Affleck's debut film impresses

"Gone Baby Gone"
Starring: Casey Afflek, Michelle Monaghan, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Amy Ryan
3.5 stars out of 4

Actor turned director Ben Affleck, makes his directorial debut with the stunning, and gritty "Gone Baby Gone." The film, adapted by Dennis Lehane, who also wrote "Mystic River", tells the story of the dissapearence of a 4 year old girl, in the rough neighborhoods of Boston. Affleck who is originally from Boston, uses his memory of the streets, to create this gritty and tough film.

Not only does Affleck direct, but his younger brother Casey, plays the lead role of Patrick Kenzey a local boy with a feel for the neighborhood. This is a breakout role for Casey Affleck, who most will recognize as one of the Milloy brothers in the Oceans' movies. Patrick Kenzey is a neighborhood detective, who also has a girlfriend of the same occupation, she is Angie Gennaro, played by Michelle Monaghan. The two are called upon by locals to investigate the dissapearence of a 4 year old girl in the neighborhood. The girls mother, played by Amy Ryan, is a coke addict, and part drug mule who shows she has many problems of her own, nonetheless the dissapearence, and possible kidnapping of her young daughter.

Patrick and Angie are soon thrust deep into the case,and underbelly of Boston, as they shake down the neighborhood, and try to get information. The first hour plays like a police procedural, as the two join cops played by Ed Harris as Detective Remy Broussard, and his partner Nick Poole played by John Ashton. Morgan Freeman plays Jack Doyle, the local police chief, who years ago had his child abducted, and was soon found dead. Doyle has never recovered, and this is why he leads and created the department of missing persons.

Things get messy when a drug deal gone bad has some insight into the case. At certain times, its hard to tell where the film is going, but it all pays off and leaves the audience thinking well after the lights come up. The film deals with morals, whether your a cop, criminal, parent, etc. "Gone Baby Gone" is an intelligent thriller with solid acting, mainly from Casey Affleck, Ed Harris, and Morgan Freeman. If you like films like "Mystic River",or last years "The Departed", you will enjoy this film. "Gone Baby Gone" is a violent, foul mouthed portrait of a neighborhood with many secrets, its being praised around the world by critics, and I can see why. Anyone loves a comeback story, Ben Affleck looks promising as a director, this is pretty impressive work for a debut film. Affleck has certainly washed the bad taste out of his mouth, from past bombs that he starred in. "Gone Baby Gone" is a great surprise this fall, and I can't wait to see it again.