The Town (Ben Affleck, 2010)

[Watashi]

Trailer (http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/thetown/)

Looks great and it has my girl, Rebecca Hall.

[Ezee E]

Kind of spoilery. Looks good though, but recommend avoiding.

[Watashi]

Kind of spoilery. Looks good though, but recommend avoiding.
How so?

It says in the freakin official synopsis that Ben is the bank robber

[Ezee E]

How so?

It says in the freakin official synopsis that Ben is the bank robber
Eh. I didn't even read the synopsis. I knew nothing of it except the cast.

[Grouchy]

Looks good. I'm sold on that one.

[kopello]

Yea same here, the trailer kinda ruins that part, I probably would have never even looked at the plot synopsis. But still, looks really good anyways.

[number8]

"From the Acclaimed Director of GONE BABY GONE"... They didn't mention that it was Affleck himself. I'm guessing it'll be a while before most people can start taking him seriously as a director.

[transmogrifier]

Looks good.

[Dukefrukem]

How so?

It says in the freakin official synopsis that Ben is the bank robber

I guess I already knew that since the Globe was posting pictures of the filming in Cambridge, so that doesn't really bother me.

[B-side]

Looking forward to it.

[Rowland]

This looks great. Hell, if Gone Baby Gone were released this year, it'd be my number 1 for the year at this point, so I have high hopes for this.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Meh.

[Qrazy]

Looks well executed, story could be rote, could be decent... bad name for a film. I'll see it for sure.

[RoadtoPerdition]

Saw the trailer for this with Inception. I think Affleck's strength is definitely behind the camera. I don't hate him as an actor, but Gone Baby Gone was great and this looks to be really strong as well. I agree with Qrazy about the title; they could've done better, I'm sure.

[megladon8]

Wow, that looks good.

I really need to get my ass in gear and watch Mad Men.

[Boner M]

Can't wait. Affleck becoming the Don Siegel of our time? I can see it.

[Morris Schæffer]

Impressive trailer. The movie will probably deliver too!

[Bosco B Thug]

Can't wait. Affleck becoming the Don Siegel of our time? I can see it. Hehe.

Not too big on more heavy crime drama, but yeah, I'm in. I'm expecting great things. Saw it before Inception, Affleck's highfalutin imagery comes off great on the big screen.

[MadMan]

Can't wait. Affleck becoming the Don Siegel of our time? I can see it.That would rule, as I'm a fan of Siegel. And I too thought that Gone Baby Gone was great, and this movie looks quite good as well.

[Dukefrukem]

Affleck is jacked in this movie...

[number8]

So the NY Post today has this movie reviewed and their headline is "Flick wicked good."

[Morris Schæffer]

It might be my most anticipated on the immediate horizon.

[kopello]

So I think according to the tomatometer scores that this is the second best reviewed movie of the year behind Toy Story 3. Looks like he's done as good as GBG if not better, can't wait to see it.

[Qrazy]

Seeing it tomorrow.

[MacGuffin]

Seeing it tomorrow.

Did you ever watch Meek's Cutoff?

[Qrazy]

Did you ever watch Meek's Cutoff?

I did and Uncle Boonmee. I'll post something brief in the TIFF thread.

[Dukefrukem]

I liked this. Just wish the girl wasn't a lump on a log

[Henry Gale]

Yeah this is really good. I'd personally put it on par with Gone Baby Gone, both films being really solid at every turn, if not necessary "oh wow, I don't know what just hit me"-amazing for me.

I kind of wish there had been a few more scenes to pad out some of the characters who play big roles in the overall story despite not being in very many scenes (Lively, Petey Post, and to a lesser extent, Hamm and Renner), and the ending gets really Shawshank-y and sentimental in a way that I wish more of the movie was, as it's nice when it comes along, but a bit outside of what the rest of it seemed to be getting at. (Though having the last scene drastically different from the rest of it was probably the point in a way.) But Affleck, both as an actor and a creative force with it, really tightens up each and every scene, hitting all the right beats and making the film kind of fly by, leaving little room to dwell on it as it goes giving it just the right pace to be as entertaining as it is.

There's not too much in it that really goes beyond anything I or anyone who reads this has probably seen in similar films, but it's a pretty well-compiled and faultlessly entertaining package of all those familiar things the whole way through.

[Bosco B Thug]

But Affleck, both as an actor and a creative force with it, really tightens up each and every scene, hitting all the right beats and making the film kind of fly by, leaving little room to dwell on it as it goes giving it just the right pace to be as entertaining as it is.

faultlessly entertaining package Yep, all this. A very good movie. More than respectable, another telling story of people living out lives of circumstance and the baggage of an average living with all the average relations. In the end it adds up to mostly a solid piece of crime drama, though. Gone Baby Gone is much more ambitious. But no matter, Affleck's assured my respect.

[B-side]

It's exactly as advertised. A perfectly adequate crime drama. Nothing about it stands out much, but it's well-acted and moves along at a decent pace. The film's sense of humor works. Hamm is the highlight, as I'm sure most of you have come to expect. Shame none of it resonates very much as it's all just so by-the-numbers. Still, it's engaging enough.

[BuffaloWilder]

Who'd have thunk that Ben Affleck would be one of the break-out directors of the last five or six years?

[Dukefrukem]

Yeah this is really good. I'd personally put it on par with Gone Baby Gone, both films being really solid at every turn, if not necessary "oh wow, I don't know what just hit me"-amazing for me.

I kind of wish there had been a few more scenes to pad out some of the characters who play big roles in the overall story despite not being in very many scenes (Lively, Petey Post, and to a lesser extent, Hamm and Renner), and the ending gets really Shawshank-y and sentimental in a way that I wish more of the movie was, as it's nice when it comes along, but a bit outside of what the rest of it seemed to be getting at. (Though having the last scene drastically different from the rest of it was probably the point in a way.) But Affleck, both as an actor and a creative force with it, really tightens up each and every scene, hitting all the right beats and making the film kind of fly by, leaving little room to dwell on it as it goes giving it just the right pace to be as entertaining as it is.

There's not too much in it that really goes beyond anything I or anyone who reads this has probably seen in similar films, but it's a pretty well-compiled and faultlessly entertaining package of all those familiar things the whole way through.

I think it's better than Gone Baby Gone, but you're right. There's very little characters development. Affleck is not as charming as he could have been (like in Good Will Hunting) and the love story barely exists. There's very little reason why Rebecca Hall would let Doug know there were FBI at her place. It didn't seem like the love story was deep enough for her to have feelings for him. This is on top of Rebecca Hall being as dull as she is, almost putting no effort into her role.

[[ETM]]

Rebecca Hall being as dull as she is

You are a eunuch, aren't you?

[Dukefrukem]

;288589']You are a eunuch, aren't you?

Seriously? She does nothing. Sits around talking monotone the entire movie. Replace her with Ellen Page and I'm good to go.

[Bosco B Thug]

Replace her with Ellen Page and I'm good to go. :|

Hall's fine, her character's supposed to be a little bland and unspectacular. She's no drug mule hot-stripper-type Blake Lively, that's for sure, but that's the point. :P

Affleck and Lively gave my favorite perfs. Thought they were fantastic.

[Dukefrukem]

:|

Hall's fine, her character's supposed to be a little bland and unspectacular. She's no drug mule hot-stripper-type Blake Lively, that's for sure, but that's the point. :P
.

Wasn't expecting her to be a hot stripper-type, but I was expecting to her to be at least Vera Farmiga level of acting and sex appeal. She's neither.

[Bosco B Thug]

Wasn't expecting her to be a hot stripper-type, but I was expecting to her to be at least Vera Farmiga level of acting and sex appeal. She's neither. So were you saying Ellen Page would be an actual improvement, or were you making a joke likening her to Rebecca Hall in non-existence of acting and sex appeal?

[megladon8]

Rebecca Hall is a hottie.

[Dukefrukem]

So were you saying Ellen Page would be an actual improvement, or were you making a joke likening her to Rebecca Hall in non-existence of acting and sex appeal?

I'm saying Ellen Page would have been an improvement, THATS how much Rebecca Hall sucks in this movie.

[Bosco B Thug]

I'm saying Ellen Page would have been an improvement, THATS how much Rebecca Hall sucks in this movie. Oh, so it's also backhand to Ellen Page. Is what I was trying to clarify.

In any case, that's a "hell no" from me.

[Dukefrukem]

Oh, so it's also backhand to Ellen Page. Is what I'm trying to clarify.

In any case, that's a "hell no" from me.

And this comes from me, who's in love with Ellen Page in Inception. I wish they casted the female better.

[Qrazy]

It's exactly as advertised. A perfectly adequate crime drama. Nothing about it stands out much, but it's well-acted and moves along at a decent pace. The film's sense of humor works. Hamm is the highlight, as I'm sure most of you have come to expect. Shame none of it resonates very much as it's all just so by-the-numbers. Still, it's engaging enough.

Yeah I agree with this except for the part about Hamm being the highlight. I also wouldn't say it's that by-the-numbers per se. When it's mediocre it's because it's playing into generic Hollywood tropes, but from time to time it rises a little above that stylistically. But I do agree that it's exactly as advertised and a solid, not remarkable, crime drama

[megladon8]

This was very, very good.

[Derek]

Yeah I agree with this except for the part about Hamm being the highlight. I also wouldn't say it's that by-the-numbers per se. When it's mediocre it's because it's playing into generic Hollywood tropes, but from time to time it rises a little above that stylistically. But I do agree that it's exactly as advertised and a solid, not remarkable, crime drama

B-?

[Qrazy]

B-?

Well I'd just feel wrong giving this a higher grade than Meek's Cutoff. ;)

[Izzy Black]

Seriously? She does nothing. Sits around talking monotone the entire movie. Replace her with Ellen Page and I'm good to go.

Would add unnecessary quirk, I'd say. I liked Hall in this. She doesn't have a particularly rounded character, most the scenes with her end up being exposition for Affleck's. The acting isn't the issue, I'd wager.

[Izzy Black]

Someone rep me so I don't feel like a n00b.:sad:

[Izzy Black]

Thanks :)

[Qrazy]

Thanks :)

How's retirement treating ya?

[Izzy Black]

How's retirement treating ya?
Hi Qrazy!

I want to come out. I've a bit more time lately, or I can use it better. Well, really what I want is a place where I can discuss movies every now and then. Clearly I can't devote the time to it that I once was able, and my stamina for long discussions has been considerably depleted, but I would like to have a place to discuss movies meaningfully when I have some spare time. I had forgotten my password to this place so that's partly why I haven't been posting, but my immediate impression is that MC is the only place left of my movie forum sites where some actual decent discussion of movies takes place.

[Qrazy]

Hi Qrazy!

I want to come out. I've a bit more time lately, or I can use it better. Well, really what I want is a place where I can discuss movies every now and then. Clearly I can't devote the time to it that I once was able, and my stamina for long discussions has been considerably depleted, but I would like to have a place to discuss movies meaningfully when I have some spare time. I had forgotten my password to this place so that's partly why I haven't been posting, but my immediate impression is that MC is the only place left of my movie forum sites where some actual decent discussion of movies takes place.

Meaningful brevity just so happens to be our modus operandi.

[Morris Schæffer]

A very strong and engaging movie that, for me at least, started out as a baddie rulebook, explaining what NOT to do when you want to be a succesful gangster, but I gradually chose to drop my irritation and just go along with it. It's good stuff, thrilling, well-acted. One of the year's better movies in fact.

[megladon8]

A very strong and engaging movie that, for me at least, started out as a baddie rulebook, explaining what NOT to do when you want to be a succesful gangster, but I gradually chose to drop my irritation and just go along with it. It's good stuff, thrilling, well-acted. One of the year's better movies in fact.


Yep!

[Ezee E]

Affleck is definitely able to give his setting a character, using the city of Boston to bring out the most in this movie. He did it with Gone Baby Gone as well, especially when the movie was in the slums.

What both movies also have in common is that it gets very boring when following the cop characters. In The Town, Jon Hamm is as standard as it gets. It isn't Hamm's fault either, but the material given. Compare that to the stories of Renner or Lively, and it's disappointing that the FBI gets so much screentime.

Rebecca Hall is also pretty monotone as far as her story goes. I can't say if I ever thought she was even in love through the whole movie, so the end doesn't get much of a payoff for me either.

[megladon8]

Rebecca Hall is also pretty monotone as far as her story goes. I can't say if I ever thought she was even in love through the whole movie, so the end doesn't get much of a payoff for me either.


I thought that was a big part of the interest in her character.

He's totally not the type of guy she would typically be going for - they're polar opposites in just about every way.

Was she really in love with him? Or was he very much her "rebound" after the trauma of the robbery, as her friend told her?

[Qrazy]

I thought that was a big part of the interest in her character.

He's totally not the type of guy she would typically be going for - they're polar opposites in just about every way.

Was she really in love with him? Or was he very much her "rebound" after the trauma of the robbery, as her friend told her?

The only way I can justify her misguided affections are to view them as some sort of variation of stockholm syndrome. It's too absurd that she'd actually love him after that short period of time, but it makes sense that she'd be so psychologically disturbed after all she'd been through that she wouldn't give him up to the police. The film plays it off as love, but I don't really buy that. I also wasn't really feeling the whole updating the ice skating rink bit of cheesiness there at the end.

[Melville]

The only way I can justify her misguided affections are to view them as some sort of variation of stockholm syndrome. It's too absurd that she'd actually love him after that short period of time, but it makes sense that she'd be so psychologically disturbed after all she'd been through that she wouldn't give him up to the police. The film plays it off as love, but I don't really buy that. I also wasn't really feeling the whole updating the ice skating rink bit of cheesiness there at the end.
How long were they together? I got the impression it was more than enough time for her to fall in love. The ending was incongruous, saccharine garbage, but I liked the rest of it: strong sense of place, decent character arcs (though I agree with others that the FBI stuff was weak), intense action scenes. It definitely lacked Gone Baby Gone's compelling ethical quandaries, and Casey Affleck > Ben Affleck, and the atmosphere of Boston wasn't quite as vividly real, but it was a solid crime movie.

[Morris Schæffer]

And that big ole pile of money can't possibly be a godsend. How would she ever be able to spend it? Wasn't it 35 million?

[Bosco B Thug]

And that big ole pile of money can't possibly be a godsend. How would she ever be able to spend it? Wasn't it 35 million? Yeah. I didn't mind the sappy ending, but is it plausible, like at all?

[Dukefrukem]

If only you guys knew how small Charlestown is... if anyone robs a bank and lives in the same town, they are fuckin insane. The 2nd robbery takes place in the North End of Boston, which is over the bridge they were racing for, right next to Charlestown.

[DavidSeven]

Eh. Affleck populates the film with enough cinematic flourishes to warrant some merit, but I'm not sure there's much else of note here. I don't mind shallow experiences, but they need to be tighter than this. The editing for everything between the heist sequences bordered on terrible. Tons of superfluous shots. Chris Cooper's scene probably could have been excised altogether, especially since a later scene with the florist strikes the same chord and reveals more information. A film like this begs for efficiency, and this just doesn't have it. Certainly watchable, but barely worth remembering.

[Boner M]

Eh. Affleck populates the film with enough cinematic flourishes to warrant some merit, but I'm not sure there's much else of note here. I don't mind shallow experiences, but they need to be tighter than this. The editing for everything between the heist sequences bordered on terrible. Tons of superfluous shots. Chris Cooper's scene probably could have been excised altogether, especially since a later scene with the florist strikes the same chord and reveals more information. A film like this begs for efficiency, and this just doesn't have it. Certainly watchable, but barely worth remembering.
Yeah, sadly I gotta agree with everything here. I'm guessing that Affleck was responsible for the part of the screenplay that demands Hall fall for him on account of him being Ben Affleck. Ultimately I'm overall positive on it for the fact that it's at least gloriously backloaded, with one of the best prolonged action scenes in ages, and the aforementioned undercooked relationship at least becomes a little poignant in the final stages against all odds.

The high critical marks for this compared to the drubbing for We Own the Night in '07 might say something about of the low quality of mainstream releases this year.

[Grouchy]

I forgot to mention seeing this one. I thought it was great fun. An intelligent crime thriller. I'm also kind of shocked at all the negativity towards Rebecca Hall - methinks she's stunning and her beauty justified the love story. Jeremy Renner builds on some of his acting quirks from The Hurt Locker and creates a memorable character. I was specially fond of the scene in the café where he acts friendly yet menacing.

If anything can be held against the film, it's that it's a more facile story than Affleck's previous Gone Baby Gone. But considering this one was a rebound project from Adrian Lyne, I think that's quite understandable. The "one for them, one for me" mentality.