The Town
Starring: Ben Affleck, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively
Director: Ben Affleck
Rating: 5/5
Ben Affleck grabbed everyone's attention back in 2007 when he moved behind the camera and produced the critically acclaimed Gone Baby Gone.
And now the Oscar winner is back in the director's chair with a new offering The Town, and believe Affleck demonstrates that his directorial debut was not beginners luck.
Doug MacRay is an unrepentant criminal, the de facto leader of a group of ruthless bank robbers who pride themselves in stealing what they want and getting out clean.
With no real attachments, Doug never has to fear losing anyone close to him. But that all changed on the gang's latest job, when they briefly took a hostage--bank manager, Claire Keesey.
Though they let her go unharmed, Claire is nervously aware that the robbers know her name and where she lives.
But she lets her guard down when she meets an unassuming and rather charming man named Doug not realizing that he is the same man who only days earlier had terrorized her.
The instant attraction between them gradually turns into a passionate romance that threatens to take them both down a dangerous, and potentially deadly, path.
Affleck has produced a very classy thriller that hooks you from beginning to end with a straight forward script and interesting characters.
Affleck excels in front of and behind the camera - arguably he should direct himself more - as he portrays Doug a criminal with a heart that you can't help root for him.
His central relationship with Rebecca Hall, who is a great and yet underrated actress, feels genuine and the pair have genuine and authentic chemistry.
This emotional addition to the movie is a good one and is just as powerful and gripping as the car chases and the gun fights.
And while the action sequences are fast placed and beautifully shot Affleck doesn't get carried away with them he is just as interested in exploring the damaged past of his character as their latest robberies.
Twelve months ago Jeremy Renner was making his breakthrough with The Hurt Locker and with The Town he backs up the excitement that surrounds him with another great performance.
Renner is excellent as James Coughlin, tough and unpredictable while Blake Lively shows that there is more to her as an actress than meets the eye.
Affleck has directed the town with real confidence and flair bringing emotion and interesting characters to a familiar story.
Gone are the days of Daredevil and Gigli as Affleck has demonstrated that he is now a real force to be reckoned with as a filmmaker as well as an actor.
The Town is out on DVD and Blu Ray now.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Ben Affleck