Talking Pictures

Rich Bonaduce reviews “The Town”

It takes a Town: If “Gone Baby Gone” wasn’t enough to dispel the cracks about being the weaker of the Good Will Hunting twins, “The Town” should finally put all of that to bed for Ben Affleck. He directs, stars in and contributes to the writing of this engrossing flick, breathing new life into the heist genre by incorporating elements of Romance and Buddy pics. Affleck doesn’t hog the screen and allows a well-chosen cast to shine alongside a script that turns the criminals into the folks you root for, and the cops into guys you hope blow it big. Rebecca Hall is perfect as Claire Keesey, having a smile and demeanor that truly pulls you in; we can all see why Affleck’s Doug MacRay falls for her once away from his tortured life. Jon Hamm’s FBI agent Adam Frawley is in many ways just as intense as Jeremy Renner’s loose cannon James Coughlin; just on the side of the law. However, Hamm’s Frawley is pushed to toe the thin blue line in pursuit of these criminals, particularly playing some pretty heavy mind-games with Coughlin’s sister (and wannabe girlfriend of Affleck’s MacRay), Krista, played by Blake Lively. With the likes of Chris Cooper and Pete Postlethwaite providing both the pathos and the power of the old boy network in The Town, you have all the element s of a great film.

Gone, baby, gone: Although there are a few weak directorial decisions here and there (such as the showing of MacRay leaving a little post-robbery “gift” for Claire in her garden), there are so many good ones (like contrasting the loud and violent burglary scenes with the sterile and silent view of a security cam, and the deft use of comedy), that even though the outcome may never be in doubt, it’s a satisfying ending that doesn’t pander.

Movie Grade: A-

Director: Ben Affleck
Writers: Peter Craig (screenplay), Ben Affleck (screenplay), Aaron Stockard (screenplay), Chuck Hogan (novel “Prince of Thieves”)

Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use.

Tags: CW30, review, Rich Bonaduce, talking pictures, the town
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