GONE BABY GONE

GONE BABY GONE was GREAT BABY, GREAT "I always believed it was the things you don't choose that makes you who you are. Your city, your neighborhood, your family. People here take pride in these things, like it was something they'd accomplished. The bodies around their souls, the cities wrapped around those." For a man who was born in Berkley, Ben Affleck as Director and Co-screenwriter, has again paid tribute to the city of Boston. Cocky and young, Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) is a private detective who is called upon to help find a missing girl. The police don't like him and he isn't taken seriously until his 'street cred' proves that he is a valuable asset in the search. He is not as harmless as he looks. But this movie is much more complex than that. It's like a super long and well done version of Law and Order. Kenzie is 'that guy'... the kind of guy that doesn't let things go. He wants to do the right thing, which is not always clear-cut black and white. Add Michelle Monaghan as his partner/love interest; Morgan Freeman as the somewhat menacing, Capt. Jack Doyle; Ed Harris as the tough detective, Remmy Bressant; and Amy Ryan as Helene McCready, the questionably unfit mother of the lost child. To date, this has been the best role I have seen Affleck in. He has expressive eyes that shout volumes above any words could. Bottom line: What is the right thing to do and how do you live with that choice? Not an easy question to answer. See this film and then ask yourself that question.
BIG pick: An exceptional piece of work, clever dialogue and a tightly written plot. Must see!

THE BRAVE ONE

THE BRAVE ONE REDEFINES WHAT A HORROR FILM IS
At first glance, even at second glance, I wouldn't imagine that anyone would classify this film in the "horror" genre. Horror now means guys in masks chasing stranded, scantily clad hitchikers in a creepy old mansion. THE BRAVE ONE is the worst kind of horror film because it sets up a scenario that is real and believable and horrible to witness. One minute NPR talk show host Erica Bain (Jody Foster) is alive; really alive. Her big blue eyes twinkle and pure joy and love seep from her every pore. One violent night she and her fiancee are attacked and we bid a fond farewell to those twinkling peepers. This of course is the straight set up for a revenge movie; however no one expects that a woman would react in the way Bain does. Men take their anger out, women suck it in, but not this time. What's best about her character is that noticable difference between the "old" Bain and the new hurt, grieving ready for blood Bain. The portrayal and the film are raw and gritty and dirty and very, very real. She doesn't break down (like other women might do in this type of film) she fights to hold on to a life that only now resembled hers. Foster is gold. She owns the role and those blue eyes were put into full force. Next to her, the compassionate soul trying to figure it all out is Detective Mercer (Terrance Howard). Again, he keeps it real, believable. He is no "super cop" and doesn't have to rush to Bain's aid. I was disappointed by the ending. It really turned a fierce corner that didn't feel in character, particularly with Mercer's. That being said, this is a extremely well done movie with talent, feeling and best of all believability.
Pick: Incredible well done film all around; conflicted ending worth the whole soul of the film.