Writer/Director: Ben Affleck
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Ben Affleck and Jon Hamm
‘A Captivating Crime Classic’
Not many actors in Hollywood have made films which audiences treasure like Jeremy Renner. Ever since his rise to fame during the 1990’s, Renner has made memorable movies. Whether it’s troubled soldiers, political leaders or bank robbers, Renner has played many compelling characters. Arguably, Renner’s strength as an actor has always been his strong commitment to his craft. He is one of those actors that has often had an aptitude for stealing the show in supporting roles with limited screen time. Even when he isn’t a main focus of a movie, Renner has always left a lasting impression. Through his abilities to portray strong characters which are compelling, Renner has built a legacy that is lasting. Throughout a lasting career, Renner has made many memorable movies which are worth taking about.
I’m a fan of Renner and admire all the movies that he has made in his career. However, “The Town” is my favourite. Released in 2010, Ben Affleck’s movie offered a powerful portrait of bank robberies. Packed with bold production, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best crime movies ever made. At the centre of it all is an excellent performance by Jeremy Renner, who portrays a bank robber facing disaster. Ultimately, what makes “The Town” a masterpiece is strong appeal. Unlike most bank robbery movies, it tackles themes everyone would relate to. It delivers a strong message about friendship which will resonate with everyone. A riveting crime classic, there are several strong reasons why “The Town” is a commemorated movie that is definitely worth seeing.
Set in crime-ridden Boston, “The Town” tells a story of bank robbers which face tensions in a dark town. Ben Affleck portrays Doug MacRay, a longtime thief facing a price to pay. Following many years in the business of bank robberies, Doug is determined to leave a profession that causes adversity. However, Doug’s life forever changes when he becomes attached to a bank branch manager. Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall) is a dedicated bank manager with a dedication to caring for finance with certainty. Faced with a dilemma, Doug is forced to question whether it’s possible to cope with tension of professions that causes trauma. Accompanied by longtime companion Jen (Jeremy Renner), Doug strives to commit bank robberies causing danger. As all odds are stacked against his favour, Doug questions whether it’s possible to truly become a successful bank robber.
Ben Affleck is fascinated with stories of crime ridden towns. A fantastic filmmaker, Affleck has often made engaging films about towns facing grave danger. His iconic movie “Gone Baby Gone” captured detectives seeking to investigate the dark disappearance of a child. With “The Town”, however, Affleck created his first bank robbery movie. It was the director’s first attempt to convey the lives of thieves that face tragedy but he succeeded tremendously. Through captivating cinematography, Affleck captures thieves seeking to commit robberies in a town causing catastrophe. Evoking Sidney Lumet’s “Dog Day Afternoon”, Affleck expertly uses handheld camera to capture tension that bank robbers are often enduring. For instance, handheld camera enhances the bank robbery scene. During this unforgettable scene, Doug and a devoted crew seek to pull off an intense bank heist causing tension. Through stunning montages, Affleck creates a portrait of bank robbers that’s compelling. Handheld camera is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” suggested clearly, handheld camera enhances war movies. That being said, it works in this film. Using stunning visuals, Affleck captures tensions which bank robbers are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “The Town” that merits appreciation is the production. Affleck has always excelled at shooting movies in his town of Boston, and “The Town” showcased his strengths as a filmmaker. Throughout the movie, Affleck expertly uses real-life locales in Boston to capture bank robbers experiencing catastrophe. For instance, the real-life locales enhance the shootout scene. During this tense scene, Doug and his crew become involved in a dangerous fight with police on the streets of Boston. Through using real-life locales, Affleck creates a bank robbery movie that’s engaging. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. Harry Gregson-Williams’ music is key towards the success of the movie. It gives the movie an intense atmosphere capturing the burden that bank robbers committing crimes bear. Through strong production-design, Affleck captures the lives of bak robbers that commit crimes facing a decline.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “The Town” is a crime film that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture the bonds between a team of bank robbers experiencing violence. Affleck’s screenwriting strength is abilities to silence to capture the bonds between bank robbers which share a similar life experience. For instance, silence enhances the argument scene. During this heartfelt scene, Doug has a tense argument with Jem regarding their roles in a bank robbery profession. Through silence, Affleck creates bank robbers that audiences can relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Denis Villeneuve’s “Arrival” suggested, silence enhances alien invasion blockbusters. Nevertheless, it works extremely well in this film. Through a strong screenplay, Affleck captures bank robbers facing a price to pay.
One appreciates astounding performances.
Jeremy Renner delivers one of his best career performances as Jem. Renner first achieved appreciation for playing troubled soldiers in war films. With “The Town”, however, he took upon his most complex role. It isn’t simple to portray a bank robber facing tragedy, but he succeeded immensely. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, strong and charismatic in his most memorable role. Renner has often excelled at playing emotional heroes that are under intense pressure, and “The Town” showcased his strengths as an actor. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, grief and trauma of a bank robber facing tensions. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most commemorated actors working today.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for Jeremy Renner, the supporting cast is also amazing and deserving of appreciations. Ben Affleck is fantastic, capturing the empathetic personality of a bank robber seeking a way out of a job that’s tragic. Jon Hamm is sensational, bringing authority towards an FBI agent driven to catch bank robbers committing robberies in a city. Lastly, Rebecca Hall merits recognition. As a bank teller that becomes the hostage of commemorated thieves, she brings heartfelt emotion towards the movie.
Finally, “The Town” would earn appreciation of everyone for illustrating a crime-ridden town. Unlike most bank robbery movies, it discusses strong themes which everyone would relate to. It tackles strong themes including dedication, mental heart and trauma that would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be from Boston to appreciate it. It delivers a profound message about consequences of crimes that would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “The Town” is one of those rare commemorated crime movies which everyone would adore.
Fans of Jeremy Renner would definitely enjoy “The Town” and so would movie-goers which seek exhilarating entertainment. A captivating crime classic, it honours an actor that has built a legacy that’s iconic.
Nearly 15 years following the release of a groundbreaking crime film about bank robbers committing crimes in a town with a painful price to pay, it’s a riveting reminder about a legendary actor that has managed to portray compelling characters in unforgettable movies which are definitely without a doubt worth celebrating today.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 