Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman

Based on the Dennis Lehane novel about two Boston area detectives investigating a little girl's kidnapping, which ultimately turns into a crisis both professionally and personally.

Flixster Users

85% liked it

56,079 ratings

Critics

94% liked it

164 critics

R, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Ben Affleck

Release Date: October 19, 2007

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DVD Release Date: February 13, 2008

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Stats: 19,188 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (19,188)


  • October 1, 2009
    A great directorial debut by Affleck. It was dark, moody and raised a lot of questions. There are no right answers though which will always lead to conflicting reviews. I liked the twist ending (although I wanted it to stay dark) but the main thing is that John Ashton is back in ...( read more)our cinemas. Wish Casey Affleck didn't mumble so much though
  • September 25, 2009
    The aunt of a young girl who goes missing hires two local private detectives to find her amidst the usual accompanying media frenzy. Gone Baby Gone was directed and co-written by Ben Affleck on his debut behind the camera but please don't let that put you off! It's actually one o...( read more)f the most refreshingly adult and well-written cop thrillers in recent memory. The story felt to me almost like L.A. Confidential done in the style of TV series The Wire, in that there is very little in the way of moralistic black and whites, all set in a ghetto-like environment with the associated colourful yet believable language and characters. It's a film that actually has something to say, examining questions of the personal sense of right and wrong and the cynical media hype machine milking such incidents for all their worth for its own gain. Of course having such superb acting talent involved certainly doesn't hurt, Affleck, Freeman and in particular Ed Harris are are excellent and Casey's brother shows an excellent eye in his surprisingly mature direction. It's not perfect; the story is perhaps a little too convoluted, I myself feeling that there was one too many endings for its own good, but aside from that there is very little to find fault with. One of the most accomplished directorial debuts I have seen in years, and all this from the star of Gigli! Who would've dared to think...?
  • July 29, 2009
    Ok, so maybe Family Guy was wrong, and Ben Affleck did have more to do with Good Will Hunting than eating Fritos and getting high...

    Though there are some very cliched scenes stretched too far by extraneous, stagey dialogue that's soap-opera bad in spots, this film gets high m...( read more)arks for its moral ambiguity - it's one of the few films I've recently seen that have really made me ask questions, and it's a tough one to wrestle with. Ed Harris is brilliant, and Boston looks beautiful - all in all, it's a very good first outing for Affleck as a director, and this is without a doubt one of 2007's better films.
  • June 28, 2009
    This is a good movie. I didn't see what was coming, and when the story was laid out for me, it all makes sense. The ending is troubling and I guess each person who watches it has to decide what they would do in that situation. I found myself thinking about it long after the mo...( read more)vie was over.
  • June 13, 2009
    Ben Affleck works with brother Casey Affleck in his Directional debut Gone Baby Gone. This interesting Thriller gives a different angle of investigation for this theme and defintely triggers thoughts of real life cases with similar media attention.

    Adapted from a novel, Ben A...( read more)ffleck managed to create an element of grittyness, with enjoyable performances from all of the main cast, especially Amy Ryan who was very convincing in her role.

    One thing I did struggle with slightly was hearing Casey Affleck speak at times and I'm not sure whether this was down to him or his accent (something I've never found with an American film before).

    A story which shines through the simplistic approach and does well to stay away from the Hollywood glamourisation.
  • November 4, 2009
    Simpley Put; "Watch For Yourself!"
  • October 27, 2009
    Ben Affleck decides to grab a camera and fill its feature-film with the characteristic, overabundant optimism that Clint Eastwood acquired in his latest films. The outcome is not far from bad, offering a lame story that has nothing new to tell with a painfully weak script, awful ...( read more)performances (thanks for saving the day, Harris) and amateur editing. Ben... I know Casey is your little brother, but let's face it: he's gay. He's the worst actor alive. Do not make another film; this is the best you can do.

    Oh, and for my fellow readers... Do you really think the ending is unfair? Hehe, the answer is not that easy. There are cheesy layers of truth beneath it, but I agree with it. It is the ending the one that saved the film from a lower rating.

    66/100
  • October 20, 2009
    Saw this on the plane, Casey Affleck's acting was quite good.
  • October 18, 2009
    Good story with lots of twists and turns. There are a few little hints along the way, but I doubt anyone ever guesses the ending..
  • October 14, 2009
    Had some intense moments...

Critic Reviews


October 19, 2007
Pete Hammond, Maxim

Ben Affleck may not have made the wisest acting choices in recent years ('Gigli, anyone?) but here, in an impressive directorial debut, he proves he definitely has what it takes for a career behind t... full review

October 19, 2007
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Bravo to Ben Affleck for a smart choice and impressive work. full review

October 19, 2007
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

The film is intelligent and always heading somewhere. full review

October 19, 2007
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

There's finally much less than meets the eye in what amounts to a linear tour of Greater Boston's criminal minds. full review

October 19, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A superior police procedural, and something more -- a study in devious human nature. full review

October 18, 2007
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

It's deceptively simple going forward, but devilishly complex in retrospect. full review

October 18, 2007
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

The brothers Affleck both emerge triumphant in this mesmerizing thriller. full review

October 17, 2007
Armond White, The New York Press

So far this year, no other movie has more risible dialogue. full review

October 15, 2007
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

Casey Affleck has never had a pedestal like the one his brother provides him, and he earns it. full review

View more Gone Baby Gone reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • GymNetic25
    February 20, 2008
    "A Very Dialog Driven Film" The setting of this film takes place in the heart of Boston. You can def tell because of the strong accents from most of the characters. Like always I think this film had more hype than what was brought to the table for this film. I agree that Ben Affleck is better behind the scenes rather than being an actor. I have to disagree that his brother Casey was good in this film. I don't think he should have played his role in this. Most of the time he just isn't there and you can't understand him with his strong accent. The guy cannot act and should "STOP" now. "Morgan Freeman" who is like in every movie couldn't save this film along with "Ed Harris". This film needed more action and suspense. It was more like a crime drama you would see on tv minus the profanity thats lurking everywhere. Besides that not enough story to back up for it to become a smash hit... and WTF was up with the Masked Guy scene??? I did though like how it all came together in the end.2star
  • LessThanZero92
    January 12, 2008
    Anyone Know The Music From The Trailer?
  • InfamousHugo
    November 12, 2007
    If anyone knew was the word ADAPTATION meant they wouldnt complain about leads being wrong opr stuff being changed from the book. Most of the time the movie is trying to get away from the book so its normal to have what seems like a wrong casting and some changes.
  • spiralrayonshorts
    October 19, 2007
    if anyone has read any of the patrick and angie books the would realize how wrong the leads are for their parts...other then that it was a fine enjoyable movie
  • Juron
    October 16, 2007
    Lets hope this is a good movie and not a bust.........
  • AussieJenni
    July 30, 2007
    Video Clips for Gone Baby Gone

    http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/gonebabygone/trailer1/

    Official Movie site

    http://gonebabygone-themovie.com/

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