Apparently you can't have too much Affleck in a movie

Rating: 9/10 (31 October 2009)

Directed and co-written by Ben Affleck, starring his brother Casey, it's fair to say that there was a lot of Affleck on show here and the result is one of the best movies of the past decade.
The story: A down on his luck, green as grass Private Investigator Patrick and his girlfriend are hired by a Bostonian couple to find their kidnapped niece who has gone missing. Though the police, played by Ed Harris and John Ashton, are initially reluctant to help, they end up working together to solve the case, but there is far more to the kidnapping then it first appears. Not all of it makes sense, but so engaging are the performances and so poignant the issues at stake that it isn't hard to look past them and get dragged into the story.
The Performances: Casey Affleck received a lot of completely undue criticism for what is a fine performance which would have earned many other actors an Oscar nod, Michelle Monaghan is quite good as his girlfriend and the conscience of the story, Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman as usual are absolutely superb, as is Amy Ryan and there really isn't a weak link on the acting side.
Gone Baby Gone is a thought provoking, though in many ways ludicrous story, grounded by gritty performances and skillfully put together by an under rated director. One of the best films I've seen in years and truly a movie to be savored.