I saw this one in theaters just after I read the book. It compares pretty well; the book is slightly more convoluted with some more plot twists, but as far as condensing it into two hours, Affleck and Stockard adapted Dennis Lehane’s novel nicely.

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Casey Affleck plays Patrick Kenzie, a private investigator that, along with his partner Angie Genarro (Michelle Monaghan), is investigating a missing child case in Boston. The movie twists and turns you along as you join the two PIs, plus cops Nick Poole (John Ashton), Remy Bressant (Ed Harris), and Captain Jack Doyle (Morgan Freeman), as they hunt for the lost child. There’s no nomination for director (and I don’t believe there should have been just yet, let’s give Ben some room to grow), but it’s one of the things that stands out most in this film. Affleck’s direction is subtle; he leads us through this thrilling story with a voyeuristic style. In tense moments, he approaches the scene quietly, casting a haunting vibe onto the impact of the material, yet confronting the issues head on. There are no resolutions or tidy endings in this film, just raw emotion captured. Affleck draws fantastic performances, specifically from brother Casey and Ed Harris, two men on the side of the law at odds on what’s right and wrong in a world full of dirty cops and loyal criminals. He captures Boston like only one who has lived, loved, and matured there can. The city becomes a character with its own secrets and questionable values. You’ll walk out of the theater debating your own morals, and wishing Ben Affleck had taken the director’s chair a long time ago.

Nominations:

Best Supporting Actress – Amy Ryan
Ryan is fantastic as Helene McCready, the careless, drug addict mother who loses her child. She ebbs on the line of torn apart over Amanda’s disappearance, yet relieved by the loss of responsibility. It’s spot on to how the character was written in the book and her performance is frightening. This category is anyone’s this year; while Cate Blanchett appeared to be the early front runner, Ruby Dee just brought home the SAG award. The only other film I’ve seen in this category so far is Atonement, and personally I feel Saoirse Ronan should blow away any competition, but she’ll likely be ignored because of her age. I’ll wait to pass judgment until I see all the films, but Ryan is a very strong competitor in this category.

Snubbed?
As I said above, I don't believe Ben should have been nominated for director- this was great for his first time up, but there were better directed films out there this year. The same goes for adapted screenplays. The other Affleck, however, joins the many actors who turned in great performances this year without recognition. He did get a Supporting Actor nomination for Assassination of Jesse James, which I have yet to see, so I hope it's as good as or better than his performance in Gone Baby Gone. It's so sad this year to watch so many great performances slip through the cracks.