Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 09/17/2010 Home Video Not Available MPAA Rating Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use. Running Time 123 Minutes Genre Drama, Action, Crime Director Ben Affleck Writer Ben Affleck, Peter Craig, Chuck Hogan Cast Ben Affleck, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Chris Cooper Studio Warner Bros. |
THE TOWN (2010)
SYNOPSIS
There are over 300 bank robberies in Boston every
year. And most of the professionals live in a one-
square-mile neighborhood called Charlestown.
One of them is Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck), but he is
not cut from the same cloth as his fellow thieves.
Unlike them, Doug had a chance at success, a chance
to escape following in his father’s criminal footsteps.
Instead, he became the leader of a crew of ruthless
bank robbers, who pride themselves on taking what
they want and getting out clean. The only family Doug
has are his partners in crime, especially Jem (Jeremy
Renner), who, despite his dangerous, hair-trigger
temper, is the closest thing Doug ever had to a brother.
However, everything changed on the gang’s last job
when Jem briefly took a hostage: bank manager Claire
Keesey (Rebecca Hall). When they discover she lives
in Charlestown, Jem gets nervous and wants to check
out what she might have seen. Knowing what Jem is
capable of, Doug takes charge. He seeks out Claire,
who has no idea that their encounter is not by chance
or that this charming stranger is one of the men who
terrorized her only days before.
As his relationship with Claire deepens into a
passionate romance, Doug wants out of this life and
the town. But with the Feds, led by Agent Frawley (Jon
Hamm), closing in and Jem questioning his loyalty,
Doug realizes that getting out will not be easy and,
worse, may put Claire in the line of fire. Any choices he
once had have boiled down to one: betray his friends or
lose the woman he loves.
--© Warner Bros.
There are over 300 bank robberies in Boston every
year. And most of the professionals live in a one-
square-mile neighborhood called Charlestown.
One of them is Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck), but he is
not cut from the same cloth as his fellow thieves.
Unlike them, Doug had a chance at success, a chance
to escape following in his father’s criminal footsteps.
Instead, he became the leader of a crew of ruthless
bank robbers, who pride themselves on taking what
they want and getting out clean. The only family Doug
has are his partners in crime, especially Jem (Jeremy
Renner), who, despite his dangerous, hair-trigger
temper, is the closest thing Doug ever had to a brother.
However, everything changed on the gang’s last job
when Jem briefly took a hostage: bank manager Claire
Keesey (Rebecca Hall). When they discover she lives
in Charlestown, Jem gets nervous and wants to check
out what she might have seen. Knowing what Jem is
capable of, Doug takes charge. He seeks out Claire,
who has no idea that their encounter is not by chance
or that this charming stranger is one of the men who
terrorized her only days before.
As his relationship with Claire deepens into a
passionate romance, Doug wants out of this life and
the town. But with the Feds, led by Agent Frawley (Jon
Hamm), closing in and Jem questioning his loyalty,
Doug realizes that getting out will not be easy and,
worse, may put Claire in the line of fire. Any choices he
once had have boiled down to one: betray his friends or
lose the woman he loves.
--© Warner Bros.
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY |
Ben Affleck (Director Gone Baby Gone) has yet again proved to be quite the writer/director with his new
crime drama, The Town a fast paced heart pounding, edge of your seat dramatic thriller about four guys
from Charleston, OH who have grown up in a life of crime. Following in his father’s legacy Doug McRay
(Ben Affleck; Smoking Aces) is the brains behind a series of robberies in the Charlestown area. At the
beginning Doug, along with his friends James (Jeremy Renner; The Hurt Locker), Albert (Slaine; Gone
Baby Gone), and Desmond (Owen Burke) are robbing a local bank when someone trips the silent alarm.
James becomes quite upset and smashes in the head of the branch manager and kidnaps the assistant
manager, Claire (Rebecca Hall; Vicky Cristina Barcelona). He blindfolds her and steals her driver’s
license. They drive around and then drop her off at the riverfront telling her to “walk until she feels the
water on her feet”. Worried that James may do something stupid to Claire since she is the only witness
that may be able to identify them Doug not only befriends her, but begins to have an intimate relationship
with her. Claire, unaware that Doug is one of the four men that terrorized her at the bank, falls madly in
love with him and for the first time ever Doug wants out of the game. FBI Special Agent Adam Frawley (Jon
Hamm; The A Team) is on to the foursome, but he does not have enough evidence for a jury conviction.
Doug, aware that the FBI is on to them, tells his “boss” Fergie (Pete Postlethwaite; Inception) he is out and
he is leaving town; however, Fergie has other plans for him. The acting and the screenplay are both
spectacular. Affleck and Renner have amazing chemistry and even though their accents may not be spot
on these two completely embody their characters. The Town is sure to gather some nominations!
crime drama, The Town a fast paced heart pounding, edge of your seat dramatic thriller about four guys
from Charleston, OH who have grown up in a life of crime. Following in his father’s legacy Doug McRay
(Ben Affleck; Smoking Aces) is the brains behind a series of robberies in the Charlestown area. At the
beginning Doug, along with his friends James (Jeremy Renner; The Hurt Locker), Albert (Slaine; Gone
Baby Gone), and Desmond (Owen Burke) are robbing a local bank when someone trips the silent alarm.
James becomes quite upset and smashes in the head of the branch manager and kidnaps the assistant
manager, Claire (Rebecca Hall; Vicky Cristina Barcelona). He blindfolds her and steals her driver’s
license. They drive around and then drop her off at the riverfront telling her to “walk until she feels the
water on her feet”. Worried that James may do something stupid to Claire since she is the only witness
that may be able to identify them Doug not only befriends her, but begins to have an intimate relationship
with her. Claire, unaware that Doug is one of the four men that terrorized her at the bank, falls madly in
love with him and for the first time ever Doug wants out of the game. FBI Special Agent Adam Frawley (Jon
Hamm; The A Team) is on to the foursome, but he does not have enough evidence for a jury conviction.
Doug, aware that the FBI is on to them, tells his “boss” Fergie (Pete Postlethwaite; Inception) he is out and
he is leaving town; however, Fergie has other plans for him. The acting and the screenplay are both
spectacular. Affleck and Renner have amazing chemistry and even though their accents may not be spot
on these two completely embody their characters. The Town is sure to gather some nominations!
By Brenda Ladd
