The Town (2010)
Doug MacRay is a longtime thief, who, smarter than the rest of his crew, is looking for his chance to exit the game. When a bank job leads to the group kidnapping an attractive branch manager, he takes on the role of monitoring her – but their burgeoning relationship threatens to unveil the identities of Doug and his crew to the FBI Agent who is on their case.
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There really isn't much I can say about this film that isn't positive. Based on Chuck Hogan's novel "Prince of Thieves," The Town is superbly directed and features stellar performances by Ben Affleck, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner and Rebecca Ferguson. This is a film I have returned to over and over.
Title says it all. Hugely underrated film. Affleck and Renner were phenomenal as we're Hamm, Lively, Posthlewaite, and the entire ensemble. When Fergie (Posthlewaite) delivers the sickening truth about Doug's (Affleck's) mother's demise, you couldn't help but gasp and feel the burning anger growing in Doug, wishing he would rip Fergie's head right off his shoulders for his smug, heartless and evil coldness. It was at that moment that I was fully on board and rooting for Doug to survive. I would happily go back and watch the original 4 hour cut if I could...
This film has its Roots tied to the novel "Prince of Thieves ", by Chuck Hogan. It's a crime drama that tells the story of a crime crew that's specialty is robbing banks. As with most Crime Drama's, there are cops chasing crooks and this film has a unique set of "Crime Fighters"! As in the movies as well as real life, many criminals have had a sorted family life. In the case of this film the family business is "Robbing Banks"! Starring Ben Affleck, the gangs leader as "Doug MacRay". His Evil, yet loyal Lieutenant Jeremy Renner "Jen", was nominated for the "Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor". There's a classic comparison of the "Good Bad Guy" & "Bad Bad Guy, between Dougie & Jem throughout the film. Part of this comparison involves the love interest's, played by Rebecca Hall & Blake Lively. Throughout the film the characters are in two distinct categories, "Lawful & Unlawful". There isn't anyone in the gray area, even if they appear to be an upstanding citizen who runs the town "Flower Shop". In this case it's "Pete Postlethwaite" aka "Fergie" playing the "Crime Boss". The reason this film is so great is due to both the story & Excellent acting. Postiethwaite Performance is award worthy! Not to leave out our "Crime Fighter", (the less than respectful term for law enforcement used by the citizens in the town), is John Hamm aka "Adam Frawley" FBI Special Agent. Hamm plays the slick FBI Agent who has met his match with an even Slicker crew of bank robbers! In the end you will find yourself quietly rooting for the bad guys & not so much for the "Bad Bad Guys".
This is a very entertaining bank robber movie, with pretty solid acting and action scenes. However, I dock it three stars because Rebecca Hall's character is so boring! Rebecca Hall is "miss perfect" and has zero sexual chemistry with Ben Affleck, which makes the romance scenes boring as hell to watch. Ah what a cheese fest! On the flip side, Blake Lively gives a terrific performance as a drug addicted Mother, and her smooching scene with Ben Affleck is top notch. 7/10