Gone Baby Gone

We've made so much fun of Ben Affleck over the years that it was only a matter of time until he proved us wrong. In his directorial debut, it's clear he's got a future behind the camera, while his little brother, Casey, shows he's got a future in front of it. A frantic search is on to find a little girl kidnapped from a small lower-class Boston neighborhood. At the request of the family, a local private detective with connections all over town (Casey) is brought in to assist the cops. Once things get moving, Gone Baby Gone is relentless and covers a lot of ground very well. Whether it's horrible parenting, child welfare, overall corruption, or tough choices between right and wrong, no one gets off easy. Each plot twist is a sucker punch to the throat, and we had no idea where it was going until the final credits. Even though the film addresses tough issues, it never gets preachy and remains entertaining at all times. Round it out with a dream cast—the always-reliable Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman, an adorable Michelle Monaghan, and a breakout/movie-stealing performance by Amy Ryan—and it won't be long before Ben actually earns an Academy Award. Keep it up, Benny, we always knew you had it in you. (Actually, we didn't. Are you sure this is the same guy who was in Surviving Christmas?)

High Def! If you have the means watch this on Blu-ray, because Boston never looked so good…or so bad.