Scenario 8/10, Director 8.5/10, Acting 9/10

Rating: 8/10 (6 October 2011)

A complicated story about a missing girl, the world of drugs, the police and a private eye. I thoroughly enjoyed the film. It gave me the same feeling that Mystic River gave me. So I was hardly surprised when I discovered the story was by the same author.
Most of the acting was great. Morgan Freeman was obviously "just" himself: a great performer. John Ashton and especially Ed Harris were great. There is a monologue in the film by Harris that can be compared to some of the best monologues by the great Al Pacino.
But the acting surprise for me was Casey Affleck. I was very impressed with his performance as the private eye, the main character. Very convincing and never outplayed by Freeman or Harris.
I compared Gone Baby Gone to Mystic River. That also implies that I compared the directors of both films: Ben Affleck and Clint Eastwood. Ben Affleck did a impressive job. Eastwood is one of the greatest directors. But Affleck showed in his first film he is not far behind. I am already looking forward to other film directed by Ben Affleck.