The Town turns up the 'Heat' to deliver a tantalising thriller.

Rating: 8/10 (1 April 2018)

Affleck gets slack off screen, and yes occasionally some of his performances are lacklustre. But when he is in full control of his own film, he becomes this formidable swirling vortex that chews up every scene. The Town is a great example of just that. A band of Charlestown residents perform bank robberies where during one of them they take a woman hostage. The ring leader of this group of misfits rapidly falls in love with her and attempts to protect her and his delinquent brother simultaneously. It's not the most original thriller ever, in fact it follows a narrative flow similarly to the likes of 'Heat' and 'Point Break'. However what differentiates this from them is the equal dosage of characterisation and adrenaline. The brotherly love between the two lead characters is conveyed to be a complex conflict for authoritative power within their unit. Each decision made by one is being questioned by the other. It's a ferocious relationship but one that is fuelled by love and respect, two traditions valued heavily within Boston raised families. Then to embed the intricate blossoming romance with the hostage that inevitably crumbles into desolation is just genius storytelling. Allowing us to become invested in these characters who do anything to survive the harsh environment of Charlestown. Affleck manages to use Boston as an incarnation to represent his own character. Rough around the edges with a warm bustling centre. His directing style is taut, tense and thrilling and certainly cements him as a talent behind the camera. His performance onscreen is then unequivocally matched by everyone. Hall, Hamm, Cooper and especially Renner all deliver exceptionally gritty portrayals as they bring life to these damaged individuals. The robberies and chase sequences were electric with frenetic editing to keep the action thrilling. There are certain sub-plots that are underdeveloped such as Lively's character, trying to pack too much into a two hour runtime. However, this heist thriller remains one of the best.