Do the people cause the town pressure or does the town cause the people the pressure?

Rating: 8/10 (19 October 2012)

It's an understatement to say that Ben Affleck's first directorial effort, Gone Baby Gone, took audiences by surprise. Here was the man who, just a few years back, was Matt Murdoch in a rather hokey adaptation of Daredevil, was plastered on the cover of tabloids with Jennifer Lopez in his arms, which brewed untold ridicule, and was caught up in a whirlwind of uncertainty as an actor. I hate to continue to ride on Affleck's past, but after seeing Gone Baby Gone and The Town, two films promoting the fact that the man is serious about coming back to the industry with a serious, no-nonsense persona, I'd love for him to be the poster-child of actors turned directors that can show others change in the industry can come whenever and, if you're serious, you can be accepted and praised highly.
For the most part, The Town works on both the levels it wants to, which are as efficient action entertainment and commentary on the world of robbery and the culture of criminality. We are introduced to Charlestown, Massachusetts, a gray, gloomy city built on crime and robberies. The town is known for its explicit burglaries conducted by four men, unidentified by police. To us, they are Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck), James "Jem" Coughlin (Jeremy Renner), Albert "Gloansy" Magloan (Slaine), and Desmond "Dez" Elden (Owen Burke).
The film opens with the men, strapped with masks and automatic weapons, conducting a robbery on a bank and finishing the job by taking the manager, Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall), hostage, only to release her shortly after. Not long after the robbery, Doug becomes romantically involved with Claire, keeping his relationship a secret from the mob and the mob a secret from his relationship. In the meantime, Doug consistently contemplates leaving the mob life in Charlestown behind to favor smaller, less stressful life in the suburbs. If only he wasn't burdened and constantly threatened by the unpredictable Jem, who goes from calm to belligerent in an instant. Jem is played wonderfully by Renner, in a performance light years away from his character in The Hurt Locker. Doug's pressure also continues to skyrocket when he learns that FBI Agent Adam Frawley (Jon Hamm) is explicitly tracking his mob crew and is slowly closing in on them.
Affleck takes on triple duty in the film, playing the lead role, director, and co-writer for this large project. His directing talents are employed greatly during the chase sequences in the film, which are photographed with piercing kinetic fun and stunning visual clarity. Affleck forgoes quick-cuts and a shaky camera, and instead, uses the tactics of two to three second cuts and realism in the chase scenes in order to elevate the picture's use of them. And what I mean by realism is, when a police car turns a tight corner in a compressed alley-way, he doesn't slickly turn but almost completely spins out. In a time where chase scenes look too clean and special effects the prime tool to construct an action movie, it's strikes me as refreshing to see one rely on wit and realistic movement.
The film's first act is equipped with a fine eye for detail, specifically in the shootout sequences and the robberies, and includes seriously compelling character development on McCray. The second and third act continue to focus more on the character aspect, which at times, unfortunately, feels a little weighted, but those scenes can not bog down what is clearly a fun, incredibly entertaining action film, with depth and style at its core. Again, much like in his debut, Affleck feels comfortable directing a picture of this caliber, and he feels confident assuming the lead role and penning the script as well. The way he makes Boston's murky grayness into its own breathing character is something along the lines of Clint Eastwood's directorial efforts, which is a remarkable and admirably talented feat. As long as he isn't distracted by dead-end projects, it would appear that the man has a long, eventful career ahead of him in his later life.
Starring: Ben Affleck, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall, Blake Lively, Jeremy Renner, Pete Postlethwaite, and Chris Cooper. Directed by: Ben Affleck.