Baby Blues

If you look back at our recent film history, you'll find some of the best crime dramas out there have been set in Boston. Two films that automatically spring to mind are Scorcese's "The Departed" and Eastwood's "Mystic River. There is something very special and seedy in the mean streets of Boston, but I think "Gone Baby Gone", Ben Affleck's directorial debut is the most authentic in showing us just what those streets are like.

"Gone Baby Gone" is based on the book by Dennis Lehane, the same man who penned "Mystic River", it involves a kidnapping case of a young girl. The police are now in the third day of investigation without much to go on. The girl's Aunt (Amy Madigan) decides to find some outside help. Enter our complex hero Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck in who is superb) a young private investigator who has connections with the criminal elite in Boston. Patrick along with his significant other (Michelle Monaghan) are brought in to help with the situation. The police chief in charge (Morgan Freeman) is apprehensive about the whole thing, but thanks to Patrick's inside contacts, he's able to get information quicker than the cops. But Patrick has to report back to the police with whatever he finds. The leading investigators are played by Ed Harris and John Ashton. Through the investigation we learn that the girl's mother (Amy Ryan) was not a saint. She was a drug runner for one of the local dealers. When we find out the mother stole from this dealer, he becomes the main suspect.

To give away more about the plot would be a sin, for as with all good crime stories all is not what is seems to be. The film reminded me a lot of "Mystic River" no doubt since they are both Lehane's stories. The theme of child abuse runs deep, and a question is raised near the end of the film that you will no doubt ponder after the credits role by. I couldn't help but think that this movie was good mainly because of the source material.

I don't want to cut Affleck the director short, he also co-wrote the screenplay and reminds us that yes Matt Damon wasn't the only one who wrote "Good Will Hunting". I think the dialogue is the best contribution Ben gives to the film. It's tough and authentic, particularly in an early scene with Casey and Michelle in a bar interviewing witnesses. It stands alone as one of the best acting and dialogue scenes I've seen all year and reminded me of the tough talk between De Niro or Keitel in "Mean Streets". That scene alone is worth the price of admission.

The performances here are all stellar. This is definitely turning into the year of Casey Affleck as he makes his young detective into a tough, honorable, and charming hero. After learning that Dennis Lehane has made a series of books with Patrick Kenzie, I hope Affleck returns in a number of sequels. Other stars like Monaghan, Freeman, and Harris do solid jobs as usual and it was great to see Amy Madigan kicking around as the only family member who seems to really care about the missing child.

But the scene stealer here is Amy Ryan as the completely unsympathetic mother. As soon as we think we can get in her side, Ryan pulls the wool from our eyes to show us she's putting on an act.

All that being said, a slight thing was nagging me that stopped me from really liking this film. Despite the perfections of the dialogue and the performances, Affleck's direction seemed a bit self conscious. There are many scenes that seemed to drag and I wanted Affleck to show us rather than tell us. The narration done by Patrick seemed out of place and was unnecessary. I couldn't help but think that Affleck put it there because he was more confident with the dialogue than with the direction. But a lot of it I think is Affleck trying to find his voice, with as many bad scenes there are just as many good ones, and there are even a couple of spectacular ones, so I am recommending this film, it's a good starting block for someone who I think will have a great career behind the camera.

3 stars out of 4