Outstanding thriller with a great understory.

Rating: 9/10 (4 November 2007)

Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck): He lied to me. Now I can't think of one reason big enough for him to lie about that's small enough not to matter.
I didn't see the trailer for this movie, so when that came came out I was surprised. I had a feeling about Detective Remy Bressant (Ed Harris), but it was nothing like what happened.
It was this line, and many more like it, that stood out in this great first directorial effort and screenplay by Ben Affleck, based on a Dennis Lahane novel.
Casey Affleck has gone way beyond the Ocean's movies with his role in this film. He played it with just the right amount of finesse. Nothing over the top. He was supported wonderfully by Michelle Monaghan, who just keeps impressing me with better and better performances.
I really got drawn into this film because of two facts: one, I spent nine years working with the types of people in this film. I am no stranger to pedophiles and sex abusers, and completely understood Affleck's response. I have dealt with more than my share of trailer trash, and this film shows that not all of them live in trailers. All this sets up the reason why I am so drawn to the TV show "House." Everything is not black and white. There is so much gray that it makes it difficult to know what is right. This movie shows a whole lot of that gray and questions I have answered or seen answered on the job and in courts. If you want to see a good taste of the daily routine of child abuse, then this is what it is all about - neglect by those who are consumed by alcohol and drugs. There are no answers hers, just as there are no answers in real life - just hoping you make the best decision.
Ed Harris, Amy Ryan, Morgan Freeman, John Ashton - I know I'll miss some great performance, but I can't list the whole cast.
First, Mystic River, now Gone Baby Gone; I can't wait for the next Lehane novel to be brought to the screen - Shutter Island in 2009 - and I sure hope Ben Affleck is a big part of it.