The Town
Melbourne CBD Greater Union, 19/10/2010
Status: Behind by 5 films
BEN AFFLECK and I don’t always see eye to eye. There were a tough few months there after Armageddon where I wouldn’t return his calls. And again after Bounce (woeful rom-com with Gwyneth Paltrow). And again after Forces of Nature (worse rom-com with Sandra Bullock). And I don’t even want to remember how bad it was after Gigli (disastrous rom-crime caper with Jennifer Lopez). Things have been better between us, you’ll be happy to know, since he started working on projects of which I approve, like directing Gone, Baby, Gone in 2007 and now The Town.
Affleck plays Dougie, a Bostonian bank robber who, despite being tremendously good at it, begins to want out. During a heist, he and his gang (including JEREMY RENNER, The Hurt Locker) briefly take a bank manager (REBECCA HALL, Please Give) hostage. To ensure she doesn’t talk to the Feds (JON HAMM, Mad Men), Dougie watches her and ultimately, inevitably, falls for her. But too late, that Fed is now on his trail.
There are oodles of clichés in this script, but I didn’t really mind since the performances were compelling, the dialogue convincing and the direction assured - a couple of excellent action set-pieces help things along nicely. I think Affleck did a good job. I’m sure he’s relieved to hear that.
