Gone Baby Gone...a morality tale! Admirably directed by Ben Affleck...

Opening narratives normally turn me off, but in the case of the feature film - "Gone Baby Gone" - the device worked quite effectively.

While the dialogue was a bit preachy as the opening scenes unfolded, undoubtedly, it was Casey Affleck's insightful interpretation of the scripted material that touched a chord.

In sum, his voice evoked a ring of truth which resonated.

One critic noted that Ben Affeck's directing debut on "Baby" was a bit rough around the edges. True.

But, just maybe, he was going for that natural Independent film look without all the slick Hollywood touches.

With a delicate hand and a keen eye, Affleck ushers us into the heart of the story without much fuss or bother.

A young woman's daughter has gone missing.

Without a ransom note - and after a police investigation for three days on a cold trail leads to dead ends - an aunt approaches a young gumshoe (played capably by Casey Affleck) to poke around the neighborhood for clues.

Affleck's character was raised in the area and has inside associations with the locals - so when police leads turn cold - the distraught woman turns to the private dick for help.


With his pretty baby face - and naive demeanor - he appears to be an unlikely candidate for the task. But, when it comes to a crunch, he holds his own admirably.

As he swaggers into the underbelly of the hood, he mixes and mingles with a cast of colorful distasteful characters.

Some individuals would throw up their hands in disgust and retort "white trash".

For sure, casting could have been conducted on the Jerry Springer show.

Actually, Affleck pulled people from the streets to play a handful of small parts in the intense drama.

Hitchcock often cast minor roles with relative unknowns. The legendary directory felt that if an actor's face was less familiar to the audience, it may lend more realism to the film.

It works here!

A lot of the language is pretty foul (raw) with no holds barred.

And - as the story progresses - the bizarre twists and plot turns become a little convoluted!

It's a sordid tale about child abuse, dirty cops, and a slice of life that middle America would prefer to cast a blind eye to.

Some judicious editing would have tightened up the project somewhat.

But, this being Ben's first "baby", he goes all out (what the heck).

When it's determined that the child has not really been "kidnapped" at all, but taken to "save her" from her from a squalid existence, the piece becomes a morality tale.

A question arises.

Should the child be returned to the rightful parent - an immature drug-addicted selfish one - or stay with a family that will provide a loving home and the needs of life?

At this juncture, the floodgates opened for me.

I suppose, I have a confession to make.

When I was seven years old, a strange man came up to me on the street outside my elementary school - addressed me by name - and then asked me one question.

"Are you happy?"

For the life of me - to this day - I can't recall my response.

The next day, he reappeared on a mission.

After my clothes were packed into little bags, he bundled me up into a late model car parked out front.

As we drove off, I stared out the window and caught the distressing image of my mother standing on the stoop, wiping the tears from her eyes.

Although the details are still a little vague, I recall being taken into a small courtroom; then - with little more ado - I was made a ward of the State.

In moments, I was whisked away to a quaint little house in the suburbs, where I was placed in the care of a pleasant elderly couple.

A few days earlier - a couple of my mother's friends had been involved in a drunken brawl - which resulted in a serious injury to one man's head.

In what seemed like seconds, in a nightmarish turn of events, police and medics swirled all around the humble little dwelling, as the authorities tried to resolve the issues.

After an urgent plea from distant relatives and neighbours, child welfare was inclined to release me from my Mother's care, and place me in the custody of the State.

There's a line in the film:

"You are who you are because of where you haven't been."

Over the years, I have reflected on the past, and occasionally it haunts me.

Would I be the same person I am today, if I had not been transplanted from my "roots?"

Although I was nurtured and given the necessities of life - schooled, taken care of physically, mentally, and emotionally - sometimes I long for my youth.

There is no substitute for a Mother's love...