Thought provoking, Casey Affleck's best performance

Rating: 10/10 (20 February 2014)

I recommend the film 'Gone Baby Gone'. I have seen around a thousand movies and over a hundred crime movies. In my opinion this is the best crime movie I have ever seen. Ironically it was only the first directed movie by Ben Affleck. Usually a first time director has trouble creating a great film as a whole, as he/she deals with the immense responsibility that comes with directing a feature length film. The movie revolves around two Boston detectives and partners in life that come across a nearby kidnapping and are hired to ask around the neighborhood to find out as much as they can for the family of the kidnapped girl. The movie is based off a series of Dennis Lehane novels about the two detectives, all taking place in Boston. This movie was made off a relatively small budget but it involved some of the biggest actors in Hollywood. Affleck got his younger brother Casey Affleck to star, along with Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, Michelle Monaghan, and Amy Ryan to round out the stellar cast. It wasn't made to be a typical blockbuster so I think it isn't known to the community as much as 'Argo' is, Ben Affleck's most recent directorial effort. Even without making a lot of money it garnered critical acclaim and currently holds a 94% approval rating on rotten tomatoes. I think this film is vital for anyone who is or is planning on being involved with law enforcement. Even though the main characters aren't exactly the most prestigious detectives, they bring humanity to the film and it really forces you to become invested in the characters even at the darkest of times. And it is a very dark film, it introduces many themes that aren't for everyone's viewing. That being said there are several scenes in the movie that standout. One scene between Ed Harris and Casey Affleck's character is compelling because both of them are detectives but also stand on opposite sides of an argument. Patrick Kenzie (Affleck) had just killed someone because he found a dead child in their house, while helping Remy Bressant (Harris) try to bust this household of another kidnapping. Kenzie is second guessing and having regrets about what he just did, while Bressant stands firmly on the side of murder being right depending on who you do it to. Both men had been drinking so their judgment was impaired. The reason this scene is so interesting is that both these men believe in taking down the bad guys, but at the same time don't agree on how to do it. The dialogue in this film is worlds above a normal movie. I think some of the values that we can take away from this particular scene is that we will never all agree on everything, but if we learn how to better deal with these issues maybe it can help resolve them. This film deals with many moral dilemmas that are still relevant in the world we live in now. The ending scene is also one of the more debated issues I have come across. And an issue that I myself that gone back and forth with several times. Without spoiling anything, the ending is a decision between nature vs nurture, and what is really best for a child who grows up without parents who truly care about them. Affleck gives a voice-over in a few parts of the film as a reminder that this is what the film is really diving into. He constantly brings up that he believes it's the things we don't choose that make us who we are, which would make us assume he believes in nature. But also in the film there are clearly decisions that are made that oppose that argument. Kenzie and his partner are faced with decisions that actually define their relationship, which suggests nurture. That's why this movie is so powerful, it doesn't give you the black and white answer, it lets you decide for yourself what you think is right while also giving good evidence for both sides. Luckily, I have never had to deal with a kidnapping so I can't speak from experience, but it is one of the more thought provoking movies I have seen. It has taught me several things for life but the main lesson being, don't hold back from believing in what you want to, but also taking into account that there isn't always one right answer. I really do hope that more people can see this movie because of the impact it had on me. I can't recommend this movie enough, it is always the first movie I suggest when friends ask for a movie recommendation. The themes from this movie will stick with me for a long time. Overall 'Gone Baby Gone' is a heart pumping experience that anyone involved or interesting in crime should watch.