Unexceptional abducted baby drama

Rating: 4/10 (4 June 2008)

In a tough inner city Boston neighborhood, the child of an arguably unfit mother goes missing. Contacted by the child's aunt to supplement the police investigation, young, pint-sized but tough Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) is asked to help with the search. Kenzie, along with his partner/girlfriend, Angie, demonstrates his mettle as he conducts his street level investigation in run down bars full of uncooperative misfits and scum-of-the-earth. Although striving to be dark and complex, the film is more memorable for its stupid plot twists and, in any case, still includes the expected abducted baby drama clichés. The audience is supposed to be caught up in the moral dilemmas faced by the hero, but the story is so unlikely, by the end of the film these situations cannot be regarded very seriously. Some credit for the portrayal of local people in this tough Boston neighborhood, many of whom seem genuinely frightening and contemptible.