Gripping and absorbing adatptatio nof Lehane's best-seller; career highs for the Brothers Affleck & kudos to Ryan's fearless turn

Rating: 9/10 (22 October 2007)

GONE BABY GONE (2007) ***1/2 Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, John Ashton, Amy Ryan, Amy Madigan, Titus Welliver, Michael K. Williams, Edi Gathegi, Mark Margolis, Madeline O'Brien, Slaine, Trudi Goodman, Matthew Maher, Jill Quigg. Novice director Ben Aflleck delivers the goods in this absorbing yet familiar adaptation of Dennis Lehane's novel (he co-scripted the screenplay with Aaron Stockard) about a missing 4 year old girl (O'Brien) in South Boston that involves local boy turned PI Patrick Kenzie (Ben's younger sibling giving his best performance to date) and his co-hort/lover Angie Gennaro (Monaghan equally excellent in her strongest role of her young career), the pair enlisted by the girl's family and ultimately working with the police department (Freeman, as the special forces leader, and Harris and Ashton, respectively, the detectives assigned to the crime), coming to loggerheads with them, the community, and each other in the pursuit of the time- ticking end result. Gripping with excellent acting all around  especially Ryan who deserves a Best Supporting Actress nod for her risky turn as the girl's white trash, reprobate mother. Uncompromising and frank, a well-deserved reward for those who like character studies amidst their crime dramas. Affleck uses the locales and locals to full affect.