Ben Affleck proves himself as a director with his perfect casting, choice of scene location, and ability to stay true to the storyline of the book. Take it from a rabid Dennis Lehane fan - Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan ARE Patick Kenzie AND Angie Gennaro sprung from Lehanes book onto the movie screen. Can't wait until they team up again to do another Lehane book to movie make (like "A Drink Before THe War" - Lehanes first and probably most violent book - makes Gone Baby Gone and Mysic River look like boy scout stuff)