The Town (2010)

I must admit to enjoying this little sub-genre of films dealing in Boston's seedier side of life. You can generally expect tough talking Irish-Americans from a poor Catholic neighbourhood, dealing in or struggling against vices and criminal enterprises. To name check a few of the notables, Scorsese's 'The Departed' (2006), Eastwood's 'Mystic River' (2003) and to a lesser extent, Van Sant's 'Good Will Hunting' (1997). Ben Affleck obviously gets his kicks from them too having previously directed 'Gone Baby Gone' (2007), and now directing and starring in this. It's familiar territory; Affleck and his buddies are bank robbers running amok, a love interest enters the fray, Ben wants out of the criminal life, the FBI closes in, one more job looms, shit explodes. Very familiar indeed. However it is carried off well, blending some of the more solid action scenes I've witnessed for a while with rising tension amongst the heist mates. 

Hey guys, where's the Dropkick Murphy's soundtrack?

I enjoyed this, I was into it the whole way through. The love story is a little tiring and the predictable plot turns are present but they're executed solidly and professionally, just like the robberies. The mighty Pete Postlethwaite delivers with a quiet viciousness in a small role as a criminal boss. This was his second last film before succumbing to the scourge of cancer.

Affleck appears to have moved past his phase of appearing in steaming piles of shite. Now seeing his name attached to a project offers intrigue as opposed to praying you'll never be stuck in a plane with nothing else left to watch. If he keeps directing to this calibre, he and his brother, Casey, will have some exciting work ahead of them. 

As much as I enjoyed The Town however it didn't linger with me after the credits, a mark of success in my books. It is still never the less a worthy entry into the Bostonian crime genre. 

Now get the fawk outta here kid before I smack ya. 

3.5/5