The Town (Ben Affleck, 2010)

Movie Review

In 2007, Ben Affleck's directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone released to a roaring reception of critical praise, baffling audiences worldwide with its presentation of a true moral dilemma. 

This year the actor returns with "The Town", his sophomoric project in the director's chair, based on the novel "Prince of Thieves" by Chuck Hogan. 

The heist film has always had its share of avid followers and admirers. And not for nothing; the heist film has constantly evolved right from the inception of cinema itself. Right from the amateurly choreographed sequences of "The Great Train Robbery", the act of stripping people of their fortunes and the dire consequences that the perpetrators face has been exemplified by the witty dialogue of "Reservoir Dogs", the ascending tension in "Dog Day Afternoon", the slickness of "Inside Man" and the "Oceans" series, and the mind-bending ingenuity of "Inception". 

Although "The Town" is primarily based on a work of fiction, it is also a reflection on the real-life community of a town in Boston. The Charlestown neighborhood of Boston is renowned for churning out a high number of armed robbers, generation after generation. These robbers never leave their Charlestown life on their own volition, the neighborhood where there is an unwritten code to protect that lifestyle. One such gang, headed by Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck), takes a bank manager (Rebecca Hall) hostage during one of their heists, releases her after the job is done, and decides to keep an eye on her in the days following the robbery. This results in a relationship between the unknowing manager and Doug. As he plans his next job, Doug tries to balance his feelings for the bank manager , as well as the FBI agent looking to bring him and his crew down. 

The first thing that one notices about the film is its unrelenting pace. The movie effortlessly zooms through the events, right from the opening heist to the climax, while never giving up its hold over the audience. The dialogue is well-written, and so is each character. This character development also finds its roots in the emphatic and palpable performances of all the actors, especially Jeremy Renner, who is nothing short of brilliant as the trigger-happy and psychopathic Jem. In one particular scene, Renner beautifully transforms his character from the gun-toting, malicious goon to a caring uncle and responsible brother.Although hitherto never acclaimed for his acting chops, Affleck is not far behind, with this being perhaps the best performance of his career. One can only admire his abilities as his face reflects the constant turmoil and tragedy that looms threateningly over the characters. 

The one flaw apparent on the first viewing of "The Town" is the forced and anti-climatic conclusion to the story. Perhaps this is because the theatrical cut was cut down to 2hrs from the original 4hrs. Also, the ending of the novel is different from that in the movie. This may explain the abruptness and over-the-topness of the ending. Which is a pity, considering the power-packed conclusion to Affleck's first film. 

Final Verdict : But for a few tweaks here and there, and a different approach in executing the last act, The Town would have been an excellent crime drama, on par with movies like "Heat" and "Dog Day Afternoon". However, it is still a very well-made film and an absolute must-see for all Affleck fans.