Finally got the chance to see this on DVD, what an excellent film. A solid adaptation of Dennis Lehane's book, co-written and directed by Ben Affleck.

It's a grim story about small time private detectives investigating a child abduction, a morally ambiguous story of people doing the right things for the wrong reasons...or are they doing the wrong things for the right reasons?

Although it did get good reviews, it did very little box office and overall had less acclaim than the last movie based on a Lehane book, Eastwood's Mystic River, a film I felt was wildly overwrought to the point of Lifetime TV drama at times.

An overlooked movie that drew only one Oscar nomination, for supporting actress, Ed Harris also deserved a nod, as did Affleck for screenplay adaptation.

Saw this film a couple of weeks ago on-line due to the film board not giving "Gone Baby Gone" a release in the UK, which sucked if you ask me. However, being a big follower of Dennis Lehane's novels, I was eagerly anticipating this film, and I was not disappointed by the outcome. Ben Affleck's debut could not have been better, and that certain tone that the novel posessed was perfectly deliuvered by him. The script was great, and the acting was fantastic. This is one of the better detective movies I have seen. I can't wait for Shutter Island now, being directed by Martin Scorsese, starring, guess who..Leo Di Caprio.

Coincidentally Mr P we watched this again last night, I did see this before Christmas but wanted to watch again. It is a pretty decent movie, although the story I think is a little contrived and not as believable really as it could have been. I did not like Mystic River at all, I found it boring and again the story was far too contrived and although you can tell the writer tried very hard to make it all work just like Gone Baby Gone I wonder if he tried too hard? Sometimes everything does not need to be wrapped up so perfectly, whenever I see a movie that tries to wrap everything up so neatly they often come across as false and occasionally actually highlight how unrealistic the plot was in the first place.

But, the problems I have with the story fade into the background when you take into consideration what Ben Affleck has done with it. He has directed a really great looking movie, the scenes of the inhabitants of that particular area of Boston just hanging around their houses is very well done and sets the tone of the movie brilliantly. Amy Ryan is really good as the unfit mother who loses her child and Casey Affleck again shows off what a great actor he is turning into, I still think he will win the Oscar for best supporting actor for Jess James and in the future I think it wise that Ben stick to directing and let his kid brother do the acting.

So think it is fair to say despite the story which could have been stronger this is still a great movie and well worth watching.

The only real issue I had with it was in the final stretch it becomes twist after twist after twist upon twist...but it did hold me until the end. Affleck did a good job in co-writing this and a fine directing debut too. Maybe what grabbed me was the low key feel of it all, it wasn't the soap opera histronics of Mystic River, there was a good modern noir feel to it all, and I do appreciate that the ending didn't cop out, Affleck did go for a more ambiguous feel.

Yeah, this was a pretty good movie - carried by Ed Harris. And great to see a movie ending on a downer as opposed to the typical Hollywood ending.

Is it just me or did anyone else become annoyed with Casey Affleck's raspy voice really fast? Clear your throat for Christ's sake.

My only beef with this movie is the midpoint change.  It really killed the pacing to me and the movie seemed way longer than it actually was.  If you listen to the commentary they do acknowledge that it doesn't follow the typical 3-act structure. so I can't hold too much of a grudge against them because at least they knew that it was a problem and, unfortunately, there wasn't much they could do about it.

Still, the movie is pretty solid on all levels.  I can't wait to see what he directs next.

I saw this on DVD tonight. As others have mentioned, it received great reviews but did poorly at the box office. I suspect that probably had some to do with the pounding Ben Affleck has copped from the media over the past few years. But I thought this was a cracker of a story which was brilliantly executed by all involved. Casey Affleck was great, but I'm with you on the raspy voice thing, Sniper. I found it hard to understand him in some scenes.  But apart from that Gone Baby Gone had heaps of twists and action and it also highlighted a very interesting moral dilemma about child welfare. I'm not sure what I would've done in Patrick's (Affleck’s) situation, but I definitely think he did the right thing when he put one in the back of that scumbag's head. I noticed that it’s rated 8/10 on the IMDB and I reckon that’s about right. This one is definitely worth a rent.

Quoted from Hoody it doesn't follow the typical 3-act structure. so I can't hold too much of a grudge against them because at least they knew that it was a problem and, unfortunately, there wasn't much they could do about it.

I hate how everybody feels films need to follow a three act structure. I personally liked how the film went outwith this tried and tested formula, which added to the film's unpredictability. Not having a straight forward sequence of events is not a problem. It just isn't the norm.