Another Nerdy Review: #TheTown

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's Aaron Fitzgerald

I’ve followed Ben Affleck his whole career.  He’s made some good choices and some poor ones but there’s no denying that he’s maintained his popularity over the years.  There’s a high debate among the public about whether he’s a decent actor but, for me personally, I’ve always thought he’s good at what he does.  Say what you want but he does have an Oscar for writing, ”Good Will Hunting”, with his longtime friend Matt Damon. 

I remember reading an interview with him where he plainly stated that he grew up watching big budget commercial movies and that is where his passion lies.  I don’t know much about his personal life other than he dated Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez and frankly I try to stay out of celebrities private lives.  I’ll be upfront and admit that I haven’t yet seen, “Gone Baby Gone”, which won him a boatload of critical acclaim.  So, my biggest question all these years has been can he produce a good movie?   Well folks, the debate is most definitely over.  Enter, “The Town.”

An emotionally charged story, “The Town”, takes us on a journey with a bank robber who accidently falls in love with a woman he took hostage during a heist.  Rebecca Hall, who portrays the hostage Claire, does an excellent job of depicting a victim trying to overcome her fears and find peace with her emotions again.  Ben Affleck, as Doug, is torn between his lifestyle and his feelings for Claire while trying to avoid capture by the authorities.  The resulting problems and conflicts build to a thrilling climax near the end as Doug participates in one last job to hit a big score, come to terms with Claire and escape from the F.B.I.

The screenplay, written by Ben Affleck, Peter Craig and Aaron Stockard and based on the novel, “Prince Of Thieves”, by Chuck Hogan, is well thought out and has carefully placed set ups that pay off brilliantly at the end.  If there is one true ideal in any movie it’s the ability of it to illicit emotion and this film does that without question.  We care about Doug.  We care about Claire.  We sympathize with their goals and the story conveys this without resorting to melodrama.  Ben Affleck co-wrote, directed and starred in this highly quality drama with exceptional skill and execution.

And for those of you who like action, this work of cinema delivers like no other.  Every heist sequence is extremely well done.  If the majority of action films would turn down their action sequences a notch and give them more realism and tension this is what it would look and feel like.  Not only are the robbery scenes terrific in execution they are emotionally engaging as well because we care about the characters.  This is big budget commercial movie making done at its best.

The cinematography, by Robert Elswit, sizzles with energy without drawing attention to itself.  The movie flows well thanks to Dylan Tichenor’s seamless editing skills.  We never miss a beat during the action sequences or find ourselves nodding off while viewing the slow scenes.  “Inception”, is still high on my list of movies to be recognized by the Academy this year, and there are still plenty of films coming out soon that look like contenders, but I think, “The Town”, might very well prove itself this coming Oscar season.  Mr. Affleck, you are a force to be reckoned with in the movie business.

Editor's note: This is the second staff member to post a review on this film. HMMMMM!!! Guess, I have to see it then, eh? BAH!