JohnDoe
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BrentonGone Baby Gone (2007) - Trailer Included
September 10th 2008 00:02
The Painful Truth Beneath
DVD Available in Australia this week
Based on the Novel by: Dennis Lehane
Starring: Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Amy Ryan, John Ashton, Amy Madigan
“We're investigating a missing children's case here. Kidnapping has nothing to do with it. The fastest way to get Amanda home is go to Cheese, swap the money for her, and walk away. Plain and simple.” – Remy Bressant
Daily, the news media bombards us with sensational stories that brush over complex relationship issues during times of profound emotional tragedy. A baby is missing from its mother and the police frantically search for its location while the news cameras catch sound-bytes of information and repackage it into a spin based editorial. It happens all the time.
Casey Affleck and Amy Ryan in Gone Baby Gone
A devastatingly gripping thriller set in the rough and violent Dorchester neighbourhood of Boston. Gone Baby Gone dwells, strike that exists within the complex cracks that form in the wake of the abduction of 4 year old Amanda McReady (Madeline O’Brien). A frantic search is underway led by Captain Jack Doyle (Morgan Freeman) and his two Detectives on a Crimes Against Children task force, Remy Bressant (Ed Harris) and Nick Poole (John Ashton).
“A four year old child is on the street. It's seventy-six hours and counting. And the prospects for where she might be are beginning to look grim, you understand? Half of all the children in these cases are killed, flat out. If we don't catch the abductor by day one, only about ten percent are ever solved. This is day three. He may look young, but if he wants to work this case, he better not act it.”- Captain Jack Doyle
Ed harris and Joh Ashton question Amy Ryan
“He lied to me. Now I can't think of one reason big enough for him to lie about that's small enough not to matter.” – Patrick Kenzie
Discovering Amanda’s dead beat mother Helene (Amy Ryan) is a drug addict with questionable parenting skills and a train wreck lifestyle. The clues lead the pair into a dark and sinister underworld of paedophiles, dealers and assorted criminals. Nothing is simple and no one is as they seem, revelations and resolutions come at a higher price than any could predict.
“I always believed it was the things you don't choose that makes you who you are. Your city, your neighborhood, your family. People here take pride in these things, like it was something they'd accomplished. The bodies around their souls, the cities wrapped around those. I lived on this block my whole life; most of these people have. When your job is to find people who are missing, it helps to know where they started. I find the people who started in the cracks and then fell through. This city can be hard. When I was young, I asked my priest how you could get to heaven and still protect yourself from all the evil in the world. He told me what God said to His children. "You are sheep among wolves. Be wise as serpents, yet innocent as doves." – Patrick Kenzie
Casey Affleck looks for the light
John Doe says:
Thankfully remaining behind the camera, it is still with some disbelief that JD is about to gush over a Ben Affleck film (Dazed and Confused and some Kevin Smith Films aside). Though it helps that the novel is cited as his favourite book, Ben's knowledge of the source material is undeniably rich.
With Gone Baby Gone he has crafted a gritty and very authentic cinema experience that benefits from his growing up in the city of Boston. Dense in intriguing character dynamics and driven by murky morality, the lens wielded by cinematographer James Toll (Tropic Thunder, The Thin Red Line) captures pained faces and urban depression to establish an unwavering atmosphere of realism.
A refreshing and constantly surprising film that reflects an honest portrayal of a circumstance that is regularly sensationalised and consciously manipulative.
Like a good David Mamet script it is what the screenplay doesn’t say and what we are not shown that engages the mind and demands the viewer’s constant reassessment. The seemingly to-cool title taking on multiple meanings by films end.
Working as a mystery to be solved and also operating as an intense human drama, somehow Affleck manages to balance both angles in a fluid vision. The film is gradually paced and the tension comes not from plot twists and devices but the mining of established conventions and morphing participants.
All the players are given dimension and like the classic cinema of the past the supporting cast are no less memorable or pivotal than the leads.
Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James..., Gerry) is a fearless performer, unlike his brother breathing truth into the parts he takes on. Here he is superb as an almost disinterested underachiever thrust out of his depth and comfort zone.
In the role of partner, lover and confidant to Casey’s character Michelle Monaghan (Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang, The Bourne Supremacy) is equal. The strengths and weaknesses of her part communicated through impression as much as dialogue.
Morgan Freeman who seems to have been sleepwalking onscreen since Se7en actually reaches down deep in this to deliver what may be the performance of his latter career.
The ever reliable Ed Harris (The Right Stuff, Paris Trout) and John Ashton (Beverly Hills Cop) both bring meat to their pivotal appearances.
Shining brightest is Broadway star turned Oscar Nominated actress Amy Ryan (Capote, Dan in Real Life). Capturing the native accent and body language of the part she is completely convincing. Never played for sympathy, nor is she underestimated instead like all the characters it is her faults that make her intriguing Amy’s skills complimented by the fact that on the first day of shooting security thought she was a low class local mother and refused to let her on set.
This is the kind of film that only comes along once every decade or so. Taking a rather pedestrian idea that is usually constructed with predictable beats and easy answers. JD was impressed by the restrained flair of the piece, its profound conclusion that forces evaluation of the premise and also initiates analysis long after the closing credits have had the curtain pulled over.
Trailer Baby, Trailer for Gone Baby Gone
A compilation of Amy Ryan's stunning performance in Gone Baby Gone (Contains Spoilers)
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Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
As you say - hard to believe it's the same Ben Affleck behind the camera, displaying the subtlety and nuance of a great director!
Having read all of Lehane's books - and this one is nearly his best - I thought it might be a letdown, but it exceeded my expectations and Casey Affleck couldn't have been more perfect as Kenzie.
My only disappointment was that Michelle Monaghan's role felt a bit underwritten for such a strong second main character in the books. Other than that I didn't have any grievances with Affleck's script, he seemed to retain that essential gritty feel of the Boston locale, and eliminated the slightly cartoonish comedic dialogue that Lehane's books descend into at times, which was a great thing.
The smaller roles were brilliantly cast too, and you're right, Amy Ryan is amazing - I saw quite a bit of her on Sidney Lumet's brilliant TV series 100 Centre Street earlier this decade and thought she was a great actress, but she's sadly underused in film obviously.
Comment by The Cinema Nut
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I have only read Mystic River of the Lehane books, but am curious about the Kenzie series.
From that perspective Michelle Monaghan's role may have been underwritten but I thought that the emotions on her face spoke as much about her character as the actual dialogue.
I would love to see that Lumet series with Amy Ryan. She did also turn up in "You Can Count On Me" I think.
Always cool when you visit.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Affleck did direct with a deft hand for sure. Though the conclusion didn't seem as "weak" to me, I certainly agree that it was a little convenient.
I was blown away by Casey in Gerry and Assassination of Jesse James too and this one marked a trifecta of gems for me.
Lets just hope the older Affleck stays out of the eye of the lens.
Thanks for the visit.
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
... I don't mind Affleck when he's playing notable douchebags, a la Dazed and Confused!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Ben isn't acting in this film instead its his superior brother Casey. (I'm with you Ben is good asshole in films like Mallrats and Dazed and Confused, nothing since has impressed).
It really is a great directorial achievement and I'm sure you will get something out of it.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Anonymous
Heard you the other night doing this film review and another last night on the Godfather and it prompted me to check out your site - which is really cool.
You really know your stuff - in a fun way too.
Catcha
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Thanks for your kind words...glad you are enjoying my radio segement. Have you seen Gone Baby Gone yet?
Wonderful to have the visit please come back soon.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure