Gone Baby Gone (2007)
On Wednesday, I watched Gone Baby Gone, Ben Affleck's major motion picture directorial debut. The movie is based upon a novel by Dennis Lehane (Mystic River). Affleck also penned the screenplay in tandem with his friend Aaron Stockard.
The movie begins with a 4-year-old girl missing from a tough working class Boston neighborhood (Dorchester). The girl's aunt enlists private investigators Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) and Angela Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan) to assist in the investigation as they know the neighborhood. As the case progresses, Kenzie and Gennaro face drug dealers, gangs and pedophiles.
The movie brilliantly depicts Kenzie facing two moral dilemmas, one in the middle of the movie and one at the end. Kenzie's opening monologue sets the stage for these choices. Kenzie narrates, "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.'"
This quote from Matthew 10:16 sets up a morality play pitting Catholic (Christian) ethics against a world whose morality is governed by different guidelines. As with any good dilemma, there are personal consequences involved and the viewer views the film's world through Kenzie's eyes and as such must choose with Kenzie.
The movie has been lauded for its authentic feel. Affleck, a Boston native, shot on location. His brother Casey may or may not have been hired due to nepotism, but performs beautifully in one of his first leading roles. Amy Ryan was so convincing as a low class Dorchester mom that a security guard mistook her for a fan on the first day of location filming, and would not let her on the set.
I could tell the movie was authentic Boston as many of the characters, including Affleck, seemed like they would fit into New Kids on the Block.
In addition to the obvious moral dilemmas presented, the film also subtly critiques the media’s role in horrific stories such as abductions as well as accentuating the overlooked subject of children's rights.
The movie should stimulate a good ethical debate as the questions asked are left for the viewer to decide for herself.
As far as inapproprate content, there is excessive cursing (though it appears this is an authentic part of the culture depicted), some drug use, and some gun violence. Otherwise,I highly recommend this film for adults.
Current IMDB rating: 8.0/10. Chanalysis: 9/10.
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