Solid Entertainment. Some unbelievable and predictable moments, but still solid entertainment.

Rating: 7/10 (29 December 2010)

The Town is about a group of friends from a Boston neighborhood that have evolved into a smash-n-bang robbery crew similar to what we saw in 'Point Break', only this crew is more polished both on the job as robbers, and actors.
Ben Affleck gives another strong performance. That makes two really good performances in 'State of Play' and 'The Town'. What we're seeing before our very eyes is a pretty boy action star turning into a solid actor. The days of small roles, and funny one-liners to support his bigger, more accomplished co-stars, are OVER.
It was far more action packed than I was expecting. 'The Town' is a fast-paced action/drama that is often predictable, and at times unbelievable, but the acting and some of the subplots add to this story and keep the viewer involved throughout.
There were a few nice little tie-ins from early in the film that added to some of the action and dramatic moments. It's just another one of those 'realistic settings and characters involved in unrealistic actions with a little too much going on' type of movies. The kind that you enjoy watching once, but probably won't revisit until there's nothing else on TV that's any better. I think of Pride and Glory, Mystic River, We Own The Night, Dead Presidents, and movies of that guild. This selection has many of the same strengths AND weaknesses that you'll find in those films, but in the end, the clear stand out here is Affleck, and the chains that hold his character back. He breaks those chains, and it's kind of symbolic here as he's obviously breaking into the big-time as a serious, more than capable lead.
I almost wish they had gone the 3 hour route with this one because some of the characters are under-developed as the film concentrates on the love story, and leaves those characters by the wayside. Spending more time in that area and in the ending may have brought this to the 8-9 level. Mild spoiler alert - when the first one of Ben's friends gets shot, or when Ben kicks his ex out of his apartment, we just simply don't care because we don't know enough about those characters. The one exception is Jeremy Renner - who is fantastic in a supporting role.
Good movie, not great. Recommended for at least one viewing.
73/100
You'll like it if you like: Dead Presidents, State of Grace, Dark Blue, We Own the Night, and Serpico.