Gone Baby Gone

John --

Nice review. I liked how you showed 3 flaws with the movie. I am on with you on first two. The final point I am somewhat mixed. I think the whole point of the movie is about choices, desires and consequences. I still feel what Kenzie did in the end is the right choice in my mind considering the law. The director wants us to judge Kenzie for ourselves rather than presenting us with a concrete ending. I get that. But I am mixed why would Kenzie's girlfried will leave him because of his choice. It seemed to me that director was conveying something more there which is zero tolerence for people who abuse kids or put them in abusive situation. Ben was almost spot on with his direction.

--Ranjan

Ranjan,

Yes, the movie is certainly about choices, hard choices, ones that challenge our notions of law and conscience and ethics and morality. I can fully understand a person not being able to live with another person who doesn't share his or her same basic beliefs, so I had no trouble with the choices the ending delivered. What troubled me was the set of events that led up to these choices at the end. It seemed to me that in order to deliver its knock-out punch, the movie set up a series of almost unbelievable circumstances, which I didn't quite buy.

John

Hmm, I've still yet to see this, it somehow just passed me by in theaters, but I'll probably pick up the DVD, if just for Monaghan and Harris. Thus far, all I've really been told about it sings praises, so it's interesting to see this criticism..I'll dish out my thoughts whenever I finally get around to seeing it.

Well, I saw it, and I actually rather liked it. I personally felt that Kenzie made the completely wrong decision, very much so in fact. I think he threw the poor girl to the wolves, and I also understand why Monaghan's character left me- he violated her morals and beliefs (I'm not arguing whether they're right or wrong, in this case).

John,

I certainly see where you're coming from with the circumstances, but quite simply, sometimes I become absorbed enough, or feel strong enough, about a film, to accept them, and other times not. In this case, I went with the film, accepting what it was, in a very unlikely way, I can see the events that occurred happening.

In any case, not my favorite film of the year, but probably in my top ten.