Lehane Gives Thumbs-Up to GONE, BABY GONE Movie

Yup, he likes it:

Boston writer Dennis Lehane is giving big ups to Ben Affleck’s big-screen adaptation of his 1998 kidnap thriller “Gone, Baby, Gone,” saying the Cambridge homey has made a flick that “reeks of Boston.”

“I saw the movie and it’s terrific,” said Lehane who got a sneak peek at the made-in-Boston drama in New York City a few weeks back. “I wasn’t gonna say anything if I didn’t like it but it’s really terrific.”

Lehane said Affleck, who directed the movie and adapted the screenplay, was “over the moon” when he gave him his film review.  “The plan was, if I hated it, I’d vanish,” he said. “I actually set up my schedule to go into a black hole in September and October. But I gotta tell you, I’m very, very happy.”

To see for yourselves, check out the trailer. I'm not totally sold on Casey Affleck but of course I'm going to watch it.

 

Comments

[Jason Pinter]

Everything about the movie looks great...except Casey Affleck. Casting him as Kenzie is up there with Shawn Ryan casting his wife on "The Shield" as nepotism that could taint an otherwise stellar production. Ed Harris gave me chills, and Morgan Freeman is never bad in anything. "Gone, Baby, Gone" is my favorite Kenzie/Gennaro book, hope Gigli knows what he's doing.

[Bryon Quertermous]

I'm with Jason. Casey just feels off. I think Ben would have made a better Patrick then his brother, but I'm an unabashed Ben fan.

[Gerald So]

As someone who thought Kenzie always got in over his head, I approve of Casey Affleck as Pat.

[Rob]

Casey Affleck was not how I pictured Kenzie when I read the books, but I have to say, in the trailer he's got the Dorchester persona nailed dead on...

[Rob]

Casey Affleck was not how I pictured Kenzie when I read the books, but I have to say, in the trailer he's got the Dorchester persona nailed dead on...

[Naomi]

I'm willing to give Casey Affleck a chance. He looks much leaner and grownup now, almost like a different actor. He may give the film a certain level of freshness or perhaps severely weaken it. Let's see if he can stand his own opposite Ed Harris.

[Mark Haskell Smith]

I'm going to come to Casey Affleck's defense. He is a really terrific actor (anyone remember his portrayal of a cannabis-retarded lawn service guy in DROWNING MONA?) who hasn't had a chance to prove it. I'm betting he steps up here.

[Steve Allan]

I think Casey Affleck can be a good actor, but he just looks too young for the part. I can't wait to see the movie even if he is miscast.

[James Watts]

Maybe it's a matter of perspective. The Patrick Kenzie of "Gone, Baby, Gone" (I mean the novel, hence the use of commas) has gone through all the tribulations of the first three novels, and so readers and fans of Lehane's books might have trouble fitting someone who looks like Casey Affleck into that image. On the other hand, the Patrick Kenzie of "Gone Baby Gone" (the movie) is in the same place (as far as viewers are concerned) as the Patrick Kenzie of "A Drink Before the War." In that book, we were just getting to know the character, and (as Mr. So ably points out) he was someone who often found himself in over his head.

Personally, one of the things I've appreciated about the character Lehane created is that he isn't a superman -- he's often as frightened by the things he faces as the reader is (and Lehane is very good at putting his characters into hair-raising, nail-biting, oh-god-please-take-me-to-anyplace-but-this-place scenarios).

In other words, I was pretty impressed by the trailer, and am looking forward to see how the movie plays out.

[ed]

A writer giving the thumbs up to a film adaptation of one of his books, however great or mediocre it may turn out to be? You don't say!

[John Rickards]

Well, it doesn't always happen. I vaguely recall (paraphrasing) Michael Connelly referring to BLOOD WORK as his Clint Eastwood B-side. And Alan Moore's famous for slagging off (certainly for LXG, with considerable justification) adaptations of his work. There must've been others, too.

All that aside, I like the trailer. Looks very promising to me, although very light on the Gennaro side.

[Dave White]

What's most surprising about this article to me, is the hint that Lehane is going back to the pair in his novels.

(It's actually more than a hint, isn't it?)

[Plot Baby Plot]

As usual, Dave White gets it exactly right. I hope the movie hits big, so that Lehane will have an incentive to write another Kenzie/Gennaro book.

[Sean Chercover]

Great news. I'd love to see another Kenzie/Gennaro book from Lehane, if he's feelin' it again.

As for the casting - The trailer looks great, despite the lack of Gennaro that John pointed out. Brother Affleck can clearly act. He may or may not be stellar in the role but his acting looks at least credible, as much as you can tell from a trailer.

True, Affleck doesn't look like the Patrick Kenzie in my head. The guy in my head looks a little more physically substantial, a little less delicate... but doesn't look like Jack Reacher, either. A regular guy, reasonably fit.

But we could name dozens of slight actors who play convincing scrappy tough guys. So I'll give the kid a fair shake. I suspect he's gonna pull it off just fine. And I believe Lehane when he says that he'd have disappeared if he thought the movie sucked.

[David J. Montgomery]

My problem with Casey Affleck based on that trailer is how thin his voice is. I suspect this means he was never trained as an actor, as he can't project worth a damn. The wimpiness of his delivery gives his character the appearance he lacks conviction or power. (Or I suppose it could mean they just had a lousy sound guy, but I doubt it.)

[KimH]

I'm very impressed with the trailer. I didn't know what to expect, but it looks like they might pull it off. As far as Casey Affleck goes, I buy it. I didn't when I first read he'd been cast, but I think I'll have to eat my words if the trailer is any indication.

Also, there's something to say for homegrown boys doing Boston films. There's nothing worse than a fake Boston accent (see: Jeff Bridges in Blown Away). So I'm glad we have a hometown boy doing Patrick.

[James C. Mitchell]

Casey Affleck does look young, but here's something I have noticed as I get older: all the cops look young.

[Michael]

My big problem with the trailer is that it looks like Patrick is the hero and Angie is the girlfriend.

Angie's role as Patrick's detecting partner should not be diminished. I hope it only seems that way in the trailer, and not in the actual film.