THE TOWN

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.


A Boston bank robber begins to mend his ways after falling for one of his victims in the thriller THE TOWN.

Ben Affleck co-writes and directs THE TOWN, and also stars as bank and armored car robber Doug MaCray. Doug has been raised in Charleston, MA, the bank robbery capital of the world. Doug’s mother left the family when he was little, and Doug’s father, a thief himself, has raised Doug in the same mold.

Doug and his fellow thieves knock off a bank, but unlike their other robberies, Doug’s friend Jimmy elects to take a hostage. The hostage, Claire, is the assistant bank manager. After the heist, Jimmy thinks its a good idea to monitor Claire, and make sure she doesn’t squeal. Doug insists he’ll see that doesn’t happen, but he has alterior motives.

THE TOWN sounds a lot like an old-time western, and this modern-day thriller feels just like one. Affleck, and co-writers Peter Craig and Aaron Stockard, establish the brains, brawns and bravado of both the good guys and the bad, so much so, that the lines between the two become blurred. Yes, we know that Doug and his childhood chums are on the wrong side of the law, but our sympathy for Doug, and the blind tenacity of FBI Agent Adam Frawley provide us with enough rooting interest to hope Doug finds his way out of a very sticky situation.

Affleck, much like actor-director Clint Eastwood, seems to have found a home behind the camera. His acting career has been hit and miss, but his directorial eye, and knack for establishing tone, setting and distinct characters, are making the GOOD WILL HUNTING alum a talent at delivering gutsy and real material.

As Affleck demonstrated with his directorial debut, GONE BABY GONE, and does so again with THE TOWN, he seems to get the most out of his performers. Not only is Doug one of Affleck’s better roles, but he also pulls terrific performances out of Jeremy Renner as Jimmy, Pete Postlethwaithe as smallbit crime kingpin Fergie and Rebecca Hall as Claire.

THE TOWN is a riveting thriller, delivering an updated Beantown western in the form of a crime drama.

Grade: B+