HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: Gone Baby Gone

It’s a very unusual movie that sets itself up as a mystery involving the investigation of a kidnapped little girl and ends up more about the repercussions of the investigation and the aftermath to the official solution to the crime. Such a film is Ben Affleck’s inaugural directorial effort Gone Baby Gone. It’s a film that will have you pondering the inequities of life, the impossibility of making black and white decisions in an increasingly gray world, and the often unfair illusiveness of truth. In short, it’s an outstanding movie.

Casey Affleck, already having an outstanding 2007 with award-winning work in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and the popular hit Oceans Thirteen, stars as Patrick Kenzie, a Boston private investigator who with his partner/girl friend Angie Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan), does surveillance on people skipping out on bill collectors and loan sharks. Dorchester neighbor Bea McCready (Amy Madigan ) begs them to aid in the investigation of her kidnapped niece, taken from her home when her partying, drug-addicted mother (Amy Ryan) was off at a local bar. The indignant police led by Captain Jack Doyle (Morgan Freeman) reluctantly let the two in on the what they’ve uncovered thus far aided by detectives Remy Besant (Ed Harris) and Nick Poole (John Ashton). Patrick, however, having been a part of the neighborhood his whole life and not weighed down by a police badge or an official presence, is able to ferret out much more telling information from the neighborhood barflies and shady characters.

As with most movie mysteries concerning kidnapping, there is far more to it than a simple ransom, and Patrick and Angie’s convoluted path to the truth seems over before the first hour is up. The contents of the second hour, however, are what really makes the movie as consequences start to come due to all of the participating players in the enterprise. The investigators themselves aren’t immune to final judgments either, and the film’s conclusion should be a hot debate topic for intelligent moviegoers for months to come. Oscar winning screenwriter Ben Affleck also co-wrote the screenplay with Aaron Stockard based on the novel by Dennis Lehane (famous for Mystic River). The mystery elements here are rudimentary. Fans of the genre will have it figured out long before they get to the final scenes. But the final decisions made pursuant to the mystery’s solution are what drive the film emotionally and give it one of the year’s most haunting and heartbreaking codas.

All of the actors portraying the Boston residents have the accent nailed to perfection (though some viewers might occasionally need to turn on the closed captions to catch every line). Casey Affleck is perfectly cast as the young, somewhat naïve investigator who arrives at some painful truths that will affect him forever. Michelle Monaghan as his more grounded significant other is also quietly effective in a part that could have seeped into the background in lesser hands. Of the supporting actors, Ed Harris as usual stands out in a dynamic portrait of a driven cop determined to run the show and with his own system of values firmly in check. Morgan Freeman has only a few scenes to establish his almost unobtrusive authority, but he does it with his customary skill. Amy Madigan once again proves her great, untapped gifts as the desperate sister eager for answers while Amy Ryan, who has won a shelf full of critics’ awards for her hot-to-trot party girl, is a scene stealing vixen. Titus Welliver also holds his own among this cast of terrific actors as Madigan’s forceful husband Lionel McCready.

Director Affleck captures the atmospheric demeanor of the Boston parish’s streets, bars, and homes beautifully, and when it comes to handling the misdirection so key to the mystery’s surprises being held in check, he does what he can, though some might find the ambiguity too much of a giveaway. Better are the climactic moments between many of the film’s principal actors who each get superb moments to shine and who are allowed to by a director who, being an actor himself, understands that simplicity works best in these kinds of revelatory situations.



The film’s 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio is captured in a very impressive 1080p transfer using the VC-1 codec. Sharpness for the most part is spot-on (only a few shots seem unaccountably soft; Affleck even mentions the softness in the commentary). Detail is so good that Ed Harris’ toupee is easily spotted. While flesh tones might veer ever so slightly on the pink side, color and contrast in general are excellent. Blacks are good but not great with very nice shadow detail present. The film has been divided into 21 chapters.



The PCM 5.1 (6.9 Mbps) audio track is beautifully recorded and rendered on the disc. Though surround elements are few and far between, when they are needed (gunshots popping from all directions in a couple of scenes, water from a river gushing below), the track never falls down on the job. Music is also woven into the rears though it mostly occupies the front channels. Good use is made of the LFE channel during the tensest scenes.



Writer Aaron Stockard and co-writer/director Ben Affleck contribute a laid back audio commentary. Affleck does most of the talking, and it’s anecdotal in nature mainly about casting and scouting locations for the film. It’s a little livelier than the commentary the men contribute to the deleted scenes but just barely.

6 deleted/extended scenes are offered on the disc that can be played individually or all together. They can also be played with or without an Affleck and Stockard commentary. The men seem almost comatose, barely able to summon up any comments for the scenes. Together the scenes run 17 minutes and are presented in 480i.

“Going Home: Behind the Scenes with Ben Affleck” is a brief 7-minute overview of the filming in Affleck’s old stomping grounds in Boston. It’s presented in 1080i.

“Capturing Authenticity: Casting Gone Baby Gone” spends 9 minutes in 1080i with Ben Affleck explaining his casting decisions for the stars in the film and the unknowns which were picked from the Boston neighborhood where the shoot took place. Several of the stars also explain what about the material attracted them to the film.

The disc includes trailers for the upcoming Blu-ray releases of No Country for Old Men, Dan in Real Life, and Becoming Jane. The trailer for Gone Baby Gone is not included.




Gone Baby Gone combines mystery and psychological explorations in a winning formula that doesn’t wear out its welcome. Featuring top notch performances and skillful direction by Ben Affleck in his debut as a filmmaker and leaving the viewer with much to ponder, the movie is one of the year’s best.


Matt Hough
Charlotte, NC

[PG]118376703[/PG]

Re: HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: Gone Baby Gone

I have to agree with you Matt.
This is one of the best films I saw this year.
I picture Ben and Jen at home looking at his Oscar and actually reading that it said "Screen Play" and not actor.
Then he did what he does best and that is write. He's not that bad of a director either.
His brother sure has grown into quite a good actor though.

Loved the film and the sound was very well done too.

Nice job on the review.

Roogs

Re: HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: Gone Baby Gone

Thanks for the review. I may have to pick this one up.

As to Affleck's acting chops, having seen Hollywoodland I think he is a much better character actor than a leading man. Unfortunately he is stuck with a leading man's face.

Doug

Re: HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: Gone Baby Gone

Definitely on my list, thanks for the review!

Re: HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: Gone Baby Gone

Affleck reminds me of Bruce Willis--not in style, but in type of actor. I find each of them can be good with proper direction, but should not be "left to their own devices". Some actors are always good (Chris Cooper, Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman, Cate Blanchett, Emma Thompson, Helen Mirren--these are a few that come to mind). They don't always rescue a film, of course, but they do brighten any film they're in. Others need a strong hand at the helm. Willis and Affleck are, IMO, among those.

To get back on topic, I am looking forward to seeing this but I believe I will hold off until I go "blu".

Re: HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: Gone Baby Gone

I need to watch my disc before the Oscars.





Crawdaddy