Ben Affleck has gotten a pretty raw deal over the past couple of years in Hollywood…his acting is almost routinely criticized, and that comes from not only some poor role choices, but also the fact that he is constantly compared to best friend Matt Damon. There is some silver-lining to this storm cloud though, because Affleck’s work behind the camera has been met with considerable positivity, especially 2007’s crime-drama, Gone Baby Gone. Now buzz was building for The Town, a crime-drama directed, written by, and starring Affleck…given the combination of the criticism for his work in front of the camera and the praise for his work behind the camera, many Hollywood analysts were intrigued. The Town was being billed as a combination of Heat and The Departed, two wildly popular films, and with the added acting talent of Jeremy Renner (who has been rising in prominence since 2009’s Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker); it looked like audiences were going to be in for a treat. Despite the criticism, I have always enjoyed Affleck as an actor, so when it came to The Town, I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Fortunately, The Town is a thrilling and thoroughly entertaining crime-drama with smart dialogue and acting, and which thoroughly showcases Ben Affleck’s talent as a director. Granted, the film did start off a little slow, but once the narrative hit its stride, the audience was fully engrossed in a story of action-packed bank robberies set against a character study of the residents of Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to sharp and smooth direction, Affleck also delivered on-screen, reminding audiences that he does have talent as an actor; but the real acting treat comes from Jeremy Renner, who play’s Affleck’s violent and thoroughly-psychotic partner-in-crime. When it comes to the actual heists, it’s pretty clear that Affleck’s brutal gang would easily wipe the floor with Paul Walker’s crew from Takers. With a blend of drama, action, and clever humor, all of which evoke memories of 2006’s Oscar-winning The Departed, The Town truly is one of the best films of the year.
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Overall Recommendation: Very High
