Wanted could have been a fun action movie, but it’s just boring and bad. Angelina Jolie is technically in the movie. However, she’s only one of several minor characters in an ensemble cast. She spends most of her time posing under lights that make her look attractive as possible. That’s about it. Morgan Freeman shows up for his multi-million dollar pay cheque too. Sometime stupid action movies can be fun, but Wanted is just a rip-off.
Gone Baby Gone is Ben Affleck’s directorial debut and it’s pretty damn good. It’s the story of a private investigator looking for a little girl who has gone missing in his neighbourhood, and brother does he get messed up in some serious shit. And just when you think you know what’s going on, you don’t, and it’s at that point the film shifts into high gear and doesn’t let up until the very last shot. It’s not just a thriller; it’s an intellectually engaging and morally challenging film, one that will give you something to talk about while the credits are rolling. That’s an accomplishment for any film. (Not recommended for parents with small kids, though.)