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The Town / Rated R for violence, sex, drugs, drinking, bad language and then some more violence.
In spite of the meaningless title TT is Ben Affleck’s best film since….. actually, it is his only really good film. And he gets all the credit. Based on a novel, he co-wrote the screenplay, directed and takes the lead role. This is a heist film of the first order. It is also a violent crime drama so take the rating warnings very seriously. Did I mention violence yet? Beatings, shootings and fights dot the landscape. Often in combinations. The story takes place in Boston where a screen blurb at the beginning of the film informs us that Boston is the bank holdup and armored car robbery capitol of the world. Ben plays the lead planner except for the two bad guys who run a flower shop and steal everything in sight while trimming some daisies. They are also the thinking thieves. On Ben’s violent team are three toughies all from bad neighborhoods. The main assistant baddie is played by Jeremy Renner right out of last years Oscar winner The Hurt Locker. The movie is structured with an opening bank heist then 45 minutes go by and a second Big Job takes place then exactly 45 minutes go by and as the finale begins to unfold so does the final big heist. This means the drama and character development has a chance to take place between the violence, thieving and gun fire. An unusual love story forms a big part of the story but is used to highlight the suspense and set up the action sequences. Actress Rebecca Hall has the female lead as she did in Woody Allen’s film “VickyChristina Barcelona” (2008). Other good character actors like Chris Cooper and Pete Postlethwaite (the Safari hunter outsmarted by two dino’s in “The Lost World: Jurassic Park ” (1997). This is a tightly directed and consistent thriller that shows the seamy side of the world of crime a lot like the Oscar winning film “The Departed” (2006). If you liked that film this one will be right up your crime ridden alley. Look for The Town to also be an Oscar contender. Do not mix up “The Town” and the M. Night Shymalan movie “The Village” (2004). It’s too bad all the prints of The Village didn’t disappear in an armored car heist. Along with “Armored” released December 2009 and “Takers” released August 2010 this makes three armored car heist films put out in less than 9 months. The next armored car flick should be here by January 2011. If not, I am going to feel a little ripped off.
Rated 3.5 out of 4 armored car heist films if one is released January 2011 as indicated above.
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