The Town

The film the Town takes us to Charlestown where crime is the town’s main commerce. The Town kicks off with a short of perfect bank robbery scene that makes the viewer feel as though there a victim inside the bank. In the film Ben Affleck plays Doug McCray, a young project raised Bostonian that has inherited his father’s insatiable knack for robbing banks. Affleck is also a leader of a rag tag group of felons, none worth being mentioned other than the psychotic James Coughlin, who is played by Jeremy Renner.
In the film tensions build as they take the assistant manager of the bank Claire Keesey, played by Rebecca Hall, is held hostage as they storm out of the first heist. After this point we can feel the emotional shock that this young woman has undergone. Director Ben Affleck has finally found his feet in directing, as he is able to tell a story about humanity and love rather than just another shoot em up action drama. The story tells an emotional journey of two characters which fall in love but also contrast each other perfectly.
It is masterful how Affleck is able to portray the good the bad and the beautiful in the film. To add to his ensemble cast, is experienced actor Pete Postlethwaite, who plays the Irish florist who contracts McCray’s crew. His relaxed demeanor creates a classic villain. On the opposite side of the fence you find FBI agent Adam Frawley, played by television star Jon Hamm. Hamms portrayal of Frawley brings a sense of strong justice, much like that of a Lone Ranger type, who is willing to bend the rules to catch the hardened criminals. Much to my delight actor Chris Cooper played a small but important rule which helped complete the arc of Afflecks character, Doug McCray. He played Doug’s father, who was cold and brutal back in his days of robbing banks.
I rate this film four out five stars. The acing was solid and the story telling was visually and emotionally stunning. It is a film that places Ben Affleck into the directing elite. Make a trip down to the Town if you’re planning on watching a thrilling emotional as well as action filled crime drama.