I remember watching this movie and walking away with a feeling like I'd been socked in the gut. I know Dennis Lehane stories and film adaptations are usually depressing as hell, but...It's too close to home for me. My sister's the exact same way with my niece and I just wanna smack her in the head say "You're screwing up your kid, dumbass!"
I'll give it to Amy Ryan, she made me hate her in the end.
The only thing that gives me hope is that maybe Patrick will stay in her life now and she'll actually grow up to be okay. Other than that, it's so depressing.
You go from loving him all movie.. To just, Confused and mad about the choice he made at the end. Even though you see that he regrets it and you think to yourself "ya now you get it!!" . There is just nothing he can do now to fix it. He put a loving family for her behind bars.. Leaving everyone to wonder how she will grow up.
It is sad to see the efforts of Lionel and the Policemen were put to trial because of Patrick's choice and Patrick knows that (PROOF: He attended the funeral of the policeman who died trying to make that girl's life better). Patrick is depressed to see he made the wrong choice just like Morgan Freeman told him he'd regret this one day and that the world is not made of what he thinks it is. In my opinion in order for Patrick to reddeem himself he needs to call child services right away.
man... this is a very sad ending. the mother is an addict, she is sick... all she cares is about her self. This is a good example of how things work in real life. Bad guys always win, good people become desperate and try to help but are not rewarded.
man... this is a very sad ending. the mother is an addict, she is sick... all she cares is about her self. This is a good example of how things work in real life. Bad guys always win, good people become desperate and try to help but are not rewarded.
I feel like the reason he decided to watch Amanda was because he knew his decision to expose Morgan Freeman was wrong though morally (in his mind) the right thing to do.
the way she says the poppet's name is "Anabel" and u remember that it was her mother who said her name was "Mirable" - makes u understand her mother didn't even bother to remember her poppet's name! they couldn't have finished this amazing movie with a better line!
i think its mad to know that thr are ppl out thr, good ppl who hav a good home and hav so much love to give and cant hav children of their own, but there are other ppl out thr who hav too many kids and neglect each one. but i guess thats the world.
It's disturbing that so many people think we should just kidnap children whose parents neglect them. The trauma of being removed from one's biological mother must be weighed against the effects of neglect.
Children survive neglect; some even thrive despite it. But being forced to part with one's mother almost always has serious psychological effects. That's why we have CPS to evaluate these situations on a case-by-case basis, and why you will go to prison if you act like Morgan Freeman.
Although I agree that just kidnapping children who suffer abuse is not the solution, I disagree completely with the rest of your post. Letting a child be neglected and abused is way worse than separating him/her from an incompetent and uncaring biological parent. Any loving and caring adult can raise a child and give them a good start in life and a good base. The biological argument is a fallacy. If a biological parent is unfit, he/she shouldn't have ANY involvement in raising the kid.
The end with miranda is so cute: "mirabelle?" "anabelle!" >o< but is sad too :'( I hate amanda at the moment! this movie is wonderfull and the theme is beautiful! it's my favorite film!!
@kpernod30 absolutely. 2 for 2, and not just okay--very good films. if he keeps improving off of this already high level, his films will be perennial oscar contenders. didn't think i would ever be thinking that.
@MasterManto I didnt even got that part. Then again I watched it without subtitles... but still. That really makes the movie better.. but the story worse. Wrong decision..
I seriously know a person like this mother through a two friends of mine and casey affleck's character made the wrong decision. I don't care if she is the mother of that little girl she deserves better parents even if they are not her biological parents. I'm sick of people always doing the "right" thing.
@UncleMcCrustyPoo You didn't think it wasn't left morally open? There wasn't anything detestable going on in this scene. Getting the doll's name wrong by a syllable isn't a crime... it's up to you to put everything you know together, and then make the decision whether he did right or wrong.
@UncleMcCrustyPoo Well, you are sort of right. On the other hand: this way it leaves you thinking; So he made the wrong decision. Wait, did he? What would I've done? ....so in the end, we are still thinking about it.
Casey is such a cutie. I got so mad when his girlfriend left him for doing the right thing. It broke my heart when she said "there's nothing to say". What was he supposed to do! I could not live knowing that I knew where someone else's kid was after promising that person that I would find her kid to her face and then pretend that the kid died. That's a pretty fucked up ultimatum his girlfriend put on him even after they went through it together and knowing the hard fucking situation he was in.
Yeah but her mom didnt even care about her. She didnt even know her favorite dolls name. She was about to leave her daughter alone. Some times the right thing isnt always the best choice.
This film is brilliant, and so hard-hitting. It's not about what is wrong, or right, it's about what this particular character believed was right. And for once, a film actually followed the story to a neutral, realistic ending. The audience is left to decide for themselves - and there is no definitive answer.
I can try to guess not being one how parents would think he made the right decision. Yes she is the mother and they should be together in a perfect world. But in a perfect world she would have been a better mother and took some responsibility looking after her child. I can even try to imagine that yes some children can have a pretty shitty upbringing and cant choose who their parents are.
I don't think You understood my comment. We are both on the same page here lol.
I was saying that they aren't thinking of whats best for her....Barely knowing her mother would be a good thing.
Considering in the film he threw that back in Morgan Freeman's face. That Amanda would ask him later in life why didn't he take her back home to her mother.
Thats a silly statement considering shes 3-4 and the way Mommy was barely around anyways she wouldn't remember much of her.
But in context to this film IMO he did not make the right decision. It doesnt matter if the little girl remembers or not.
That fact is when watching it we know and can clearly see that she would have had a much better quality of life if she were not given back to her mother.
It seems harsh but the mother clearly has not changed even AFTER HER LITTLE GIRL WAS TAKEN FROM HER and if that does not change her then what would?
Yes but knowing how people like her mother work. He should of known in his line of business that people like her RARELY change even after such harsh events. Women like her get beaten raped and they still crawl back to that life style.
I really can't see how any buddy could give that child back to her mother.
That worthless bitch didn't even know her daughter's doll's name!! Mothers like these should be dragged through the streets until they are rendered bloodied and unconscious!!! That little girl is fucked!!!
this is such a good film. i had to watch it a couple of times just to come to terms with it. it upsest me soo much at the end when he realises he made the wrong decision. tragic.
Hmm.. I didn't get that at all. I think he understood the consequences of his decision from the beginning. The final scene he is reflecting on it. I also think he made the right choice. But it is a sad situation. That's a classic drama.
he made the wrong decision so he could have a clear conscience......bad move
TheMrLeaphar 6 months ago
That's the mark of good actor when they can turn on a dime and you go from wanting to hug them to wanting to punch them.
ThePeterBluth 6 months ago
I remember watching this movie and walking away with a feeling like I'd been socked in the gut. I know Dennis Lehane stories and film adaptations are usually depressing as hell, but...It's too close to home for me. My sister's the exact same way with my niece and I just wanna smack her in the head say "You're screwing up your kid, dumbass!"
I'll give it to Amy Ryan, she made me hate her in the end.
ThePeterBluth 6 months ago
The only thing that gives me hope is that maybe Patrick will stay in her life now and she'll actually grow up to be okay. Other than that, it's so depressing.
cheesecake134 8 months ago
You go from loving him all movie.. To just, Confused and mad about the choice he made at the end. Even though you see that he regrets it and you think to yourself "ya now you get it!!" . There is just nothing he can do now to fix it. He put a loving family for her behind bars.. Leaving everyone to wonder how she will grow up.
mmdaniels33 8 months ago
His face in the "Anabell" moment is unforgettable..This sadly scene fall me totally down...With music in background it´s heavy emotional.
jimmyczech85 8 months ago
the movie was gritty, deep, disturbing..I felt sick to be honest!
Brinah 9 months ago
It is sad to see the efforts of Lionel and the Policemen were put to trial because of Patrick's choice and Patrick knows that (PROOF: He attended the funeral of the policeman who died trying to make that girl's life better). Patrick is depressed to see he made the wrong choice just like Morgan Freeman told him he'd regret this one day and that the world is not made of what he thinks it is. In my opinion in order for Patrick to reddeem himself he needs to call child services right away.
abhussein001 10 months ago
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man... this is a very sad ending. the mother is an addict, she is sick... all she cares is about her self. This is a good example of how things work in real life. Bad guys always win, good people become desperate and try to help but are not rewarded.
magallo69 10 months ago
man... this is a very sad ending. the mother is an addict, she is sick... all she cares is about her self. This is a good example of how things work in real life. Bad guys always win, good people become desperate and try to help but are not rewarded.
magallo69 10 months ago
Gud movie,he made the wrong decision though.mothers like her never change
howiyeh33 11 months ago
She didnt even know her daughters favorite dolls fucking name?! that bitch shoud be shot.
iluvrimmel 11 months ago
What an evil bitch, makes me sick people like that actually exist.
coryboy345 1 year ago
...this is how a hero is rewarded.
danielhiryu 1 year ago
Amy Ryan is so damn good in this, no wonder she got an Oscar nod for this!!
mv1334 1 year ago 3
0:17 gives me chills... great movie
Darkseid1337 1 year ago
Where does the mother say the wrong name for Amanda's doll?
mugatu5000 1 year ago
@mugatu5000 it shows that she doesn't really care much for her :(
camantric 1 year ago
I feel like the reason he decided to watch Amanda was because he knew his decision to expose Morgan Freeman was wrong though morally (in his mind) the right thing to do.
Prolite959 1 year ago
what an amazing movie!
the way she says the poppet's name is "Anabel" and u remember that it was her mother who said her name was "Mirable" - makes u understand her mother didn't even bother to remember her poppet's name! they couldn't have finished this amazing movie with a better line!
amirgelman 1 year ago
i think its mad to know that thr are ppl out thr, good ppl who hav a good home and hav so much love to give and cant hav children of their own, but there are other ppl out thr who hav too many kids and neglect each one. but i guess thats the world.
theweirdkids1 1 year ago
It's disturbing that so many people think we should just kidnap children whose parents neglect them. The trauma of being removed from one's biological mother must be weighed against the effects of neglect.
Children survive neglect; some even thrive despite it. But being forced to part with one's mother almost always has serious psychological effects. That's why we have CPS to evaluate these situations on a case-by-case basis, and why you will go to prison if you act like Morgan Freeman.
DWal2 1 year ago 3
@DWal2
Although I agree that just kidnapping children who suffer abuse is not the solution, I disagree completely with the rest of your post. Letting a child be neglected and abused is way worse than separating him/her from an incompetent and uncaring biological parent. Any loving and caring adult can raise a child and give them a good start in life and a good base. The biological argument is a fallacy. If a biological parent is unfit, he/she shouldn't have ANY involvement in raising the kid.
franad2083 7 months ago
The end with miranda is so cute: "mirabelle?" "anabelle!" >o< but is sad too :'( I hate amanda at the moment! this movie is wonderfull and the theme is beautiful! it's my favorite film!!
ryogabbat 1 year ago
ur a fit mother but you don't even know your daughter's favorite doll's name. Its
"annabelle", not "mirabelle"
cxajgv 1 year ago
Damn, bet you he's thinking about how he's going to have to apologise to a screwed-up Amanda and her two kids in the future......
snipergirl21 1 year ago
where is part 3? i can't find it
Fullcreature 1 year ago
@Fullcreature there is no part 3. this is how the movie ends. leaves the viewer with questions
cswitlishoff 1 year ago
where is part 3? i can't find it
Fullcreature 1 year ago
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Alexi Murdoch- Through the Dark
keir391 1 year ago
Comment removed
keir391 1 year ago
Alexi Murdoch- Through the dark
keir391 1 year ago
Ben Affleck may be a shitty actor, but he's a hell of a director. Gone Baby Gone and The Town are great movies.
kpernod30 1 year ago 4
@kpernod30 absolutely. 2 for 2, and not just okay--very good films. if he keeps improving off of this already high level, his films will be perennial oscar contenders. didn't think i would ever be thinking that.
furiousdan 1 year ago
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This was a great film.
2210ethan 1 year ago
who sings the end song?
React24 1 year ago
if the dumb people in this country knew what actually happened to children around the world this movie would wouldn't sell for $1.
energeez 1 year ago
why didn't they just call social services and then try adopt her?
BenJEMean 1 year ago
This movie was garbage.
j5356972 1 year ago
i feel in this scene casey might have regret turning in morgan freeman
westernrebel89 1 year ago
@westernrebel89 DUUUUUR
Garuda1337 1 year ago
Piece of trash, fits in right here in gringoland
YorySesca 1 year ago
what an asshole....that poor little girl. :(((
actuary33 1 year ago
There is a well defined line between a Mother and a Parent. They can be one in the same. But not all the time. Case in point.
miasma1616 1 year ago 2
Amy Ryan did such a good job playing Helene.
herynnamazing19 1 year ago
The most powerful part of this scene?
Where Amanda says "Annabelle," because it proves Helene didn't even know the name of her daughter's doll.
It was at that moment Patrick understood he made the wrong decision. Just an amazing movie.
Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, all of them. Every actor was amazing in this movie.
MasterManto 1 year ago
@MasterManto I didnt even got that part. Then again I watched it without subtitles... but still. That really makes the movie better.. but the story worse. Wrong decision..
TheFunFerret 1 year ago
I seriously know a person like this mother through a two friends of mine and casey affleck's character made the wrong decision. I don't care if she is the mother of that little girl she deserves better parents even if they are not her biological parents. I'm sick of people always doing the "right" thing.
RevolutionRebellion 1 year ago
her mother is a bitch and always.
SymphonyOfDestruct99 1 year ago
Woulda preferred if they'd left it more morally open, not hammered in the point that he'd made the wrong decision, still an awesome movie though.
UncleMcCrustyPoo 1 year ago
@UncleMcCrustyPoo You didn't think it wasn't left morally open? There wasn't anything detestable going on in this scene. Getting the doll's name wrong by a syllable isn't a crime... it's up to you to put everything you know together, and then make the decision whether he did right or wrong.
Eradicus 1 year ago
@UncleMcCrustyPoo Well, you are sort of right. On the other hand: this way it leaves you thinking; So he made the wrong decision. Wait, did he? What would I've done? ....so in the end, we are still thinking about it.
TheFunFerret 1 year ago
Casey is such a cutie. I got so mad when his girlfriend left him for doing the right thing. It broke my heart when she said "there's nothing to say". What was he supposed to do! I could not live knowing that I knew where someone else's kid was after promising that person that I would find her kid to her face and then pretend that the kid died. That's a pretty fucked up ultimatum his girlfriend put on him even after they went through it together and knowing the hard fucking situation he was in.
MsNYG619 1 year ago 4
@MsNYG619
Yeah but her mom didnt even care about her. She didnt even know her favorite dolls name. She was about to leave her daughter alone. Some times the right thing isnt always the best choice.
BuddyCroft 1 year ago 9
@MsNYG619 His girlfriend was 100% right.
Eradicus 1 year ago 3
@Eradicus i just saw the movie and your totally right..the cop knew he made the wrong choice..my heart felt for that little girl.
actuary33 1 year ago
The mom was a piece of shit, she shouldn't have gotten her daughter back.
hellraiza81 1 year ago 3
@hellraiza81 Got* her daughter back.
thinislove92 1 year ago
@thinislove92
Thank you teacher, what will be my homework assignment for tonight? LOL j/k
hellraiza81 1 year ago
@hellraiza81 Lol
thinislove92 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Sucked sucked sucked sucked!!!! Typical Ben Affleck Matt Damon move using the F word every other word. Totally garbage!!
oceanswells 1 year ago
This movie sucked! Why all the cursing and drug life? One of the worst movies I have seen.
oceanswells 1 year ago
The right things are not always the ones we think, not always the more politically correst ones.
illusion787 1 year ago 3
wuts the song at the end?
501stAnimetrooper10 2 years ago
This film is brilliant, and so hard-hitting. It's not about what is wrong, or right, it's about what this particular character believed was right. And for once, a film actually followed the story to a neutral, realistic ending. The audience is left to decide for themselves - and there is no definitive answer.
Mysterioux 2 years ago 6
I am just left amazed that some people think he did the right thing.
fuckin idiots
thepims 2 years ago
Comment removed
clairewkd4496 1 year ago
-1
I can try to guess not being one how parents would think he made the right decision. Yes she is the mother and they should be together in a perfect world. But in a perfect world she would have been a better mother and took some responsibility looking after her child. I can even try to imagine that yes some children can have a pretty shitty upbringing and cant choose who their parents are.
thepims 1 year ago
I don't think You understood my comment. We are both on the same page here lol.
I was saying that they aren't thinking of whats best for her....Barely knowing her mother would be a good thing.
Considering in the film he threw that back in Morgan Freeman's face. That Amanda would ask him later in life why didn't he take her back home to her mother.
Thats a silly statement considering shes 3-4 and the way Mommy was barely around anyways she wouldn't remember much of her.
clairewkd4496 1 year ago
sorry my bad :)
thepims 1 year ago
-2
But in context to this film IMO he did not make the right decision. It doesnt matter if the little girl remembers or not.
That fact is when watching it we know and can clearly see that she would have had a much better quality of life if she were not given back to her mother.
It seems harsh but the mother clearly has not changed even AFTER HER LITTLE GIRL WAS TAKEN FROM HER and if that does not change her then what would?
thepims 1 year ago
Yes but knowing how people like her mother work. He should of known in his line of business that people like her RARELY change even after such harsh events. Women like her get beaten raped and they still crawl back to that life style.
I really can't see how any buddy could give that child back to her mother.
clairewkd4496 1 year ago
That worthless bitch didn't even know her daughter's doll's name!! Mothers like these should be dragged through the streets until they are rendered bloodied and unconscious!!! That little girl is fucked!!!
plutogirllovekj 2 years ago
this is such a good film. i had to watch it a couple of times just to come to terms with it. it upsest me soo much at the end when he realises he made the wrong decision. tragic.
RiotZone121 2 years ago 6
Hmm.. I didn't get that at all. I think he understood the consequences of his decision from the beginning. The final scene he is reflecting on it. I also think he made the right choice. But it is a sad situation. That's a classic drama.
droidsURlooking4 2 years ago 2
Its so sad when Michelle's character leaves, but I think she was right.
tinkabellastar 2 years ago 8
When she leaves him it makes me so sad :(
InstinctEBM 2 years ago 9
such a powerful score and great acting...so emotional
loserguy1022 2 years ago 31
this movie
natasha12367 2 years ago 8