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Ben Affleck put pen to paper, sharpened up his Boston accent and donned his director hat for the new heist-thriller, The Town. We all love a good cops and robbers story. The dynamic is as popular in the U.S as hamburgers and french fries. We act it out as kids on the playground and flock to the theater to see it on the big screen.  But rarely do we get an impressive film that is more than just an excuse to have people shoot at one another. Films like 2006’s Inside Man which had all the right elements are few and far between. Luckily we can add this one to the list. 
 
Affleck set his film in Charlestown, Massachusetts. A blue-collar neighborhood of Boston and, for the sake of the film, a breeding ground for robbers, car jackers, and drug running thieves. Doug MacRay (Affleck) is a professional crook and “architect” for a 4 man operation that targets banks and armored cars. They have an ability to stay one step ahead of the FBI and local authorities until MacRay gets involved with the bank manager from the latest heist. It is then he starts to reevaluate his life and must decide if one last job will bring him freedom or destruction. 
 
Boston works perfectly for the films backdrop and it is good to see Ben back into that geographic area. The accents, Irish brotherhood and gritty surroundings make films like this genuine. Affleck provides a believable performance and one that shows he still has the ability to deliver the drama. The script, based on the best selling novel Prince of Thieves mixes action, suspense, and emotion into a smart, fast paced crime thriller.  The character interaction builds tension that keeps it on the edge and volatile. We watch MacRay go through many personal issues that threaten to destroy any chance he has at redemption. 
 
The cast is near perfect in this one which helps the over all package. Affleck is joined by Jeremy Renner as the unstable member of the gang. His character is self destructive and Renner pushes it right to brink. Jon Hamm is FBI agent Adam Frawley. Mad Men fans will enjoy him in this role while those unfamiliar with his TV character can gain a respect for his talent all on their own. Rebecca Hall is one of the lone female cast members and brings a nice feminine touch as MacRay’s counterpart. Many will not even recognize Blake Lively as a drugged out townie or Chris Cooper as MacRay’s inmate father. Both have minimal onscreen time but when they do they give 110%. 
 
The Town is rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use. The entire film is meant for older adults. The strong thematic material and gritty styling is certainly not for the weak of eye and ear. The language is the most prominent issue that some may find hard to swallow. The violence is corralled within a few certain scenes but the language is front and center throughout. So make note of that. Overall it is one of the better films I have seen this year. Affleck delivers the trifecta. His script is solidly written, his directing award winning, and his acting just shy of perfection. This is a great guy film and a good choice for those couples who have the same taste in action thrillers. It gets 4.5 out of 5 bags of cash with only a few slipups in a near pristine project. 
 
-Matt Mungle
 

 
Review copyright 2010 Mungleshow Productions. Used by Permission.