Movie #234 - Gone Baby Gone

Gone Baby Gone
2007 - Rated R - 1 hr 54 min
Director: Ben Affleck
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Casey Affleck, Ed Harris, Michelle Monaghan, John Ashton, Amy Ryan, Amy Madigan

Between the Godfather trilogy and this movie, I needed a time out. So many heavy plotlines! I'm begging for a comedy right now, folks.  This isn't it.

I do like this movie though and I got to be reminded of how much.  Nepotism in casting aside, Casey Affleck carries the movie well.  And as always, you gotta love Ed Harris. 

The movie starts out with a missing girl, taken from the home in the middle of the night.  The first hour is spent looking for her. The second hour isn't... but we end up learning so much more about what happened, all the same.  I can't give away much more than that, without ruining the ending.  Disguised as a crime drama, this movie really asks you to consider your own morals.  Is it right? Wrong?  Can you shoot a child molester in the head at point blank range and live with it? And then ending will probably piss you off. Maybe.  It all depends on your own moral code, I guess.

Movie #184 - Enemy at the Gates

Enemy at the Gates
2001 - Rated R - 2 hr 11 min
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Starring: Jude Law, Ed Harris, Joseph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Bob Hoskins, Ron Perlman

Here's a twisted transition for you.... Enchanted to Enemy at the Gates. But here we are.  World War II. Snipers. Russian war camp.  Yippee!

Once I wrapped my brain around this non-musical, non-animated, non-happy-whatsoever movie, I remembered how much I enjoy it.  Joseph Fiennes has redeemed himself since Elizabeth (for me, anyway) with his character here, who really means well but gets a little too jealous for his own good.  In the end, he's a true friend though and makes the ultimate sacrifice.

This is one of my favorite roles for Jude Law as well, who doesn't get to be pretty in this movie and is not surrounded by flocks of women.  He really gets to act.  And watching his various stand-offs with one Ed Harris (scary, Nazi mo-fo in this, btw) is just delightful, in a very morbid way.  Thrilling? Compelling? We'll go with compelling.

Then there's poor Rachel Weisz, who just wants to help. Then just wants to love Jude Law like any other girl, okay? Leading us to the most awkward love scene in cinematic history. I'm serious. Most. Awkward. Scene. Ever.  But definitely well done.

And that's that. This movie makes me sad, but it's so powerful to watch.  I love it.