It's funny how movies can influence popular opinion. After checking out Gone Baby Gone, Ben Affleck's directorial debut, the first words I heard from others about the movie were, "Gee, Affleck's a much better filmmaker than an actor." Sure, it might seem that way on the surface, but it's a lot like comparing apples to oranges. I've talked to several people in Hollywood over the years who feel Affleck's gotten a bum rap, largely (if not completely) due to his highly publicized relationship with Jennifer Lopez and a few questionable career choices. As an actor, Affleck's certainly had his fair share of stinkers over the years (Daredevil, Paycheck, Gigli...). There's no denying it. However, after briefly stepping away from the spotlight to become a husband and father, it's clear Affleck has matured as an actor (Hollywoodland) and grown as a filmmaker (Gone Baby Gone), which certainly counters all of the negative press the guy's received over the years. The transformation has never been more apparent than on the behind-the-scenes extras on the Gone Baby Gone DVD. Simply put, the guy knows how to MAKE a great movie. Given Casey Affleck's amazingly dramatic performance as a Boston private-eye, it's looking like the Affleck brothers are becoming a major force in Hollywood.

Gone Baby Gone, adapted from author Denis Lehane's novel of the same name, feels similar in tone to Mystic River. It's an intentionally uncomfortable movie that keeps you off-balance at all times. When a young girl goes missing in Boston, the family of the drug-addicted mother (Amy Ryan) hires private detective couple Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) and Angie Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan) to off-set the official police investigation headed up by Beantown police captain Jack Doyle (Morgan Freeman). But when Kenzie and Gennaro team up with police detectives Remy Bressant (Ed Harris) and Nicke Poole (John Ashton), the case exposes a deeper web of deceit, abuse, and corruption that shockingly impacts the lives of everyone involved. Filmed on location in Boston, Gone Baby Gone features a level of authenticity that works so effectively for the story that it makes the central issue and characters believable from the outset. From there, the story twists and turns to offer more than a few surprises en-route to a surprising and uncomfortably rewarding climax. More importantly, it takes the issue of missing children off of milk cartons and news segments and drops it in your lap. It's a movie with an intentional message that shouldn't be missed.

The two featurettes "Going Home: Behind the Scenes with Ben Affleck" and "Capturing Authenticity: Casting Gone Baby Gone" go behind-the-scenes of the production on location in Boston and serve up a great look at Ben Affleck as he shoots the film. Both show Affleck in the moment and briefly explore his passion for the story. More importantly, though, they reveal Affleck's desire to make a great movie and his determination to make a difference with the subject matter. Like I mentioned above, they show a much different side of the actor turned director, a side that commands respect given his obvious competence and comfort behind the camera. Look for a series of brief but interesting cast and crew interviews with all of the notables involved (Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Ed Harris, Amy Ryan, John Ashton) plus over 15 minutes of better-than-average deleted scenes with optional Affleck commentary that give fans and alternate ending and opening to the film. Unlike most cuts, the sequences give you a lot more substance and perspective on their original intent.

The single disc also includes a fairly captivating feature-length commentary by Ben Affleck and writer Aaron Stockard, but the only drawback to the track is its monotone consistency. Although there's a wealth of information to be had from a writing perspective on various aspects of the story and the challenges of adapting Lehane's novel to the screen, it's not the most lively track to sit through. Still, for all of you budding writers out there, it'll be time well spent.

After watching Gone Baby Gone, there's no question that Ben Affleck is a great filmmaker. It's obvious where Affleck's true talent lies. After getting swept up in the hype of Good Will Hunting back in 1997, it's easy to understand why his acting career took off and why he chose to go that route. After all, Affleck had 18 acting credits to his name before he and Matt Damon wrote their Oscar winning screenplay. Since the guy's taken so much heat as an actor over the years, Gone Baby Gone makes you wonder whether he should have written more films instead of furthering his acting career. Gone Baby Gone is one of the best films of 2007 that also features some of the best performances of the year and it fittingly receives an equally complimentary treatment on DVD.