Gone Baby Gone'

Overall Impressions:
So, Ben Affleck directed a film huh? As the film began this was the last thing in my mind. I'm not going to say that he's better behind the camera than he is in front of it, (which seems to be the trend) & this is because I have nothing against him being in front of the camera. I'm one of those guys that actually thought Daredevil was spot on. In fact I would say Daredevil was dark & broody, one step in the right direction that Marvel took. DC had Batman Begins in the works but in between the release of these, it was probably my best modern portrayal of a comic book.

Anyway, back to this film. It's one that most of the world has seen before the UK. At the time of the delay I thought it was stupid. The film was being delayed to show respect to the real-life disappearance of a girl that had been all of the papers/news last year. I recall thinking it was an over-exaggeration in my perspective. I still think so, but I appreciate the sensitivities a little better now due to the uncanny similar resemblance of the girls. Again, moving on & back to the film..

I myself have never been to Boston, but I felt a clear distinction here to the glamours of New York that would see in a Bollywood interpretation of the US. I wouldn't go to the extreme of calling it Gotham City, but it had the feeling of a rather enclosed place. I'd give credit here to the writing & the directing. There is that clear indication that within this town the degrees of separation between our central characters (the investigators) and all the rest is between 1 & 2, everybody is within reach.

As the story progresses, you do follow the outbursts of hope that the investigators do, you also bond with the characters involved, the police, the relatives, even the criminals, and you realise the parallels between them, they're all just people at the end of the day. There are lots of films that dip into the realm of you have to pick a side, & you have to fight, once this film has that over with in the first 10 minutes, it then elaborates on what those sides are.

It is definitely one of the best films I have seen this year. Its engaging throughout, I never felt bored through it, I didn't even check my watch once. Here I credit the performances. The writing & mood is fantastic, but every film has that one moment where you get the chance to check the time & the only thing that'll stop you s if the people you're wathing on screen keep you glued, and that they do.

So, as you probably gathered by now, I came out pleased at the quality of this film, but also a little shaken. Why? Well, what this film manages to do which surpasses the average-fare is stick with you beyond the show, leaving you with something to think about. It has me quizzing myself about how I would handle such situations & hope I'm never made to make such critical decisions.

Quality film. Without a doubt one of the best this year. A shame that the UK release is almost a year after the internet-buzz was at its peak. Worth picking up on DVD. I'll be buying it (even though I'm broke)