I didn't plan on it happening that way. I picked up Gone Baby Gone at the Gig Harbor branch of the Pierce CO library the other day because it was the widely heralded directorial debut by Ben Affleck. I never turn away from thrillers or neo-noirish pieces so I figured, cool, have it in hand and the price is right.
But the problem was that I didn't read the blurb, had no idea what the plot was all about. All on it's own I suppose it wouldn't have been a problem at all, but see, I just finished up a film The Lovely Bones the night before, a film dealing with a similar subject matter. Two different endings, sure, not even close as far as feeling and film stock were concerned. Surreal vs gritty, supernatural vs all too real slice of life. Peter Jackson is no Ben Affleck. One had cash to blow, the other had to work real hard to prove himself in order to get the green light on whatever project he had in mind for his next go 'round. Both were professional, well done, a kick in the gut to watch unfold on the screen. Peter won hands down in the tears department, no doubt about it.
No matter that both were gripping, harrowing, tightly drawn dramas of child abduction, the search for truth and live bodies. It was just too much to see for a man who is a dedicated father, a father of an rambuncious, bubbly eight year old girl, not too much unlike the character portrayed on the screen. I watched Jackson's film because of it's pedigree, but Affleck's, as good as it was, was just too close to real and not what I wanted to watch right before bed. Kind of like having a big platter of Mexican food for supper two nights in a row. Good as it is it makes it hard to sleep, makes for a night filled with unsettling dreams, indigestion, regret.
Watch them both, one at a time. But even more, keep a close watch on your kids. The Devil is afoot and he comes cloaked in the guise of your close friend, your esteemed public official, your creepy neighbor man.
Action!
But the problem was that I didn't read the blurb, had no idea what the plot was all about. All on it's own I suppose it wouldn't have been a problem at all, but see, I just finished up a film The Lovely Bones the night before, a film dealing with a similar subject matter. Two different endings, sure, not even close as far as feeling and film stock were concerned. Surreal vs gritty, supernatural vs all too real slice of life. Peter Jackson is no Ben Affleck. One had cash to blow, the other had to work real hard to prove himself in order to get the green light on whatever project he had in mind for his next go 'round. Both were professional, well done, a kick in the gut to watch unfold on the screen. Peter won hands down in the tears department, no doubt about it.
No matter that both were gripping, harrowing, tightly drawn dramas of child abduction, the search for truth and live bodies. It was just too much to see for a man who is a dedicated father, a father of an rambuncious, bubbly eight year old girl, not too much unlike the character portrayed on the screen. I watched Jackson's film because of it's pedigree, but Affleck's, as good as it was, was just too close to real and not what I wanted to watch right before bed. Kind of like having a big platter of Mexican food for supper two nights in a row. Good as it is it makes it hard to sleep, makes for a night filled with unsettling dreams, indigestion, regret.
Watch them both, one at a time. But even more, keep a close watch on your kids. The Devil is afoot and he comes cloaked in the guise of your close friend, your esteemed public official, your creepy neighbor man.
Action!
No comments:
Post a Comment