As an actor, Ben Affleck has been often criticised. This seems to have happened in the early part of the decade, but has tarnished his career. In 2007 Affleck changed his approach and wrote and directed the excellent Gone, Baby Gone, set in working class Boston. Back in the same neighbourhood, he now offers bank robber thriller, The Town.
The Town follows a group of career criminals in Charlestown of which Affleck’s character is the boss. After Affleck begins dating a bank manager they took hostage (they wear masks so she doesn’t know), serious strain pushes the crew and tensions build.
The Town is more hit and miss than Gone, Baby Gone, but does hit more than it misses. Affleck’s knowledge of the area adds a sense of authenticity to the film and the robberies evoke those of Heat (1995). The set pieces are genuinely exciting, especially one involving nuns. Where the film struggles is in the relationships between the main characters. Affleck and his bank manager girlfriend and between his old friend, Jim. At times they feel inconsistent and unbelievable, yet the acting remains impressive from all involved. The Town is a good companion piece to Scorsese’s The Departed (2006), both focusing on career criminals in what is always a fascinating on-screen setting. New Jersey has the same effect of being instantly attention grabbing.
The Town juggles a lot of balls and is unable to keep them all in the air, all the time. As a director though, Affleck is two for two.
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