Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Gone Baby Gone



This film started out like an above average Law and Order episode, but eventually found its footing starting into the second act. The stakes kept rising - to the point where irreversible consequences were ahead of every choice. And it's a thriller that thinks. If you don't have something to talk about on the way home from this picture, you weren't paying attention. The way the pieces fit together might feel a bit contrived, but it makes a lasting impact unlike many of the more heralded films from last year. Casey Affleck turns in another work of skill (though The Assassination of Jesse James: BTCRF is superior just for the sheer amount of nervous energy and loneliness the guy gave off). The character allows him room to work. There are contradictions that make the guy unique, but a moral truth at the center that makes him easy to root for no matter which number door he chooses at the end. Michelle Monaghan provides stellar supporting work. I've been looking out for her since her turns in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Mission Impossible III (though I'm not going to touch Heartbreak Kid or Made of Honor). Like her character, Monaghan has the talent to back up her looks. More than just a pretty face. I have to say that Amy Ryan was good, but I probably wouldn't have noticed her without all the hoopla around her performance. And Ed Harris chews his fair share of scenery. And the dialogue is unsure of itself. There's a lot of you-don't-know-me posturing. But the filmmakers are sure of the story and how to package it into a pressure cooker. And it's a doozy.

***1/2

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