What a moral dilemma

Rating: 8/10 (28 May 2009)

This was an unexpectedly great movie and I didn't know what was going to happen, but when it reached its conclusion I was left wondering about the moral dilemma that Patrick (Casey Affleck) faced. I felt that I agreed with him and he did the right thing, yet it was an impossible decision to make. If a child is missing, the detectives who agree to take on the case feel honour-bound to continue to search until they find the child. It seems like a simple matter, but this film reveals how complicated it can be. Along the way, we meet a collection of low-life characters who make the viewer feel depressed about the society we live in (or at least in that city) and wonder how any child can grow up safe. It could have the effect of disillusionment with the story, but the attitude of the two young private detectives is a beacon of hope: they know the difference between right and wrong. Even though their responses to the final dilemma are different, they illuminate the central minefield faced by anyone who gets involved in child welfare. Since this is one of the most emotive issues faced by our society, it's a compelling narrative.
The performances were excellent and I wondered at several points how the collection of ill-assorted characters was made so realistic. The dialogue was hard to follow in some places because the realism of the delivery was such that I would have needed subtitles, but that didn't detract from the overall experience. The violence was convincing, but not overwhelming. Definitely worth seeing.