The Town is definitely worth visiting.

Rating: 9/10 (2 October 2010)

8.7
Does social and economic inequity affect crime rates? It probably does. The question is, why do these men and women stay involved in this lifestyle? When your loved ones are at risk, even if they are at risk simply because you are in danger of being imprisoned, why do you continue? Is it because a regular job just isn't enough? Is it because we all, secretly inside, want to be rich celebrities? You only get one life in this world, so why waste it in poverty? That's better than wasting it in prison, but is the risk worth it?
The Town is your typical crime flick. It's got a romantic anchor, and the ending isn't the most original ending I've seen in this genre. But as traditional as it might be, and for everything that it sets out to do, it does it right. It's not the best of its kind, but it's certainly one of the better films of its kind. The movie manages to keep you interested right from the get-go, all the way to the credits.
The movie has a great atmosphere, and most of this is due to the performances, more than anything else. I've never been in Boston, but now I felt like I have. I'm not even sure if some of these actors have ever lived in Boston, either. Their performance allows you to level with them, even though they are criminals. This is the type of movie where you are subconsciously (or even consciously) rooting for the bad guys. The movie rarely relies on Charlestown's scenery, and goes for its denizens to paint a picture of the old settlement.
The Town is a great movie, but doesn't really bring anything new to the table. Not that it has to, by the way. It's a movie that casual movie goers will enjoy, especially with its traditional ending. However, it's ability to capture your attention (and emotions) from the intro of the film all the way to the end deserves to be acknowledged. It has pretty good dialogue between the characters, but it's the bold performances that will stand out. The Town is definitely worth visiting.