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Director, co-writer and star Ben Affleck and his team have put together a fast-moving thriller set in Charlestown, the bank robbery capitol of America.
Affleck is Doug MacRay, the leader of a band of thieves. He’s got a head for details, but you can tell he has doubts about his chosen profession.
James (Jeremy Renner), who is almost a brother to Doug, spent nine years behind bars to protect his friend. He has no interest in watching Doug walk away.
During one robbery, James takes a hostage. Claire (Rebecca Hall) is released unharmed, but James begins to think she knows too much.
Rather than let James kill her, Doug volunteers to make sure Claire won’t cause the crew any problems.
And that causes a problem, because Doug falls in love.
Now, he has a reason to leave his criminal life, but he has his friends, an old girlfriend and a mob boss trying to keep him where he is.
All the while, FBI agent Frawley (Jon Hamm) has made it his life’s mission to catch Doug and his crew.
Will Doug and Claire build a life together? Will she ever learn that Doug is one of her kidnappers? Will Doug’s crew eventually let him leave? Will Frawley spoil happily ever after?
Expect car chases through the tight streets of Boston, and you better believe there’s a shoot-out or two before those questions get answered – that’s where the twisting and turning in your seat comes from.
There are some slow periods in the movie, and I thought it could be trimmed in a few places.
Plus, the robberies happen too quickly, one after another. That’s for dramatic effect, but it cuts down on the realism the movie otherwise relies on.
I give “The Town” a B plus.
It’s showing at the Cinemark in Tupelo, as well as Malcos in Oxford, Corinth and Columbus, and Hollywood Premier Cinemas in Starkville.
Look for movie reviews in Scene on Thursdays, and listen each Tuesday morning on Wizard 106.7 between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m.
Wizard Review:
Kelli Karlson with Wizard 106.7 gives "The Town" an A. "Loved it."