The Town
Watch Trailer Video Interview: Interview with Ben Affleck and Rebecca Hall
Director: Ben Affleck
Starring: Ben Affleck, Blake Lively, Chris Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, Pete Postlethwaite, Rebecca Hall
Details: US/124mins 15A
Set in the working class Boston suburb, Charlestown, where - a pre-credits intro informs us - more bank robbers and armoured car thieves have spawned from than anywhere else in the world. The film centres on Ben Affleck's career thief, Doug MacRay, who plans and executes a daring robbery with three cohorts, including childhood friend James (a marvellously edgy Renner); during the heist the efficient team take a hostage, bank employee Claire (Hall), as collateral. Letting her go unharmed, they soon realise that she lives just a few blocks away from them. With Jon Hamm's determined FBI Agent also on their tail, Doug gets closer to Claire to see if she knows anything, but ends up falling for her. As James becoming increasingly desperate, Doug can only keep his fledging relationship from the group, and the FBI, for so long.
Whilst comparisons with other cop/criminal movie Heat, and Boston set thriller The Departed are inevitable, Affleck's film doesn't offer the depth and scope of the former, or visceral violence of the latter. His film is closer in execution to that of the work of other famous actor/director Clint Eastwood - being that he knows how to tell a good story, but does so in a considerably swift manner, with impressive shoot-outs. On the negative side of such brisk pacing is the lack of depth given to peripheral characters. Hamm's cop is no Vincent Hanna, nor is he meant to be; he has a tunnel vision view on delivering justice, and sufficiently loose moral boundaries. Hamm has a lot of fun with the role, and is a great foil for Affleck's wily MacRay. We just don't see the man outside of his work.
One scene between Affleck and his incarcerated father (memorably played by Chris Cooper) may be the best acting work the Good Willing Hunting star has ever done. So much about Doug's background and motivations are revealed in precious screen minutes - his failure to fufil early promise as a hockey player, his turning to crime - with a simple, but superbly played exchange between the two men. There's an underlining pain in Affleck's face, his sprained demeanour, that offers more worth than any flashback ever could. Later in the film when he has a more sinister confrontation, the resulting emotional impact of that scene is fully realised and devastating.
The mean streets of working class Boston are once again portrayed with a grittiness and authenticity by a director who obviously knows them well. A thoroughly engaging and tense flick.
Review by Mike Sheridan
Your Comments
kee
Very good heist type film. Decent storyline, good acting, buy popcorn and enjoy.
Posted 28/09/2010 10:40:05
Mike Sheridan
Actually liked it even more the second time. Really cracking heist film with genuine heart.
Posted 30/09/2010 10:11:12
Fiona74
Way over rated. There was too much in this movie that didn't make sense. Spoiler Alert: Like Rebecca Hall's character accepting Ben A was a bank robber, after experiencing the violence of a bank robbery there is no way she would just accept this. When she found out she would have changed address and left immediately. The FBI chasing Ben Affleck and co, what happened to catching the guy behind it all ie Pete Postlethwaite who they knew about but didn't even have him under surveilance at the end. At the start they rob for 90k each, then at the end they are doing a big job for millions when they have all this 'heat' on them like a few days later and then to top it all they tell their big plan to a supposed drug addict who is always off her face. Story has too many holes in it and if Ben Affleck really wanted to stretch himself he should have played the crazy one not the bank robber with the heart of gold.
Posted 30/09/2010 13:37:24
chell3
BRILLANT MOVIE !!!!!!!! My nerves where gone the robberys where deadly you can kinda tell in the ad's what happens but defo worth the watch...
Posted 06/10/2010 13:21:51
jack brown
This was a well directed movie even though parts of were not plausible . Ben affleck is NOT a great actor and should n't have been playing the central role here .with a better and more plausible story this could have been a masterpiece of heist movies .
Posted 06/10/2010 14:50:21
Kopite
Foina74... Typical female review abt a gud film,stay 2 watchin chick flicks n leave de gud 1's 2 us intelligent ppl tat includes few females also but not u!
Posted 11/10/2010 21:09:28
er2010
Kopite, I'm a female and i enjoyed this movie but it ain't no 'Heat' which is 10 times better (although based on your grammar i'm not sure if you are old enough to remember that classic).The ending slightly ruined this movie for me.....abit unbelievable. I like Ben Affleck but Jeremy Renner blew him off the screen. He's also the best thing about the Hurt Locker. I think Gone Baby Gone is a better movie and I think Casey Affleck is a far superior actor of the two brothers but its still a good, gripping, enjoyable movie .
Posted 11/10/2010 23:04:52
mceneaa
Irish gangsters getting their props - brilliant film
Posted 12/10/2010 00:04:53
jellybeans22
Folks another great achievement from Ben.A very quick paced film with lots going on.Friendships are very important and its a strong running theame throughout.Where do your friendships go to what distance can they continue to succeed in an honest way.Great number.
Posted 12/10/2010 11:57:03
Mogamat Riyadh
Movie must interesting to watch but makes irish people look shady in the usa
Posted 12/10/2010 12:04:31
gareth
really really liked this. Affleck surprises as he turns in a good part and the direction is top notch, and just the tiniest bit amateurish in one or two places but overall thoroughly enjoyable :)
Posted 12/10/2010 15:03:44
roganjosh
4 stars. Exactly what I was thinking. This was such a good movie. Jeremy Renner steals the whole thing while Benaffleck was surprisingly good.
Posted 12/10/2010 17:56:12
NiallTheStyle
Ben Affleck wasn't so bad in this...did a better job in the directing department. He's on two-in-a-row-now! Enjoyed this one.
Posted 12/10/2010 18:24:02
louiseeenolan
Saw this film the other day, and it wasn't bad I thought. And that's coming from someone who almost never watches anything but chick flicks :)
Posted 12/10/2010 18:34:06
Will
Can't wait to see this one! Although I really think Ben Affleck should try something set outside of Brooklyn!
Posted 12/10/2010 22:58:36
James
Had high hopes for this film, heard good reviews and the mates said it was good...i was let down. Film started well and was promising but after that it didnt really take off, the story was more in the developing of the relationship with Doug and Clare. I had hoped they would of focused more on James's relationship who was palyed brilliantly bt Renner. I thought that this film could of been a lot better, action scenes were average and film was only save by Renner and Hamm who plays the FBI agent excellantly..3 out 5..just about
Posted 14/10/2010 16:36:10
dave
really really cool film. almost forgive ben afflecks previous disasters. its deadly. go see it.
Posted 22/10/2010 14:17:43
Ash
The town is a heist crime film that delivers in everyway. the acting is convincing especially from john hamm, ben affleck and rebecca hall. A film that has lots of tension and a great finale . go and see it .
Posted 25/10/2010 23:18:19
criticl
Great heist film. Thoroughly recommend it. Affleck is proving himself as a director for sure.
Posted 01/11/2010 00:01:10
beecee
Saw this last night. Wow what a disappointment. Why ALWAYS ruin a good action film with a soppy love story? I was praying for a twist that never came and Ben Affleck is the most unbelievable "gangster" ever. He's supposed to be a hardened criminal but his character is same old reliable Affleck. He was pretty much the exact same character in Armageddon. Anyway other than the absolutely ridiculous love story the action was great, the friendship between Doug and James and Doug's relationship with his father would have been enough to keep the film from being a complete testosterone fest. Could have been an amazing film.
Posted 16/11/2010 11:26:19
Lord Sabre
I wasn't that impressed with The Town. I felt like I'd seen it all before. I am starting to see Mr. Affleck in an all new (talented) light.
Posted 17/12/2010 14:10:01
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