***1/2 Stars
Because I'm from the Boston area, you may feel like I'm cheating when I give this movie a huge recommendation. Not all Boston films are perfect (cough What's the Worst that Could Happen? or Alex and Emma cough). This is just another worthy addition to the Boston crime genre.
My point is simple. Though it is always nice to see a story of where you come from, it better be done right. Director Ben Affleck (in a remarkable debut) takes a dirty section of Dorchester (an outer-skirt town outside the city) and turns in a fast pace, brutally violent thriller, one that will stick in your head for a long time.
Casey Affleck ignites the screen as Patrick Kenzie, a young detective out to help a young mother (Amy Ryan) find her 4-year old child who was kidnapped by an unknown suspect. Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris are wonderful as a cop and a veteran detective assigned to the case as well. Through twists and turns Patrick follows the clues in an effort to stop a potential death of innocent young girl.
Affleck's debut goes far beyond promising. If someone told me this was directed by a veteran like Ridley Scott or even Clint Eastwood, I would take your word for it. While the film's twists get borderline extreme, it manages to hold together without running out of gas. I'm looking forward to see where the Affleck brothers go with their careers after this. Ben has resurrected his while Casey is on the verge of stardom. If they stick together, we may see the two become a legendary pair.
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