Gone Baby Gone
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
4 GOOMBAS
Ever since Ben Affleck's bout with Jennifer (the first one), he's never been the same. Poor Ben. He just keeps getting crap for that unfortunate relationship mishap and the terrible film roles that followed. He will just never live it down. He's been compared to his brother from another mother, Matt Damon, who rose to star status together in their screenplay, Good Will Hunting, and sadly their success is incomparable. I thought he just needed Matt to help him pick out better roles. But with Affleck's directorial debut under his belot, I can't help but think that he's destined to call the shots, not be in them.
Starring Ben's baby brother, Casey Affleck, Gone Baby Gone features private detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan) hired to search for a missing local girl who's been kidnapped. Somewhat inexperienced but with some neighborhood street smarts, the couple try to unravel the case with grudging support from the local police.
First thing's first. Casey Affleck is hot in this movie. I think it's the tough guy attitude that got me interested. Michelle Monaghan's performance, however, was very weak. Her character was supposed to have been brought up in the hood, but she was wimpy and uncommitted to the role. One minute, she looked like she was about to bust a cap in someone's ass, and the next, she just stands there with an unconvincing, defiant look in her eye. She was completely wrong for the part, and although she brought some sensitivity to the character, it made Angie feeble and limited.
Ultimately, though, Gone Baby Gone's major thematic focus is on morality and the gray shadow that is often cast between the line of right and wrong. This is pretty good cinema, and even though it reached a pseudo climax, it was thought provoking and highlighted the harsh reality of life. Depicted in the situations and the character's choices, another movie never made life seem so unfair. Good movie; and not a sleeper.
Side note: Morgan Freeman plays the police captain, and I burst into hysterical laughter when he popped on screen in a uniform. It was such a surprise that for a split second I thought it was a spoof.