good work from Ben Affleck on all counts

Rating: 7/10 (17 August 2013)

"The Town" is a 2010 film written by, directed by, and starring Ben Affleck. Needless to say, it's set in and around Boston.
Affleck plays Doug McRay, a robber whose specialty is robbing payroll and bank trucks, though he and his buddies have done a couple of banks. On one of the robberies, an assistant manager (Rebecca Hall) is taken hostage by one of the gang (Jeremy Renner). When he sees her driver's license, he realizes that she only lives four blocks away from one of the gang and starts getting worried she'll recognize him, although they both wore masks.
Doug manages to run into her at the laundromat; she doesn't recognize him, and the two start a relationship. Meanwhile, the FBI, led by Jon Hamm of "Mad Men" is closing in, and Doug wants out. However, he finds that getting out isn't as easy at it seems.
Affleck and his cowriters haven't penned the world's most original script, though it has some interesting features. It was fun to see the Boston and surrounding locations, and the car chases were terrific. You have to accept a certain amount of dramatic license as there are a couple of holes. The acting is good, from Affleck, Hall, Renner, Chris Cooper, who plays Affleck's imprisoned father, Hamm, and Pete Postlethwaite. Hall has gone on to become a major leading woman in Britain.
Affleck has proved his directing mettle with "Argo" and "Gone Baby Gone" certainly and he just needs to continue his good work in this area. I'm sure everyone thought his career was over after "Gigli" -- I think Affleck has even more surprises in store.