Strong and engaging story of difficult moral choices

Rating: Null/10 (1 April 2008)

This is a film about two private detectives investigating a case of missing child. No one is prepared for the avalanche of shocking events that unfolds during the investigation.
The first half of "Gone Baby Gone" is a thriller about the search for a missing girl, while the second half is an emotional drama about the search for truth and moral dilemmas. The great thing about "Gone Baby Gone" is that such transition is gradual, without being contrived as it easily could have been. The plot is very strong and engaging. It questions who is fit to be a parent, who is to decide who is fit, and who is to decide a child's future. It's a heavy subject that people will feel strongly about, but "Gone Baby Gone" manages to present the issue in a balanced way.
For years Casey Affleck is known to me as Ben's brother. After watching "Gone Baby Gone" and "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford", I am impressed and am convinced that he is a serious and talented actor. As for Ben Affleck, his directorial debut is impressive, and I am already looking forward to more of his work.