Ben Affleck has done plenty of things in his less-than-illustrious career that I feel merit a heavy stint in federal prison. However, directing and starring in a Boston-style bank heist film where Jon Hamm wields a shotgun like a total bad ass is NOT one of them. Wearing masks showcasing freaky Jamaican skeletons and seemingly disappointed nuns, Affleck and his trigger-happy crew of laddies spend the length of the film heaping tension and raising stakes while you try not to squirm off the edge of your seat. I can barely articulate why anyone would root for these bum-esque Bostonian crooks. Their accents alone give reason for wanting them dead. Regardless, the pacing and deft precision of “The Town” causes everyone watching to forget for a little while about all the atrocities that Affleck has levied against film in the past.
Affleck knows Boston. He also knows which of today’s heavy-hitters to best set his dark and fast-paced stage. “Mad Men’s” Jon Hamm washes off the hair slick and trades his 1960s charcoal suit for a bulletproof FBI vest as he stays one step behind the robbers, impatiently prowling for a logistical opening to pin down Affleck and the gang. Rebecca Hall plays the traumatized bank manager turned love interest with humility and grace, all while the lovely Blake Lively does her best coked-out-whorish-single-mother impression (surprising well).
Together, these daring components effectively smooth over any rough patches this genre typically would encounter. Most heist cliches are turned over by intense action and realism. For example, local cops are often dumb and scared when faced with scary-costumed dudes baring assault rifles, mini-vans have trouble out-maneuvering squad cars and Hamm is really good at hurting people’s feelings.
Simply put, no matter how much money you drop taking your stupid girlfriend to this movie, I think you’ll agree that Affleck has successfully robbed just about everyone but you.
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