| Ben Affleck has had his ups and downs as an actor, | | | | Casey Affleck is fairly believable as a private |
| but let's not forget that this guy won an Oscar for | | | | detective. It's revealed early in the film that his |
| co-writing "Good Will Hunting" with his buddy, Matt | | | | character looks young for his age and that he's usually |
| Damon. Now, Affleck gets a shot at directing and | | | | hired to find "missing" people that have "skipped out on |
| returns to his old stomping grounds of Boston in "Gone | | | | their jet ski payments." So he's not playing some |
| Baby Gone." | | | | seasoned private eye. |
| A four-year-old girl disappears from her home. Her | | | | Michelle Monaghan plays his girlfriend/partner, but I'm |
| mother is a drug addict and alcoholic, and swears | | | | not really sure what she brings to the private detective |
| more than a drunken sailor. The police, led by Captain | | | | table. However, her character seems to be one of the |
| Doyle, (played by Morgan Freeman), have turned up | | | | only people in the film that doesn't need to swear |
| nothing after three days. The little girl's aunt, (played by | | | | every-other word and calls things like she sees them. |
| Amy Madigan), hires private detective Patrick Kenzie, | | | | Ed Harris as Detective Remy Bressant, does a good |
| (Casey Affleck), to help because he knows the | | | | job of keeping us guessing about his character, but |
| neighborhood and can get people to talk to him that | | | | Harris seems to be playing too many similar roles |
| won't talk to the police. | | | | these days. It would be nice to see him change things |
| Kenzie works alongside two police detectives, (Ed | | | | up a bit, like he did in the early 1990s. |
| Harris and Josh Ashton), and he brings some new | | | | Morgan Freeman brings his "A" game, as usual, with a |
| information to them that takes the case in a different | | | | somewhat subdued performance as Captain Jack |
| direction. One that will have dire consequences for | | | | Doyle - a father that has lost a child to violent crime |
| them all. | | | | and has vowed to spare any parent from going |
| "Gone Baby Gone" is a solid drama, that keeps the | | | | through what he went through. I only wish that he had |
| audience guessing throughout the film. Ben Affleck | | | | more screen time. |
| does a fine job his first time out of the gate at | | | | While "Gone Baby Gone" is a worthwhile film, it doesn't |
| directing. It's not a great movie, but I've seen much | | | | need to be seen on the big screen. So, it gets a "Wait |
| worse from actors turned directors. | | | | for the DVD" review from me. |