Gone Baby Gone (2007)

lookingglass

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452623/

When ever I hear that an actor is becoming a director I think of The Unforgiven. Then I smile. I love that film, and the fact that Clint Eastwood decided to pay attention all the years he was an actor really paid off. Such is the case with Gone Baby Gone. Ben Affleck makes his debut as a director, and we, as the audience, are very happy that he paid attention. Now, as the film addict that I am I can point out the shots that he used that were totally ripped off from Kevin Smith, but I won't. That would make for a dull write up, so we'll just launch into the basic review. Please note that I will spoil the ending of the film, so if you REALLY don't want to know stop reading.

Films like Gone Baby Gone immediately establish their moral center. Being that the central place of this film is in Boston the Catholic Church is central. So, now that we know that the characters decide to give us some great questions to ponder. Casy Affleck's character shoots a child molester/child killer in the home of a cop killer (Complex I know, but it works.). With his moral center, should he feel guilt? Morgan Freeman's character kidnaps a child from a drug addict, and decides to raise her in a better home. Is this objectionable?

The best directors will let us make these decisions for our selfs. Ben Affleck does that. I'm looking froward to more from him. This movie is totally worth the rental. However, due to language and adult themes I'd keep anyone under 16 out of the room while you watch it, but then again if your child is rather mature then I don't see a big reason to keep them out.
 

satai

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This sounds like a pretty neat film!

Actually - have you ever thought about doing script frenzy?
 

satai

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Originally Posted by lookingglass

Nope, should I?
ABSOLUTELY. I think you'd rock. You've got a perspective on film, and real appreciation for it, that most people I knew in film school completely lacked.
 

carolpetunia

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Have you read the novel by Dennis LeHane? Excellent as the film is, the novel's even better. This is the same author who wrote "Mystic River," which made such a painfully great movie... and several other brilliant books that have not yet been filmed. (I'm so eager for someone to make "Shutter Island" -- it's my favorite LeHane, and so unlike anything else I've ever read... highly recommended.)

What is it with these kids, Affleck and his friend Damon? How'd they get so good so young?
 
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lookingglass

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Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

Have you read the novel by Dennis LeHane? Excellent as the film is, the novel's even better. This is the same author who wrote "Mystic River," which made such a painfully great movie... and several other brilliant books that have not yet been filmed. (I'm so eager for someone to make "Shutter Island" -- it's my favorite LeHane, and so unlike anything else I've ever read... highly recommended.)

What is it with these kids, Affleck and his friend Damon? How'd they get so good so young?
I have no idea, but Good Will Hunting is a really solid film. Also, I'm going to look for them to do more in Boston. It's a great city to film in.
 

yam102284

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We're just finishing this right now, and overall I say it was a pretty good movie. I was making dinner through some of it, so I didn't just sit and watch it.

It definitely had strong language. And it did have a somewhat objectionable ending. I didn't agree with the ending, but it was well done.
 

crittermom

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We watched it and also agree, it is a good film.I wish the ending would have been different.
 
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lookingglass

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Originally Posted by yam102284

We're just finishing this right now, and overall I say it was a pretty good movie. I was making dinner through some of it, so I didn't just sit and watch it.

It definitely had strong language. And it did have a somewhat objectionable ending. I didn't agree with the ending, but it was well done.
The language was a bit much at times. I'm kind of sick of movies using profanity to get a point across.
 

yam102284

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Originally Posted by lookingglass

The language was a bit much at times. I'm kind of sick of movies using profanity to get a point across.
Yea, it was pretty bad. Almost like The Departed bad - I don't know what it is with those Boston movies. There was one point in the movie where every other word in the sentence was using the f word. Now, I don't mind a few curse words in a movie here and there, but not a whole sentence worth.
 

mulenag

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I am a huge Ben Affleck fan...been one for a while. I have watched the good and the bad and this one was on the good list. Thanks for the a great write-up on my FAV actor!!!
 
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