Gone Baby Gone and SAW IV
Saw IV (with spoilers…but wait, who gives a fuck?)
Here’s what we’re sure of after watching part 4:
-Everyone from the first movie is dead
-Everyone from the second movie is now DEFINITELY dead
-Everyone from the third movie is dead
The first SAW was a brilliant idea and I though it was a great watch. Out came SAW II and we were like okaaay… and then came SAW III and we all agreed it was shit. The SAW franchise is heralded as the poster-series for everything that’s wrong with Hollywood and not without reason. With each year (or each sequel, whichever comes first) the movies get duller, the traps become less inventive and the violence gets more and more unnecessary. The plots get more bizarre (and not in a good way) and even the actors take the movie as a joke. The detective from SAW II, who we were sure was killed in the third one comes back. All he does is spit, drool, vomit throughout the movie and it’s almost a relief when he has his head smashed in, at least he won’t be back for SAW V. Is this guy really that desperate for a role? He was in Dead Silence as well, he shaved a lot and then had his tongue ripped out. SAW IV is bad and I can bet everything I have the next one if going to be just as bad. But it’s fun to watch a movie with the soul purpose of making fun of it. Avoid if possible.
Gone Baby Gone
There is hardly any scoring and silence carries you from one scene to the next. I had no idea what to expect from Ben Affleck’s directorial debut, so I went in without any expectations. He had great material to work with. The script was black, sharp and relentless. I haven’t read the book, but it seemed to cover the whole story start to finish and Affleck didn’t hold back any punches. He hit you right where it hurt and went to a place where not many directors have gone before. In fact, even though it’s a powerful movie, watching it takes a lot out of you.
Affleck’s first mistake was casting his own brother in the lead role. Casey’s squeaky, broken voice was too weak to carry the narration and he was too chiseled to play the tough guy role. On the other hand casting Harris was a total plus point. He was fantastic, I’ve never seen him act better. Him and Mortensen in Eastern Promises are the two best performances of last years.
Affleck’s own touches could be seen in the movie. Monaghan’s jump from the cliff, almost every shot of the neighborhood right up to how the final twist plays out. The movie tears you apart at the end when the whole cast splits two ways and while we, the audience take one side, Casey’s character is the only one on the other side. And everyone, us included, hates the choice he makes. As I said, the script was powerful and the movie could’ve been better if Affleck had casted Damon or even himself in the lead role. Highly recommended for those of you in search of a powerful dark script and those who can take a beating (not recommended for those who can’t, you know who you are).
Tags: Gone Baby Gone, Saw IV
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