Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Anything that keeps Benny Boy from in FRONT of the camera ... : "Gone Baby Gone"

Wanted to see this drama/mystery in the theater but never made it. So it jumped to the top of the Netflix queue -- rare in these days when She Who Lights My World has taken over the management of our roster. Yeah ... you know who wears the pants in this family.

Our story begins with Boston transfixed by a missing little girl. After a few days, the aunt and uncle go to a boyfriend-girlfriend detective team -- no, not Hart to Hart -- for help. Why didn't the missing girl's mom ask? Because she's a colossal loser. Really ... she must be seen to be believed, all the way to the end. Meanwhile, the police aren't jazzed about the private dicks being involved.

That in itself might be enough drama, but our story takes a few twists and turns starting at the halfway point. Probably one too many, but the payoff is interesting. At first I thought it was too neat. Then I learned I was quite wrong, and this is one time that the term "moral dilemma" is very accurate.

Great cast here, starting with Casey Affleck as the P.I. Mostly known as Ben's little brother, Casey is by far the better actor, mainly because he actually can act. Witness the recent Jesse James movie, as well as supporting turns in the "Ocean's" movies and "The Last Kiss." Michelle Monaghan is his girlfriend, Ed Harris is a cop, Morgan Freeman is a higher-ranking cop, and solid supporting actors Amy Madigan (the aunt), John Ashton (cop) and Titus Welliver (the uncle) are also on hand.

Then there's Amy Ryan, the sleazy mother whose mouth puts Lenny Bruce to shame. Whoa, baby. She never disappoints -- from "The Wire" to "The Office." Still, this is a new level, and god bless her chutzpah. Good for the Academy for noticing her and doling out an Oscar nom.

Directed by Ben Affleck -- not a typo -- "Gone Baby Gone" seems to have the Boston atmosphere and mannerisms down pat, and I definitely appreciated the mood, even if it seemed a little too much like "Mystic River." No surprise, since both were Dennis Lehane novels. Yet you wonder if Affleck had it easier following Eastwood's "River." No matter, since he does a fine job here.

If I could complain about anything, it would be the way all is revealed. Didn't care much for it in "River," and it's the same style here. Seems a little made-for-TV, even if the story is still good and things -- as in "River" -- are not wrapped up all nice and neat. A minor quibble, to be sure, and nothing to keep anyone from watching and appreciating this movie. Like I said, Affleck's the real deal. He's come a long way from swallowing a bug as Damon wooed Driver.

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