[7]

Two Boston detectives try to solve the mystery of a missing girl in this tight dramatic thriller from director Ben Affleck. Yeah, Ben Affleck. Who knew? Strong performances from Casey Affleck, Ed Harris, and Amy Ryan. I like how matter-of-fact Affleck’s approach is, and it definitely hooked me for a long while. But I liked it a bit less after the mid-point. The long string of back-to-back character revelations bordered on melodramatic pageantry. And while I appreciate the moral dilemma presented in the third act, I would probably have liked the movie more if it had ended the other way. Still a solid and surprising movie. With Morgan Freeman and Michelle Monaghan.

Oscar Nomination: Best Supporting Actress (Amy Ryan)