GONE BABY GONE
RYAN: Who knew Ben Affleck had it in him? “Gone Baby Gone” puts him on the map as a director. He’s the new Clint Eastwood. I mean, this film is so well directed and co-written that I’m actually now a little bit afraid of B’Affleck!
CAROLINE: I was rawther impressed by this film. The only thing that kept me from truly loving it was that it gets a little confusing in the later parts, and I think you felt that way too.
RYAN: Yes, and I’m usually really good at figuring out movies and sometimes even predicting what’s going to happen. But I was so confused in the middle of this film that it actually frustrated me and distracted me and my overall enjoyment of the film.
CAROLINE: It was one of those moments where they expect you to have every character in the movie’s name down pat, but there are so many of them I couldn’t remember who Remy was. So remember this: Remy Bressant is Ed Harris’s character.
RYAN: Having said that, you do figure it all out by the end, and all your questions are answered so you don’t leave frustrated.
CAROLINE: Other than this minor problem, this is a gripping and, dare I say, riveting film.
RYAN: It’s intense and brilliant in the vein of “Mystic River.”
CAROLINE: Well, the book “Gone Baby Gone” was written by the same guy who wrote “Mystic River.”
RYAN: Oh. That’s a newsflash for me. Ben Affleck has been talking about how this movie is going to make him or break him in Hollywood because of how much he put into it, and I’m here to say kudos to Ben, you’ve done a fantastic job. I’m really impressed.
CAROLINE: It will definitely make him, not break him. There are some really cool shots, like the one when Casey Affleck comes out of the terrifying bar, and it’s very well acted by the likes of Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman. I mean, hello? This is a really high caliber film.
RYAN: It’s really well written too. Ben’s an Academy Award winning screenwriter and this is one of the best screenplays in a long time.
CAROLINE: I read an interesting article about how and where they shot the film in really gritty Boston neighborhoods using real people who live there, not just random extras. And wow, is it real looking!
RYAN: Meanwhile, Michelle Monaghan, who plays Casey Affleck’s girlfriend supposedly grew up with all of them yet she has no Boston accent at all.
CAROLINE: Yeah, that was weird. Everyone else has a full on Boston accent except her, yet she went to high school with all of them. Maybe she couldn’t do a good Boston accent so they just had her speak normally.
RYAN: Casey Affleck does a great job though I could see myself becoming incredibly bored by him in a couple years. He uses the same voice and facial expressions a lot. I’m not there yet though; I still think he’s great in this and “The Assassination of Jesse James.”
CAROLINE: He’s a little bit one note. He needs to vary his facial expressions a little more. He’s definitely good; I’m just not seeing a whole lot of range. And the woman who plays the mother of the kidnapped girl is really good. She’s so hateable in this movie. I don’t think I’ve seen her in anything before.
RYAN: The aunt and uncle are really good too.
CAROLINE: I liked the uncle’s ginormous moustache.
RYAN: Bottom line?
CAROLINE: Great acting all around and just very well done. It’s a really impressive directorial debut for Ben Affleck. A little confusing would be my only complaint.
RYAN: I would highly recommend this film. No one would regret seeing it. It really surprises you and keeps you on your toes, and it has elements of great movies like “Silence of the Lambs” and “Mystic River.” But it also really stands on its own as a great film. Go see it.