Affleck's Town.

Rating: 9/10 (24 September 2015)

The Town (2010): Dir: Ben Affleck / Cast: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, Pete Postlethwaite: In his second directional film Ben Affleck visualizes a town that becomes something different to bank robbers who go one too far. The police are out to solve a string of bank robberies but having no luck. Affleck plays one of the guilty who wishes to go straight but takes the dare of starting a relationship with a female hostage they let go. She is played by Rebecca Hall unaware of her boyfriend's crime. Jeremy Renner plays Affleck's psychotic best friend who wants Hall dead but Affleck refuses. Jon Hamm plays a police investigator up on the reputations of the robbers and struggles to convict them. This is the film that allows Affleck to regain a certain level of respect after having been involved in a great many duds. As director and actor he carries out a personality that longs for forgiveness and connection with someone who is somewhat forbidden. Hall is a broken figure from a bank holdup who seeks refuge in someone of deception. Thankfully she is rewarded, which cannot be said of everyone. Renner is fantastic as a brother type on the lower track and seems impervious to the consequences that eventually surface. Hamm seems the bunt of mocked law enforcement but his methods are sincere and deliberate. Pete Postlethwaite plays the real villain working in a flower shop while issuing Affleck his orders but not without a hint of sadism. Perhaps the handling of the law is off putting but the film is a well crafted voice regarding the choices we make and the consequences. Score: 9 / 10