A thought-provoking crime drama

Rating: 7/10 (23 August 2008)

Ben Affleck's directorial debut "Gone Baby Gone" opens with the aftermath of a child abduction which results in a local detective couple being hired to augment the official police investigation. The plot moves through countless twists on its way to a conclusion that is unlikely to be predicted by anyone at the outset.
The cast is pretty solid with Ben's brother Casey giving a fine performance in the lead role. Ed Harris is always good but Morgan Freeman, who I normally like, seems like he's just phoning it in here. Amy Ryan's convincing portrayal of the child's irresponsible mother was justly rewarded with an Oscar nomination.
Affleck's direction is assured for a debut though there were aspects of the presentation that didn't appeal to me. For instance, I felt that Affleck was apt to dwell upon images of the neighborhood more than was necessary. Also, the multiple twists result in a convoluted storyline that moves further and further from plausibility as it progresses. I will say, though, that the film's conclusion does cause you to reflect on the costs of doing the 'right' thing, whatever that may be.
In the end, I recommend this film as an entertaining detective story. It's likely to appeal most to the CSI crowd but it has a little more depth than most films of that ilk.