Gone Baby Gone
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.34 You Save: $9.65 (64%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.27 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Gone Baby Gone
Movie Review: A harsh moral lesson, a classic movie
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie presents us with an honest, responsible person having to make a very bad choice.
The choice is between "A" and "B", where "A" is also the default choice. Choosing either way will have bad consequences: the chooser is aware of this. He also knows that there is nothing to be gained by shrugging the whole thing off: choosing not to choose is the same as choosing "A".
This is what is properly known as a "dilemma".
It is also a moral dilemma such as it is rarely encountered in movies. This film is not only very well made and acted, but it has a moral depth that transcends entertainment. It is a lesson on the equivocal, slippery nature of life.
The setting is a rough working-class neighborhood in South Boston. It is a place where, in normal conversation, the "f" word and its various derivatives pop up after just about every other word. There are lots of drugs and crime. This is shown mostly in a low-key, but relentless, unflinching way.
In younger days, as a poor student renting cheap quarters, I did live in a neighborhood somewhat like that, although there was less crime - at least free-floating, disorganized crime -- and less drugs. So: not as dark and harsh as that in the movie, but close enough to compare for realism. My opinion: this movie has realism in spades.
The end is tragic in the classic sense: a good person is brought low, and into a kind of personal hell, by capricious fate and the limitations of human nature.
It is a morality play of sorts, but the lesson is given very matter of fact, without high-minded words and cheap "poetic" gestures.
This film makes you think, and keeps you thinking long after the last credits fade and the lights come back on.
Movie Review: Don't let this 'baby' go
Summary: 5 Stars
I am surprised by Casey Affleck's performance in this movie. What a great acting! He delivers the role of a young detective with amazing conviction. He is shown as a young man named Patrick living in some Boston hood with his girlfriend (who is also his partner as detective). He looks younger than his age and isn't too big physically (so people don't take him seriously at first), but has enough courage, toughness and wisdom that is required by his job. Inspite of living in an environment riddled with problems, hostility, drug abuse etc, he has maintained high moral values. And it is this morality and its ambiguity that the movie focuses on. When a little girl in the neighborhood goes missing, Patrick is asked by the girl's aunt to look for her. What follows next is a great combination of suspense, crime and drama, with quite a few clever twists in the plot. When the movie ends, you are left thinking about the fine line that sometimes separates the right and the wrong.
The direction is top-notch and so is the script, and Ben Affleck deserves the credit. When I started watching the movie, I had no idea it will be this good, especially having seen Ben Affleck in some pointless movies. But as it turns out, he is much more talented behind the camera than in front of it. Among the actors, as I mentioned earlier, Casey Affleck is a revelation. Amy Ryan, playing the little girl's irresponsible and drug addict mother, is excellent in her role. However I feel that Morgan Freeman is wasted and didn't have a lot to do in this movie. The background score is beautiful. As many people are saying, it's one of the best movies of 2007. They are right. Watch it by any means.
Movie Review: Great movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Upon hearing of this movie I was slightly intrigued, mostly because of the Oscar nomination attached to Amy Ryan who I had never heard of. After watching it though, I was very pleasantly surprised. The movie was considerably well made, a great start for Ben Affleck's directorial career. Based on a novel by Dennis Lehan and adapted by Ben Affleck, Gone Baby Gone starts out with a deceivingly simple plot and expands and grows with great intensity. Simply put, the story is wonderfully written.
There is an impressive mix of character dynamics in the movie. In other words, certain characters relations to each other greatly facilitate a complex and interesting story. Along with its fine plot, Gone Baby Gone has a phenomenal cast and they help to display these dynamics excellently. On top of Amy Ryan's Oscar nominated role (which is quite deserved I think), Casey Affleck, Ed Harris, and Morgan freeman deliver splendid performances as well. While the performances are what we should expect of actors with the experience of the latter two, Casey Affleck is deservedly building an impressive resume too.
In keeping with a good plot, deeper messages in the story very thought provoking. In some senses, it displays the traditional dilemma of "do the ends justify the means" but does so in a way that makes it too hard to simply take one side or the other.
An outstanding debut for Ben Affleck: the director. Thanks to an extremely well written book and Ben Affleck's directorial talent Gone Baby Gone is a great movie and I definitely recommend it to those looking for a deep, edgy drama.
Movie Review: Hat's off to Alan Ladd Jr, Dan Rissner, and Sean Bailey for a big winner
Summary: 5 Stars
I first heard of this film project in November of 2005 when Dan Rissner, one of the co-producers, contacted me to ask for the manuscript of an unpublished baseball novel I had on the back burner. I found him open and down to earth, and while he wasn't able to pull things together, I became interested in his work.
I've now seen the final product and I am impressed. It's not often I buy a DVD for my collection, but this time I did. All success storys begin with savvy casting, and here the producers made truly excellent choices: Casey Affleck might be a bit fuzzy cheeked, but he fit the iron-willed investigator perfectly, and the chemistry between him and his business partner/girlfriend Allie (Michelle Monaghan)felt genuine. Of course, with old pros Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman in supporting roles, the backup cast had to outdo itself and happily that's what they did. I was particularly taken with Amy Ryan as the undeserving and graceless mother of the kidnapped child. She was so convincing, I actually hoped she wouldn't end up getting her kid back.
Gone Baby Gone is not a happy story. It depicts life in the city where everything is hard-edged, nothing is ever for sure and openness and honesty are usually the first casualties. Highly recommended.
Art Tirrell is the author of the 2007 adventure novel The Secret Ever Keeps set on and under the waters of Lake Ontario.
"Simply put...the best underwater scenes I've ever read." - reviewer MW
Movie Review: Afleck at home in South Boston
Summary: 5 Stars
Casey Affleck's performance was huge. Felt like I was right there with him during those life/death decisions as an anti hero. Of particular note was the first bar scene where Casey's character is interviewing an old class mate about the case and the local hooligan bar patrons decide to start a throw down. The suspense is immense, especially if like me you view it as the old school yard bully against the little guy with spunk. I heard myself say "YES" as my anti-hero pulls out a Glock...sweet, take that you crap head. My adrenalin was flowing after that exchange, which came as a surprise to me. I don't usually get so involved in a film that my physical life sign stats peak. The story line has the typical twists and turns with no moral right or wrong answer throughout. Our anti-hero simply has to go with his gut and call it based on his experience growing up in the neighborhood. No matter what his decision there is always a cost that weighs heavily on his soul. As Gitano said, Ben Affleck's direction was excellent. After watching the special features I find out why he did so well. Ben and Casey grew up in this area of Boston and were quite comfortable acting and directing with the real people of the area. Ben made sure he used the real folks in the movie. The street dwellers, the cops, even the bar room hooligans were all locals. They delivered their lines and acted as naturally as they would every day. This gave the film a realistic quality that you seldom find.
This is one to purchase. Be warned however, the Southey language is not for the faint at heart.