I'm looking at you Jack Nicholson!)
My only gripe was the use of fake TV news stations. It won't make a difference to most of you, but as a resident of the area, it took me out of it a little bit seeing fictional news channels instead of actual Boston stations. (There's no Channel 9 here in Boston.) But that's just nitpicking.
Well done, Mr. Affleck.
Big Thumbs Up.
Gone Baby Gone (2007) ****
Directed by Ben Affleck
Starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Monoghan, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Amy Ryan
Rated R (Strong Violence, Language, and Drug Use)
"Gone Baby Gone" is story set in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood about the family of an abducted child, and the P.I. they hire to work with the BPD to bring the girl back.
Casey Affleck plays Patrick Kenzie, the P.I. on the case, and proves beyond any doubt that he did NOT get the job just because Big Bro Ben was in the director's chair. He is outstanding in the role, as are all the stars. The absolute standout is Amy Ryan as Helene, the abducted girl's alcoholic cokehead mother, who is such a despicable character that you almost hope they don't bring the child back to her!
The trailers are somewhat misleading, They make the movie seem like a straightforward kidnapping drama, but there is so much more to it. There are more twists and turns than Boston's own Big Dig itself. Just when you think you have things figured out, another curveball is thrown at you.
Ben Affleck seems to have found his true calling. As a director, if this movie is anything to go by, great things can be expected from Mr. Affleck, maybe even another Oscar.
As a resident of the Boston area, and having lived, and worked, in Dorchester for a bit, I have to say, the representation is absolutely spot-on. Not one of the Boston accents sounded too fake, as they usually do. (I'm looking at you Jack Nicholson!)
My only gripe was the use of fake TV news stations. It won't make a difference to most of you, but as a resident of the area, it took me out of it a little bit seeing fictional news channels instead of actual Boston stations. (There's no Channel 9 here in Boston.) But that's just nitpicking.
Well done, Mr. Affleck.
Big Thumbs Up.
