{"id":261,"date":"2010-09-23T14:08:50","date_gmt":"2010-09-23T14:08:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=261"},"modified":"2010-09-23T14:09:30","modified_gmt":"2010-09-23T14:09:30","slug":"the-town-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/action\/the-town-4\/","title":{"rendered":"The Town – 4*"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>\"\"<\/a>Ben Affleck is developing into quite a director, first demonstrating his impressive skills with his 2007 feature debut Gone Baby Gone<\/em><\/a> that introduced the international audience to Boston and its working-class charm that cries the same \u2018lost community\u2019 song as other films dealing with urban change. Now his second and latest film, The Town<\/em><\/a>, set in the Boston Projects is far grittier, but has not lost that sardonic, dry wit of the first and laid-back attitude that feeds within the hardship and serious social issues afflicted on the area. Affleck\u2019s skill is keeping an impressive balance between calmer, pensive moments, before the inevitable storm, almost like miniature Bostonian character studies, where little is said, but what is, is monumental, with the sporadic bursts of violence, anger and wild street chases, reminiscent of Kathryn Bigelow<\/a>\u2019s energetic and gripping Point Break<\/em><\/a> (1991) \u2013 minus the beach surfing chic.\"\"<\/p>\n

In fact the parallels are highly apparent. Bigelow\u2019s crime caper deals with armed bank robbers greedily needing that one last heist (and adrenaline rush), before early retirement. They also wear comical but intimidating masks in the process. In the Affleck film, though, the violence has been ratcheted up, with criminals that are more desperate, less likeable and more prepared to kill. The action is well edited and the chase scenes make for some exhilarating twists and turns through narrow, picturesque streets.<\/p>\n

Affleck takes the lead role as bank robber Doug MacRay who has his heart stolen. Affleck effectively gives the kind of soul-searching and pained performance we\u2019d expect from him, without breaking a sweat or delivering anything new to the status quo. But his portrayal pales into significance against the powerhouse of Oscar-nominated talent that is Jeremy Renner<\/a>, a screen force to be reckoned with, again playing the tightly sprung wild card that he is becoming known and applauded for as Doug\u2019s best friend James Coughlin. \u2018Jimmy\u2019 is the past Doug longs to escape from and he acts as the nostalgic \u2018old country\u2019 reference \u2013 with Irish memorabilia cluttering each location in the film to the point of amusement. Jimmy brings his wayward friend back to earth and reminds him of his roots and his duties to family and community that he cannot turn his back on. As Affleck makes sure to develop all his characters \u2013 and hence each Boston-based film\u2019s appeal, he gives them a solid grounding, a purpose and a very real soul, full of anguish and passion for their heritage \u2013 as with Jimmy. This goes to firmly cement the film in a believable environment and build on the characters\u2019 credibility.<\/p>\n

Like Point Break<\/em>, the social divides are constantly flagged in The Town<\/em>. Rebecca Hall<\/a> plays bank manager Claire Keesey and Doug\u2019s eventual love interest, a good, educated, middle-class girl or \u2018Tunnie\u2019 (yuppie) who falls for her robber \u2013 unbeknown to her. What could be construed as fanciful, if not slightly clich\u00e9d actually works: It\u2019s a fact that good girls love a bad boy, especially those stuck in an affluent rut, and this makes the love affair all the more exciting to watch implode, but passion. Hall\u2019s accent waivers at times, but her persona is well and truly suited to this role, after her confused but sensible girl portrayal as Vicky in Vicky Cristina Barcelona<\/em><\/a>. It\u2019s Blake Lively<\/a>, like Amy Ryan<\/a> in the supporting role in Gone Baby Gone<\/em> who steals the female lead thunder away from Hall, playing Jimmy\u2019s drug addled sister Krista who still loves Doug. Lively combines sexy and tragic with intense effect. There are also some rather commendable performances from Mad Men<\/em><\/a>\u2019s Jon Hamm<\/a> and Pete Postlethwaite<\/a> as a gangland boss posing as a florist.<\/p>\n

Is Affleck a one-trick pony, making films about a niche subject and area that he is passionate about? He has demonstrated his directing skills in this sense. What would be interesting is him working on a totally different project to see how well his talent translates.<\/p>\n

4\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By L G-K<\/p>\n

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Ben Affleck is developing into quite a director, first demonstrating his impressive skills with his 2007 feature debut Gone Baby Gone that introduced the international audience to Boston and its working-class charm that cries the same \u2018lost community\u2019 song as other films dealing with urban change. Now his second and latest film, The Town, set … <\/p>\n

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