The Town Extended Cut BlurayDVD Combo Digital Copy

Posted In: Inception

Latricia Glessner says...

Charlestown, a blue collar Boston neighborhood, produces more bank robbers and armored car thieves than any square mile in the world." from the book 'Prince of Thieves', upon which the film was based.



The day after the 100th running of the Boston Marathon, Claire Keesey, played by Rebecca Hall, a branch manager for a Boston bank, walks into her bank to start her day. And what a start it is! She is met by four men in horribly scarred masks and told to open the vault. She does this reluctantly, and in the midst of the robbery she is able to initiate the silent alarm. However, one of the robbers has a wire into the alarms and alerts the others. They finish taking the money; leaving the top layers of monies that are marked and take Claire as a hostage. On the way out one of the robbers beats the assistant manager thinking he was the one to set the alarm. All of this is registered in Claire's memory. Claire is released unhurt but with residual psychological damage.



The robbers are friends, born and brought up in Charlestown. They have violent backgrounds and have spent time in jail. The leader is Doug MacKay, played by Ben Affleck, Jimmy "Jem" Coughlin played by Jeremy Renner and he is the toughie, the one most apt to let fly. They all have a history, date the same girls, drink at the same Irish clubs, and all agree that the influx of young professionals into Charlestown is not a good thing. They are pricing the locals out of their mother's homes and succeeding where the British have failed- driving them out of their neighborhood.



Doug MacKay, the leader can't get Claire Keesey out of his mind. She is lovely, intelligent and wouldn't back down until she was threatened. He develops a relationship with Claire and they fall in love. How can this work? These two so very different souls. Claire has no idea that Doug is one of the robbers and that is how the suspense builds. Into the midst comes FBI agent Adam Frawley, played by Jon Hamm, in charge of all bank robberies. He too becomes fond of Claire. Agent Frawley is smart and he is intent upon "getting his man". It is not until the robbers look at taking on Fenway Park, a magnificently dangerous opportunity that leaks and clues becomes apparent.Doug wants to go straight for the love of a good woman, but it is not easy to leave the Charlestown gangs and Doug meets this face up.



The characters are richly drawn and you can visualize the action, as it takes place, more brutal than we expect. The old neighborhoods of Boston and Charlestown are engraved in memory. And to top it all off, we learn about effective, studious robbers versus lazy robbers. The "ins and outs" of the robbery world, so to speak. The edgy film gives a feeling of reality, the narrow streets of Charlestown, the clipped language, the Boston gang ways are all a tell.Ben Affleck has written, directed and starred in a reality film that is a classic. This is a film for all of us, but Boston is the real star.



Highly Recommended.prisrob 09-19-10



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Posted on November 13, 2011

Mao Faulk says...

Ben Affleck does a great job behind the camera and a good one in front of it. The movie is fast paced with great actors, Jeremy Renner as Jem, Jon Hamm as F.B.I. Agent Adam Frawley, Titus Welliver as Dino Ciampa, and Blake Lively really give great performances, but the use of Boston itself is a great supporting part of the movie, the cityscape,Fenway Park, neighborhoods and even narrow roads make the movie standout. It has twist and turns throughout and the cat and mouse game between the robbers and the F.B.I. is top notch. It is over two hours long, so sit down and enjoy it.

Posted on November 14, 2011

Carolann Wheatcroft says...

I've never been a big fan of Ben Affleck, but if this movie doesn't win the Oscar for best picture, it will be a crime. It's every bit as good as past winners like the Hurt Locker and The Departed. It's non-stop action with a love story mixed in, so women will enjoy it as much as men.

Posted on November 15, 2011

Ka Silcox says...

I went into this movie knowing absolutely about it, there was little advance hoopla that I can recall, that usually accompanies amajor motion picture.



The idea of mask wearing, semi automatic toting nuns at once seems invigorating and slightly surreal, but the viciousness, and sloppy impulse control of one of the robbers played brilliantly by Jeremy Renner (of Hurt Locker) immediately brings us crashing intothe reality of what's happening.



These hardenedruthless criminals hide behind a funny mask, and will eliminate anyone who gets in their way.So they kidnap the attractive female bank manager played adorably by Rebecca Hall for leverage, and let her go.



Upon checking her drivers license, and discovering she lives in their neighborhood, the psycho wants her eliminated to cover their tracks.Ben Affleck's character takes the card and decides to investigate her, and discover what she knows. One thing leads to another, and the lives of everyone involved starts to move in ever decreasing circles as the FBI investigation starts closing in.



The story is brilliantly told, and the theater audience responded to the irony of the conversations between the criminal and his unknowing victim.



Ben Affleck's character seems a little at odds with his criminal life, and you wonder why he is a bank robber, nevertheless he has a well developed dark side, and is very resourceful, resourceful enough to be the the architect.



But you also get the sense that here is a guy could go straight if he chose to, and that dilemma of wonder is what makes this movie so great.He makes the good choice of distancing himself from an addicted ex girlfriend, yet makes bad choices as well. But in order to get to that place of going straight he is forced to make criminal but understandable choices, some of which may surprise you.



You can tell that this is somewhat of a passion project.The movie is set in Boston as was Goodwill Hunting for which he won the Oscar for Best screenplay with Matt Damon.Here Affleckshows he is perhaps the under admired element of that partnership as he wears not only a mask but the multiple hats of Director, Actor, and Writer, and as the architect of this movie pulls all those elements together.



The Town is one of those movies that just works on every level, without falling into the trap of just another formula caper movie.In some ways the mask wearing robbers reminded me of the the Presidential mask wearing robbers of Point Break (Pure Adrenaline Edition)starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves.



As I think back on the best movies of the last several months I think of the over the top antics in Machete, the intellectual stimulation of Inception, and now the mystery and dilemmas of The Town.The Town manages to convey some Indie style while not following the typical Hollywood formula.



It wouldbe remiss not to mention the brilliant ensemble cast, Jon Hamm of Mad Men as the FBI agent,and Jeremy Renner.Particularly though I found Rebecca Hall to be an amazing and beautiful talent.According to the imdb star meter her popularity has risen 570% in the past week.She also starred as Vicky in the Woody Allen movie Vicky Christina Barcelona, and I predict her star will continue to rise.



If you like this movie I think you will also love Point Break [Blu-ray]The Bank Job, and The Lookout, a personal favorite.



And at the end of the movie the audience applauded.I hope this was helpful.This is definitely one to catch in the theater. I think you will love it.

Posted on November 17, 2011

Rupert Mirick says...

Until a few years ago Ben Affleck definitly had his ups and downs. Whether it be in tabloids or mediocre movies he never seemed to be making a positive impact on film (though I'll admit to being one of the only people who liked Daredevil). Then a few years ago he gave a fantastic performance in 'Hollywood Land' and wrote and directed the entertaining and thought-provoking crime thriller 'Gone Baby Gone'. 'The Town' (in my opinion) is not only his best film as both director and actor, it's one of the most entertaining and engaging crime films I've ever seen!



The plot of 'The Town' is pretty bare bones: Armed Robbers from Charlestown (a suburb of Boston, MA with a violent reputation) steal from a bank and take a bank teller (Rebecca Hall) hostage. After letting her go, their leader Doug (Affleck) trails her to find out what she knows about them and at the same time starts a relationship with her. There's also an FBI agent (Jon Hamm) on their trail. While this is pretty much the plot of the story it's what we learn about each character and how growing up and living in Charlestown has effected their lives. I read Charles Hogan's novel 'Prince of Thieves' (which this film is based) a while ago but as good as it was it never gripped you the way this film does.



The directing in 'The Town' is masterful. The heist scenes are exciting and never too drawn out and the action is very level-headed without losing the excitement. To add to this and some great character interaction scenes Affleck uses real locations to add to the authentic feel of the setting. Our protagonist visits community centers and meetings that add a flavor to 'The Town' other Boston-based films like 'The Departed' and 'Mystic River' were lacking.



The casting and acting couldn't be better and fits the movie perfectly. Ben Affleck creates a memorable and sympathetic protagonist in Doug, even as we see him do some violent things. Rebecca Hall is both intelligent and strong as Claire the Bank teller who falls for Doug. Jeremy Renner is dynamite as Jem, Doug's life-long friend who's a loose cannon but is a fully fleshed out character. Jon Hamm sheds his 'Mad Men' image and creates an FBI agent who's just as ruthless and tough as the criminals he's after. Chris Cooper has a brief but memorable role as Doug's father. Blake Lively, Pete Postlethwaite, and Titus Welliver also contribute strong performances.



I really can't praise this movie enough. Ben Affleck created one of the most authentic-feeling crime films with 'Gone Baby Gone' but he has not only topped that but managed to make 'The Town' as entertaining as it is an inside look at a community with a violent reputation. You may feel like you've seen this story before but rarely has it been told this well.

Posted on November 18, 2011

Precious Ruliffson says...

I've wanted to see The Town ever since I saw the first previews of it. First, the story seemed quite intriguing: what happens if a man falls in love with the woman he anonymously took hostage while robbing a bank? Another thing that made me want to see this film is that, unlike many crime dramas, this one seemed to escape the artificially polished Hollywood-ish feel. I had to see it.



...And I was correct on all counts! The Town, which was co-written, directed, and features by Ben Affleck, was every bit of what I thought it would be. The directing was very "real" feeling (especially capturing the working-class feel of Charlestown, MA very well). The script was quite good, not once seeming over-the-top or under-developed. The cast and acting was very good.



But I reserve a separate paragraph for talking about the plot and its execution. This film is somewhere between a crime thriller, a character study, and a romance. It has enough teeth to excite those who like car chases and heists but enough depth of emotion to satisfy those who want strong characters and plot lines. The story revolves around Doug McRay, who robs banks with his friends from Charlestown. On one heist (the movie opener), they deviate from the plan and take a hostage. After letting her go (she never saw them), Doug decides to follow her and talk with her. They end up starting a relationship. The questions: how can Doug keep this secret, and how can he get out of his life of crime?



The plot's execution was very well done: fast enough, slow enough. By the end, you have really identified with Doug McRay and may end up feeling as conflicted as he.



For its great story line, believable direction, and its originality, I give The Town 5 stars and recommend it highly to you.

Posted on November 19, 2011

Ramon Shults says...

Ben Affleck returns to his old stomping grounds--the working class neighborhoods of Boston--for his second directorial effort "The Town."A solidly constructed crime thriller, "The Town" is at its most successful when it's exploring the specific dynamics of the area in question.Affleck has a sense of the place, the language and rhythm of its inhabitants, that lend an authenticity to the film that elevate it beyond typical genre fare.

That's why he has achieved success working in an area and with characters identifiable to his own upbringing.His previous Boston efforts include "Good Will Hunting" (a screenplay Oscar for Affleck) and "Gone Baby Gone" (Affleck's acclaimed first feature as a director)."Gone Baby Gone," in many ways a standard detective plot, was a huge revelation for being surprisingly hard edged and cynical (it helps to be adapted from a Dennis Lehane book with similar qualities)--and it is that cynicism that made it one of my favorite films of its year.



Now adapting Chuck Hogan's "Prince of Thieves," Affleck casts himself as the stoic lead Doug MacRay.Raised in the Charlestown area, MacRay has been unable to break away from the legacy of his youth, his father, and local crime bosses.He runs a successful crew in robbing banks and armored cars.On a job gone wrong, a bank manager (Rebecca Hall) is temporarily taken hostage.When MacRay's best friend on the job (Jeremy Renner) becomes concerned she might know something to identify them--Affleck sets off to observe her as she lives uncomfortably close to the crew.But getting a little too cozy, he starts to idealize her as an opportunity to escape the life he now feels trapped in.One more big score and maybe he can get a fresh start.



Affleck plays the role with a tight lipped intensity and calm.It's left to the dynamic Renner to provide the menace and unpredictability within this tale.Turning on a dime, Renner is terrific here (as he almost always is--even in lesser films).Small roles by Chris Cooper, Blake Lively, and Pete Postlethwaite help illuminate how MacRay, while basically a decent guy, went wrong.Jon Hamm adepts himself well as MacRay's FBI foil.The cast is uniformly excellent, the action sequences are well choreographed, and the grittiness feels real and alive.However, the romance between Affleck and Hall (so inherent to the plot) is actually the least successful element of the film.The biggest lapse of logic comes after Affeck has identified that he's being tailed by the FBI.Instead of laying low--both for her sake and to appear uninvolved--Affleck continues to date Hall openly, even lunching in a sidewalk cafe.And when she learns the truth, I'm not sure her character has been developed sufficiently to make her choices appear logical.



In the scope of the picture, however, these are small gripes."The Town" is most assuredly a successful and rich thriller for adult audiences.Affleck displays range and restraint as a director--and if that's not enough, there's a terrific cast working at the top of their game!Check it out!KGHarris 9/10.

Posted on November 19, 2011

Darrel Urso says...

This is an interesting film, if only due to the strange high-praise it's getting. Gone Baby Gone is a vastly superior film, but it actually got "worse" reviews than The Town (though both films were very highly praised).



The film's problems can be overlooked, though there are some glaring weaknesses. Not the least of which is Ben Affleck in the lead of a bank robber with a conscience. The best part of Gone Baby Gone was that Ben Affleck did NOT cast himself in the lead, but he just couldn't resist here. He's just not charismatic and likable. Born to be the villain, but never wanting that role. He should have played the detective, although in reality that would have been the "good guy" if this wasn't hollywood trying to make you think that somehow a bank robber is the hero and the man trying to arrest him is the villain.



Jeremy Renner's character is undeveloped. We're not oblivious to films like this, and you get the idea right from the start that there's going to be some sort of betrayal. We've seen it a million times. Unfortunately, since you're looking for that, it's easy to overlook the family-like connection between the two. So there's an issue there. Renner's sister is introduced as a slut and very little is used to get into her and Affleck's backstory until the very end. The film's biggest weakness is definitely how characters are introduced without much explanation, and as such, it's difficult to know where they fit into the big scheme of things. As I said, films like this always seem to go in a certain direction and, when a film doesn't, you need to avoid misdirection - because everyone sitting in that theater was fully aware that Renner and Affleck would be at odds at one point (I'm not saying it does happen, but the seeds are planted from the start that it will happen).



Another issue is the idea of a bank robber falling in love with a hostage. Seen that before, very recently in fact. In fact, a lot of this movie just feels like bits and pieces of other movies. There's not really an original idea to be had anywhere here. It was shot almost exactly like Gone Baby Gone, but it lacks in every category that GBG excelled in.



The final annoyance is tying Fenway Park into the ending. I know that Affleck is Red Sox fan, but the whole parking garage shootout thing wasn't very good. You could tell they said "Hey, let's put Fenway in the movie" and then had to write a scene around it. That's not how you make a good movie. It gets better after that, but that scene reminds me of the lame beach battle at the end of Robin Hood (2010). It's just like "really? that's the best you could do for the CLIMACTIC battle!?"



I'm ripping the film, but it's pretty good. I know others are going to give it high praise, so my review is just to balance them out - to let you know in advance that this isn't a great crime drama like Gone Baby Gone was. There are no amazing performances by people you've never heard of. There's no brilliantly woven story with twists. It's just a movie that tries to be Heat - and on some levels succeeds, but for the most part, it just doesn't need to exist. Easily forgotten and discarded, Affleck needs to figure out why he made Gone Baby Gone and consider those reasons in his future endeavors, because The Town is lacking the soul that GBG had.

Posted on November 21, 2011

Natalya Kinsolving says...

It was not a fluke folks, because it seems that Ben Affleck has some real talent after all. His directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone, was a very strong effort from behind the camera, but this time around he holds his own in front of it as well. It's not a great performance, but it's probably his personal best. Jeremy Renner, fresh off his Oscar nomination for The Hurt Locker, is the standout for me, but Mad Men's Jon Hamm is equally enjoyable in a different way. Blake Lively, of Gossip Girl fame (come on, I've never seen it), shows some real promise as an actress, but she didn't get as much screen time as the hype behind her performance would suggest. Chris Cooper and Pete Postlethwaite are basically give extended cameos, but they both make the most of it and leave a strong impression. Rebecca Hall was okay as the love interest of Ben Affleck's character, even though her role and acting seemed slightly flat at times.



The city of Boston has been depicted well in movies like The Departed and Mystic River, but it comes to life and shines even more bright through Affleck's vision. I even had a little trouble understanding parts of conversations because the accents were that accurate. The story is pretty basic. Kind of like a mini version of Heat, but the locations and acting from just about everyone really draws you in. I can't forget about the action scenes. The bank heists are gritty, realistic, and at times, pretty darn suspenseful. Oh, how effective were those masks? I thought the skeletons were fairly scary enough, but those deformed nun ones freaked me out.



The Town is just as good if not better than Gone Baby Gone. Inception may top my best of 2010 list, but Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Toy Story 3 better watch their backs, because the more I think about The Town, the higher on my list it aims to climb.

Posted on November 22, 2011

Brianna Verrett says...

I have always thought that Ben Affleck's acting skills are mediocre at best.When watching most of his films, my thought would often turn to how the film in question could have been elevated with someone else in the role.That was certainly the case when I saw "State of Play", in which Russell Crowe acted circles around him, or so I thought.



But then I watched "Gone Baby Gone", and started to think that maybe Mr. Affleck's real talent lies behind the camera, not in front of it."Gone Baby Gone" was a taut, suspenseful thriller that kept me guessing until the end.And with "The Town", Mr. Affleck has proven that he knows his way behind a camera and that his directorial debut was no fluke.



"The Town" takes place in the seedy underbelly of Boston, where the central character Doug McRay has lived his whole life and where he spends his spare time planning and executing bank robberies.At the beginning of the film, Doug and gang succeeds in robbing a bank (in rubber masks) but ends up taking the bank manager (Clare) hostage as insurance against the police.Even though they released her a short time later, it was soon found out that she actually lived only a few blocks from where Doug and gang lived and hung out.Thinking that he may have seen her around the neighborhood and that she may have recognized him, Doug staged a "chance meeting" with her in order to find out what she knows and ends up developing a romantic relationship with her.To complicate matters further, his best friend Jem is growing increasingly unstable and have become a loose cannon, shooting people and engaging in other sorts of violence acts without the situation calling for it.With the FBI closing in on them, the woman he likes just one step away from discovering the truth about him, and a friend whose unpredictible behavior may put a lot of people in jeopardy, what is a man to do?



From the surface, "The Town" is an old-fashioned cop drama that we have all see a million times before.What elevates it from the masses, however, is the solid acting, the character-focused plot, and the clean, well-shot action sequences.This may very well be the best performance I've seen Ben Affleck given, and his supporting cast is equally solid.The film boasts of several exciting action sequences, and these were all staged in a way that brought a refreshingness and new perspective to what can otherwise be stale material.Mr. Affleck also understood the importance of creating 3 dimensional characters that the audience can care about; and it is because you care about what happens to these people that you will be kept on the edge of your seat as the plot unfolds on the screen.Plotwise, the story may be cliched, but the way in which this film was put together certainly was not.



With "Gone Baby Gone", Mr. Affleck has proven that he knows his way behind a camera.With "The Town", it is obvious that he has further improved on his craft.He is no Martin Scorsee, but when it comes to making films with exciting action and likable characters, he is not too shabby...not too shabby at all.

Posted on November 23, 2011