Exciting but needs subtitles

Rating: 6/10 (21 October 2010)

Is there a different language in Charlestown MA? Couldn't understand half of what this crime gang was saying whether it was Blake, Ben or Jeremy. When the criminals were speaking, apart from the expletives most of the dialog was unintelligible.
Ben Affleck does keep up the tension and pace as director.
In the end it is a cops and robbers story which gets you on the side of the robbers. The central romance is unconvincing - in the end I can't see why he fell for her. Also the effort in going into the crime doesn't seem worth the payoff. If they were so smart and well equipped they should have been really rich by legitimate means. The story has a satisfying feel good ending - not too happy and not too depressing.
Ben looks older and acts a bit better than when he was younger. He is no longer pretty so he can do these kinds of roles. Jeremy Renner is a good character actor. Blake Lively makes a good effort to be different from TV but she is a still too pretty for the role. Supermodel types just cannot be the most convincing white trash. Must admit I wanted to see more screen time for her though. Jon Hamm looks suitably haggard and down to earth as a cop - I can see more of him in this type of role. Rebecca Hall is too ugly / intelligent for this role. So the female leads were slightly miscast - but it is the big name cast especially for TV fans seeing Don Draper and Serena Van der Woodsen do different roles that is the main attraction.
This is an engrossing if not perfect thriller.