The Town

After seeing The Town and August release, Takers I believe I can now successfully rob a bank. It’s a shame I already spent all that time and money on college. It’s tough not to draw parallels between the two films because of their bank robber plotlines and how close they were released to each other. But they were very different in the lifestyles they exposed. The Town tells the story of a group of bank robbers from a poor neighborhood in Boston. Directed by Ben Affleck, the film is a dramatized presentation of an individual’s search for a way out of their negative lifestyle.

Affleck also stars in the film as Doug Macray, the architect of a gang, who falls in love with a witness of one of their jobs (Rebecca Hall). He is then forced to balance his relationship against the temper of his lifelong friend Jim, played by Jeremy Renner. The close pursuit of the FBI, lead by Jon Hamm’s character doesn’t help things much. The powerful cast paints a convincing picture of urban crime. With trophy collectors Hamm, and Renner present, it’s no shock. The question mark was Daredevil himself, Ben Affleck. I actually tend to think Affleck is good or better in most of his films. The Town is one of his best performances. While not very multi-dimensional, he played the part and played it well. Maybe he should direct and star in all of his movies.

Heist films are inherently stressful. In this instance, the audience is permitted to breathe at points as Affleck and Hall’s characters build their relationship. That element balances the script and adds the human element a lot of crime films neglect. I don’t claim The Town is a completely unique story, though it’s a pretty strong motion picture. If those cool masks they wear in the trailers don’t draw you into the theater, I don’t know what will. (9.3 out of 10)