About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

Casey Affleck delivers the best performance of his career as a private investigator caught up in the case of a missing child in Gone Baby Gone. And Casey's brother Ben, who makes his directorial debut with the dramatic thriller based on the Dennis Lehane novel, proves he's got what it takes to helm a feature film.



Pros

• Taut, suspenseful thriller
• Loaded with colorful characters
• Terrific performances by the entire ensemble

• Decent collection of bonus features

Cons

• The commentary track is lifeless

Description

• Starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Amy Ryan, Amy Madigan, Titus Welliver and Morgan Freeman
• Co-written and directed by Ben Affleck
• Rated R for violence, drug content and pervasive language
• DVD Release Date: February 12, 2008

Guide Review - 'Gone Baby Gone' DVD Review

The Story

When 4-year-old Amanda McCreary goes missing her aunt and uncle turn to the private detective team of Patrick (Casey Affleck) and Angie (Michelle Monaghan) to help bring her home. The child's mother, Helene (Oscar nominee Amy Ryan), is an addict who seems more worried about her next score than she does getting her child back. Once Patrick and Angie take on the case, they quickly find out why Helene's acting so strangely. Helene's got quite a story to tell and the private investigators soon find themselves immersed in a deadly game of cat and mouse as they try and figure out where the truth lies and exactly what happened to young Amanda.

The Bonus Features

Is it just me or is Ben Affleck sounding more and more like his brother Casey every day? The elder of the Affleck men does the commentary track, along with his Gone Baby Gone co-writer, and I've got to say his voice leaves a lot to be desired. Ben Affleck sounds totally exhausted, and his enthusiasm for the project is hardly evident in his commentary. Yes, it's informative, but it's definitely not compelling listening.

Fortunately, the rest of the DVD bonus materials have more energy to them. Affleck and co-writer Aaron Stockard provide commentary on the six deleted scenes, which include an extended ending that's good but not worthy of the special 'Eye Opening Extended Ending' tag on the DVD package. "Going Home: Behind The Scenes with Ben Affleck" focuses on the making of the film while the featurette "Capturing Authenticity: Casting Gone Baby Gone" provides insight into how actors were chosen for the key roles.