The Town
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The Town
Director: Ben Affleck
Writers: Peter Craig, Ben Affleck
Stars: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall and Jeremy Renner
Writers: Peter Craig, Ben Affleck
Stars: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall and Jeremy Renner
"Bank robbery became like a trade in Charlestown, passed down father to son"
The viewer is introduced to a gritty realistic Boston town occupied by people who live to protect, rob and serve stereotypes. The real unfortunate misdemeanor here is that romance is shining throughout the dirty narrow streets of Town forcing it to surface its true nature, formulaic.
A mixed emotions film in a love & hate relationship with the slice of hyperbole that is the premise of the movie.
In "The Town" we confront a more mature Ben Affleck behind and in front of the lens. However, does he actually confront us or his good-natured obsessions? The lost "special" man from "Good will Hunting" comes into play here again and it's no coincidence.
All in all, the plot is about a man running for his life in order to change it, move forward and reflect his dark days from the rear view mirror.
This is where we needed our anti-hero to communicate with us his sense of urgency and the impending dread of this newly-born chance - to escape the place that left him mentally crippled- being snatched away. Unfortunately, these emotions had already left town.
I shouldn't forget to mention Jeremy-give this man an Oscar!- Renner and his dynamic on-screen presence.
In these cases , the usual blame is on the actors shoulders, not here though, clearly Ben Affleck was indecisive with his directing approach, the use of editing pace and music in action sequences. The silent moments come as a surprise and leave as a surprise. It just keeps going back and forth thematically leaving it naked, looking like a hot-dog bun to a film student's starving eyes.
Blake Lively will leave you wanting more.
Despite the odds and its predecessors, the film will remain historically and aesthetically insignificant. Truthfully, I expected more from Affleck after his debut with "Gone Baby Gone" but it's never too late, he obviously has the talent and ability.
P.S. For the sake of nostalgia I rewatched "The French Connection".
