Gone Baby Gone
Written and Directed by Ben Affleck
Starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan
Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Available Feb. 12, 2008

Let’s be honest, when you hear the phrase “Written and Directed by Ben Affleck,” your expectations are going to be a little low. Which is kind of unfair, considering the man does have an Academy Award for writing, but his past is his past and we’re all aware of some of the bad choices he’s made in his career. Well, give old Benny a clean slate, because he completely redeems himself with this movie.

The movie starts as a simple crime drama, involving the kidnapping of a little girl, Amanda. The girl’s uncle and aunt come to Casey Affleck‘s character Patrick Kenzie, a private investigator, hoping that he can use his connections with the locals to turn up leads the cops can’t. Patrick, along with his partner and girlfriend Angie, played by Michelle Monaghan, hit the streets and turn up what could be a lead, and eventually follow that lead to an unfortunate conclusion. However, that’s just the first hour. What follows is a set of chilling twists that completely make sense but never feel like they come out of left field. The closing scene will make you feel exactly what Patrick feels. It’s a story about following your morals, to whatever end, but leaves you questioning if anyone made the right decision.

Casey Affleck is a revelation here, but his big brother made the right choice of surrounding him with a great supporting cast. I mean, I could watch Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman read the phone book and find it compelling. They’re both great here, even if they are playing their standard Harris and Freeman characters (Harris as the tough but lovable cop and Freeman as the Grandpa you always wish you had). Amy Ryan earns her Academy Award nomination as the kidnapped girl’s mother, and Monaghan does a very good in a very subdued role that has a big impact in the end. But the film begins and ends with Affleck’s performance, and he carries the whole thing. He’s got this whole simmering anger that flashes at times but he gives his role a quiet dignity that makes you buy what the character does. He really makes the movie as good as it is.

This is not to limit the writing and directing. The script is tight, with a lot of twists, but every twist is set up ahead of time and you never feel lost while watching. Characters motivations are well explained, which pays off big at the end of the movie. The plot flows at a good pace, but never feels rushed. The characters just feel real, and that comes not just from the script, but also the world in which the film takes place. We all know Ben Affleck is a Boston boy at heart, he knows the character of the city, and he makes that character jump off the screen. He’s assembled a cast of actors who look like real working class people and it’s really the cast and the locations and the way that they’re filmed that keep you interested in the unfolding story. For a first time director, Ben Affleck does a great job doing what he’s supposed to do. He sets the pace, he lets the actors do their job, and he creates the world for the story to play itself out in.

This is one of the best “good” movies of last year, and I’m sure a lot of people missed it when it was in theaters, but do not make that mistake now. Great performance, solid direction, and a story that will keep you guessing to the last frame. This is as good as movies get and it is one I can’t wait to share with others who haven’t seen it.

DVD Bonus Features

The bonus features are a little slim, just a couple of featurettes and a few deleted scenes, along with the obligatory commentary by Ben Affleck and writer Aaron Stockard.

Going Home: Behind the Scenes with Ben Affleck

A behind the scenes look at how Ben Affleck and crew filmed the city of Boston and how it affected the look and feel of the film. It’s pretty short and there’s no real insight into the making of the film.

Capturing Authenticity: Casting Gone Baby Gone

A pretty interesting look at the different actors and how they were involved within the film. Some good interviews with the cast and crew, but again, not a ton of real information. Pretty much your standard set of behind the scenes shorts with the cast congratulating itself, but not offering much insight into the film.

Deleted Scenes

There’s an alternate opening, with a different narration, but I think the one they used in the film worked better. Then there are some scenes from the middle of the film that were probably better left on the cutting room floor, as they don’t really add anything to the story or give some deep new insight to the characters. Then there’s a supposed “thought provoking extended ending” which was pretty much the same as the original ending but with a couple lines of narration at the end. All in all, pretty disappointing set of extras. Fortunately, it doesn’t take away from the film, which is reason enough to buy this DVD.