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There are generally two types of movies that leave you with a bad taste in your mouth: lame comedies with former members of "Saturday Night Live" or dark masterpieces that touch you in places you’d rather not be touched.
I wouldn’t quite call "Gone Baby Gone" a masterpiece, but I was profoundly disturbed long after the ushers cleaned the popcorn off the floor. The movie is that good, but equally dark. To divulge more would be unfair.
Casey Affleck plays Patrick Kenzie, a Boston private detective asked to "assist" the police in a missing child case. His partner/girlfriend Angie (Michelle Monaghan) has reservations, but is on board as soon as she sees a picture of the little girl in question (Madeline O’Brien). The police, at first, are none too thrilled with the intrusion, but soon welcome Patrick’s street savvy and Angie’s level head.
"Gone Baby Gone" works best the less you know going in. So, if your co-workers and friends hemmed and hawed when you asked about the movie, there’s a reason. Don’t push them. Say, "The Phillies need pitching next year" and move on.
Some critics are surprised Ben Affleck’s first at-bat as director was a home run, but did they forget his Oscar co-win for his "Good Will Hunting" screenplay? He’s obviously got talent that runs deeper than "Daredevil." In fact, "Gone Baby Gone" shares "Hunting’s" affection for working-class Boston, although they are very different genres. Director Affleck is aided in no small way by Oscar-winning cinematographer John Toll ("Braveheart") as "Gone Baby Gone" takes an unflinching look at Boston’s seamier side. Even despite the film’s neo-noir style, "Gone Baby Gone" is Affleck’s visual love letter to Boston (although he is actually from Cambridge, across the Charles River) and its people. The entire film was shot on location and many of the bit players and extras have the look and sound of non-actors from area streets.
Of course, the movie works on so many other levels. Although it does get a little convoluted, at its best it reminded me of Roman Polanski’s masterpiece "Chinatown." It had me in its spell in much the same way.
It’s been a good year so far for the Afflecks. Not only has the older embarked on a promising directing career, but the younger, Casey, is coming into his own as an actor. Though what seems like nepotism meant Casey had to come up big as the star, he is nothing short of amazing, bringing a multidimensional character to life with world weariness and vulnerability. After four nominations, Ed Harris should get his Oscar if there is any justice. Morgan Freeman can usually be counted on for excellence and doesn’t disappoint. Watch for Amy Ryan as the little girl’s mother in a chilling performance that will certainly move her up the acting food chain.
"Gone Baby Gone" is not a feel-good movie, but, when you leave, you feel like you saw something special.
Gone Baby Gone
R
Three-and-a-half reels out of four
At the Ritz Bourse and select area theaters
Director: Ben Affleck
Screenwriters: Ben Affleck and Aaron Stockard; based on the novel by Dennis Lehane
Major Cast:
Casey Affleck … Patrick Kenzie
Michelle Monaghan … Angie Gennaro
Ed Harris … Detective Remy Bressant
Morgan Freeman … Jack Doyle
Recommended rental
All releases available Tuesday unless otherwise noted.
Spider-Man 3
PG-13
Things are finally going Peter Parker’s (Tobey Maguire) way. Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) is his girlfriend and his alter ego is no longer feared by New Yorkers. But a day wouldn’t be a day for Peter Parker without complications, and soon his life gets plenty. On his radar are three villains, not to mention an enemy within.
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Talk to Me
R
Oscar nominee Don Cheadle ("Hotel Rwanda") is real-life radio maverick Ralph "Petey" Greene, a high-school dropout and charming "ex-offender" who was able to turn a prison DJing stint into a gig at a Washington, D.C., station, a TV show and an invitation to the White House.
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Sheen, Cedric the Entertainer and Taraji P. Henson co-star in this biopic from director Kasi Lemmons ("Eve’s Bayou").
Captivity
R
While I didn’t review this myself, by all other accounts this one is quite bad, but the film buff in me couldn’t miss the talent behind the camera.
It’s directed by two-time Oscar nominee Roland Joffe ("The Killing Fields," "The Mission") and co-written by cult fave Larry Cohen ("It’s Alive"). So, if you’re a horror buff, it might be worth checking out.
"Captivity" stars Elisha Cuthbert as a fashion model who falls in love with her chauffeur when the two are held hostage in a small room by a serial killer.
Movie schedules until Nov. 1unless otherwise indicated.Call theaters for updates.
SOUTH PHILLY
United Artists Riverview Plaza
Columbus Blvd. and Reed St.
215-755-2219
Bella (PG-13) Fri.-Thu.: 12:15, 2:45, 5:05, 7:35, 9:55
Dan in Real Life (PG-13) Fri.-Thu.: 12:30, 3, 5:30, 7:50, 10:20
Saw IV (R) Fri.-Thu.: 11:50 a.m., 12:20, 12:50, 1:45, 2:15, 2:50, 3:20, 4:15, 4:45, 5:15, 5:45, 6:45, 7:15, 7:45, 8:15, 9:45, 10:15, 10:50
30 Days of Night (R) Thu.: 12, 1:15, 2:40, 4:15, 5:30, 7:10, 8:10, 9:55, 10:50Fri.-Thu.: 12, 1:15, 2:40, 4:05, 5:20, 6:55, 8, 9:40, 10:45
The Comebacks (PG-13) Thu.: 12:40, 2:55, 5:15, 7:30, 10:10Fri.-Thu.: 12:40, 2:55, 5:10, 7:20, 9:35
Rendition (R) Thu.: 1:30, 4:30, 7:20, 10:20Fri.-Thu.: 1:30, 4:30, 7:40, 10:25
Things We Lost in the Fire (R) Thu.: 12:30, 1:20, 3:30, 4:20, 6:55, 7:35, 9:40, 10:30Fri.-Thu.: 1:20, 4:20, 7:10, 10:30
Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? (PG-13) Thu.: 12:10, 1, 1:45, 3:15, 4, 4:45, 6:45, 7:15, 7:45, 9:30, 10, 10:40Fri.-Thu.: 12:10, 1, 1:55, 3:15, 4, 4:55, 6:50, 7:25, 7:55, 9:30, 10:10, 10:40
The Heartbreak Kid (R) Thu.: 12:35, 1:50, 3:45, 4:55, 7:05, 7:55, 9:50, 10:45Fri.-Thu.: 1:10, 3:50, 7:05, 9:50
The Game Plan (PG) Thu.: 11:50 a.m., 1:10, 2:30, 3:50, 5:10, 6:50, 7:40, 10:15Fri.-Thu.: 11:55 a.m., 2:30, 5, 7:30, 10
The Kingdom (R) Thu.: 1:40, 4:40, 7:50, 10:35Fri.-Wed.: 1:40, 7Thu.: 1:40
Resident Evil: Extinction (R) Thu.: 12:45, 3:10, 5:45, 8, 10:25Fri.-Wed.: 4:40, 10:35Thu.: 4:40
The Ten Commandments (PG) Thu.: 12:15, 2:45, 5, 7:25, 9:35(Ends 10-25)
Feel the Noise (PG-13) Thu.: 11:55 a.m., 2:15, 4:50, 7, 9:45(Ends 10-25)
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (R) Thu.: 9:25 (Ends 10-25)
CENTER CITY
Ritz at the Bourse
400 Ranstead St.
215-925-7900
Reservation Road (R) Fri.-Thu.: 12:10, 2:40, 5:10, 7:40, 10:10
Control (NR) Fri.-Thu.: 12, 2:30, 5, 7:30, 10
Lust, Caution (NC-17) Thu.: 12, 3:30, 8Fri.-Thu.: 1, 5, 9
Gone Baby Gone (R) Thu.: 12, 2:30, 5:05, 7:35, 10Fri.-Thu.: 12:05, 2:35, 5:05, 7:35, 10:05
Across the Universe (PG-13) Thu.: 12:10, 3:10, 6:10, 9:10 Fri.-Sun., Wed,-Thu.: 1:10, 4, 7, 9:40Mon.-Tue.: 1:10, 4, 9:40
Kurt Cobain: About a Son (NR) Thu.: 12:15, 2:30, 5:05, 7:35, 9:50 (Ends 10-25)
Milarepa (PG) Thu.: 12:30, 2:40, 5:05, 10 (Ends 10-25)
Ritz 5
214 Walnut St.
215-925-7900
O Jerusalem (R) Fri.-Thu.: 12:10, 2:35, 5:10, 7:25, 9:50
Lars and the Real Girl (PG-13) Thu.-Wed.: 12:15, 2:40, 5:05, 7:30, 9:55Thu.: 12:15, 2:25, 4:40, 9:55
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (PG-13) Thu.: 4, 9:40Fri.-Thu.: 12:15, 4, 7:05, 9:40
Michael Clayton (R) Thu.-Thu.: 1, 3:40, 7, 9:35
Into the Wild (R) Thu., Sun.-Mon., Wed.-Thu.: 12, 2:55, 5:50, 8:50Fri.-Sat.: 2:55, 5:50, 8:50Tue.: 12, 2:55, 9:40
Eastern Promises (R) Thu.: 12:10, 2:35, 5:10, 7:25, 9:50 (Ends 10-25)
Ritz East
Second Street between Chestnut and Walnu
215-925-7900
The Darjeeling Limited (R) Thu.: 12, 2:30, 5, 7:15, 9:30Fri.-Thu.: 11:45 a.m., 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:45
We Own the Night (R) Thu.: 12, 2:30, 9:05Fri.-Mon., Wed.: 12:15, 3, 6, 9:05Tue., Thu.: 12:15, 3, 9:45
Roxy Theater
2023 Sansom St.
215-923-6699
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (R) Thu.-Thu.: 1:30, 5, 8
In the Valley of Elah (R) Thu.: 7:30, 9:45Fri.-Thu.: 5:05
Milarepa (PG) Fri.-Thu.: 1:15, 3:15, 7:30, 9:30
