Take a trip and visit The Town

Rating: 10/10 (15 September 2010)

(Synopsis) Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) was born and raised in Charlestown, a blue-collar neighborhood in Boston, where crime is a part of life. Charlestown is the world's capital for carjacking, kidnappings, and armed robberies. The tricks of the criminal trade are passed down from father to son. Doug is the brains and ruthless leader of a gang of bank robbers who have been able to get out clean after each bank robbery. But Doug knows that his luck will not last forever, and he is looking for one last big heist that will give him the chance to leave the town in his rear-view mirror. But no one will let him, especially, his right-hand man Jeremy (James Coughlin); because he believes that it would be a personal betrayal to him, and he is not going to allow that. In a recent bank job, Doug forced the bank manager Claire (Rebecca Hall) to open the safe, and then took her hostage as leverage for the getaway, eventually setting her free unharmed. Doug knows that he should leave Claire alone, but she only lives four blocks from him, and he can handle it, but he begins to fall for her. Their romantic involvement is about to take them down a perilous path.
(My Comment) Ben Affleck, who directed and co-wrote the movie, was also the lead actor in "The Town." The story traces the exploits of 4 Irish bank robbers in Boston who symbolize the criminal working class growing up in Charlestown. The three main characters of Doug, Jeremy/Gem, and Claire were interesting and developed so well that the audience is drawn in and can understand their plight. Even though Doug (Ben Affleck) is a criminal you can still root for him to succeed. The performance of Rebecca Hall as Claire was outstanding, because she was able to make you feel her anguish and torment after the bank robbery. James Coughlin as Gem portrays a bank robber who is out of control, and you know that by the end of the movie, he is the one who will eventually get them caught. The action packed heist scenes are all great, especially, the last and biggest robbery. I believe that Ben Affleck will receive several Oscar nominations for his work. The film is brutal yet it also rips at your heart. This is a good movie to see, but it is not for children. (Warner Bros. Pictures, Run Time 2:00, Rated R) (10/10)