Wick's Review

Summary - Good 3.0

The Town – a beefy treat for fans of crime drama from Ben Affleck, now a writer-director-star triple threat. Staying close to his boyhood home, Affleck romanticizes bank robbers from the Irish-American projects adjacent to prosperous Boston. When one of them falls for the manager of a bank they just robbed, and she doesn’t know who he really is, there’s more than enough tension for The Town’s two-hour run time.

Prince of Thieves, the title of the source novel, suggests the romantic aura that Affleck’s gentleman robber assumes. Taking the antihero vibe to its Hollywood limit, The Town idolizes deviancy that has long since been defined down, to extend the construct of a great Irish-American.¹ So be it. Bank robbers have always been berry berry good to the movies, a verity that The Town reaffirms.

To the strong sense of place underlaying a powerful crime drama, mix in an appealing cast led by Rebecca Hall and Affleck himself. The result doesn’t add up to a big killing, but does make a nice haul.
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¹ Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Acting - Very Good 3.5

Ben Affleck is a past master at tough townies from his native Boston, his role here recalling the first one he wrote for himself in Good Will Hunting. Good for him. He’s a pleasure to watch now – charismatic, centered, with a great big moviestar head.

Jeremy Renner’s hyper sociopath comes across a little too one note, like a pale Irish imitation of Joe Pesci in Goodfellas.

Rebecca Hall underwhelms at first, and then impresses with her self-awareness. She convincingly conveys how a modestly attractive bank manager would be swept off her feet by a he-man like Affleck’s character.

Jon Hamm impresses less than one might expect. He’s a bit of a conundrum: deadly handsome from some angles, goofy looking from others; possessing a deep baritone, yet often passive aggressive, which seems odd for such a powerful character. Let’s see how Don Draper’s career progresses from here.

Blake Lively makes a very believable party girl whose self-control has slipped away. Hot and talented, she could go far.

World class character actors Pete Postlethwaite and Chris Cooper leaven any movie, doing so here as a local kingpin and lifelong criminal respectively.

Film - Good 3.0

An ultimate Boston film, The Town literally refers to Charlestown, which Affleck often shows in sweeping panorama shots with the Zakim Bridge and downtown Boston glittering in the background. The robbers’ green monster – greed – drives them to rob Fenway Park, home of the real Green Monster. Wicked pissa, that.

Competently created, Affleck’s film more than passes muster as a big budget action picture.

Edge - Sordid 2.6

Reality - Surreal 2.1

How do you make a surreal film that feigns reality? Employ 21 stuntmen and two dozen FX techs. Then give it a reality veneer by bringing in an FBI Consultant, four FBI Liaisons, a BPD Liaison and two “Strength Training Liaisons,” whatever those are.

2 Comments

• MJ5K Oct 17, 2010 5:52PM

  Good point. I forgot about Hollywoodland. Another underrated gem with Affleck’s name attached to it.

• Wick Oct 17, 2010 12:45AM

  Regarding MetalJunky5000’s Review
  Perfect. Wow. I almost went to see it tonight, but caught Red instead. The Town’s on my list now, for sure.

  You’re certainly right about Gone, Baby, Gone. Ben can direct.

  As for his comeback, arguably the first tangible sign was Hollywoodland.

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