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Created Feb 10, 2008 07:05PM PST • Edited Sep 10, 2013 11:49PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Great 4.0

   A terrific thriller, featuring great acting, memorable lines, plenty of twists and an emotional wallop, Gone Baby Gone unfolds in three stages, each concluding with a strong climax, making the whole feel greater than the sum of its parts.

   Ably directed by Ben Affleck, and more than ably performed by a cast led by his younger brother Casey Affleck, this movie joins Good Will Hunting as an Affleck tribute to earthy Bostonians.

4. Acting

   Really Great 4.5

   Casey Affleck shines as a two-bit private eye who punches above his weight class, both physically and psychologically. The redoubtable Ed Harris matches him in coiled intensity.

   The females are just as strong, led by Amy Madigan (Mrs. Ed Harris in real life) as a plainly strong woman who cares only for the welfare of her niece. Amy Ryan, as the coke ho Mom, conveys an addict’s perverted narcissism. Michele Monaghan is strong and lovely as the private eye’s semi-willing partner.

5. Male Stars Perfect 5.0

6. Female Stars Perfect 5.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Great 4.0

    Kudos to Ben Affleck for writing and directing this terrific movie.

11. Direction Great 4.0

12. Play Really Great 4.5

    Great lines abound, such as “I can’t think of one reason big enough for him to lie about that’s small enough not to matter.” Knowing that the movie is based on Ben Affleck’s favorite novel (by Dennis Lehane), this quality of dialogue is somewhat expected.

    The South Boston accents do make it hard to understand them sometimes however.

    The deeply affecting story presents several moral conundrums, with good people being punished for doing good-hearted deeds and bad people not always getting their just deserts.

13. Music Great 4.0

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.4

17. Sex Titillating 1.6

18. Violence Brutal 2.6

19. Rudeness Profane 2.9

21. Reality

    Glib 1.2

    Based on a novel, so by definition it is fiction. That said, the depiction of drug induced depravity feels real.

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.7

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0