The Town

Movie name: The Town
Year of release: 2010
Director: Ben Affleck
Stars: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Chris Cooper, Pete Postlethwaite, Titus Weliver, Slaine, Owen Burke, Dennis McLaughlin
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:Ben Affleck's second directorial effort, after the great "Gone Baby Gone, has another impressive cast, but unlike his feature debut, Affleck is now also in front of the cameras, as the main character and narrator. The film adapts the novel "Prince of Thieves" and takes place in Charlestown, a suburb of Boston, well known for being the robbery capital of the world. The film follows Doug MacRay, a young man who's being involved in a few robberies and who's trying to end his criminal ways. After robbing a bank, Doug and his accomplices, decide to take a young woman as a hostage (the bank manager) to make sure they have a security getaway. Upon releasing her, Doug starts following the young woman, initially trying to gather what she knows, but eventually the relationship evolves to something more romantic. Trying to quit his old habits and start a fresh life with this new love, causes Doug to crash with his friends/associates. A final job appears that allows for everyone to make way for a new life, if all goes according to plan.
Ben Affleck definitely has talent as a director, even if there are certain tendencies to create scenes and situations that are very much "award bait" style. But staying close to his home, Boston, has been fruitful for him, since his first film, the wonderful "Gone Baby Gone" also took place in the same area. However where "Gone..." was devastating and almost acidic in the way it showed that slice of life, "The Town" doesn't necessarily bring anything new to the table. These are all characters and situations that have been displayed in other films, the difference in this case being the setting and the good actors that bring these characters to life. Jeremy Renner exudes an air of menace that stays with him and Chris Cooper in the few scenes he has, proves as always how fantastic he really is. A good film worth visiting.