Tough, Realistic, Well-Acted

Rating: 8/10 (24 November 2010)

I very much enjoyed Ben Affleck's previous directorial effort "Gone Baby Gone", set in what seems to be crime filmmaker's paradise anymore, Massachusetts (Charlestown to be exact). This one seemed to be in the same vein and I liked the cast so I gave it a go.
Affleck runs a bank-robbery crew that includes Jeremy Renner, Slaine, and Desmond Elden. They've had a successful run so far, but things change when Affleck falls for a beautiful woman (Rebecca Hall) that the crew takes hostage (but releases). Meanwhile, an unrelenting FBI agent (Jon Hamm) is focused on bringing Affleck's crew down, using whatever means necessary. The group decides to agree on a hit by a gangster named the Florist (Pete Postelthwaite), and plan on it being their last.
This was a very enjoyable movie as well. I liked the absence of the political message and the move for more the "Heat"-esque action film. Affleck's style is gritty and tough, and he does a great job with his source material. I've often said he's one of the most underrated people in Hollywood, and "The Town" reaffirms that belief.
While Ben Affleck is tried and true both in front and behind the camera, the rest of the cast is relatively unknown. Jeremy Renner, the up and coming actor who surprised us all in "The Hurt Locker", does a fantastic job as Affleck's second in command. Jon Hamm is much the same way, he's great on Madmen and he's right at home in the movie biz. Rebecca Hall and Blake Lively are beautiful ladies and wonderful actresses as well. Desmond Elden and Titus Welliver return from GBG as well, playing different characters. Finally Chris Cooper and Pete Postelthwaite only have a handful of scenes (Cooper has one) but they show why they're some of the best there are.
"The Town" made a fine one-time viewing but probably won't stick with me as long as I had hoped. It's got great characters, chemistry, and action. Definitely recommended.