Talk of 'The Town'

I just got home from a midnight showing of The Town and I'm overcome with the instant need to blog about it.

Sidenote: Please do not let my cheesy title deter you from seeing this movie.

Despite my best efforts to remain skeptical, I went into the movie with extremely high hopes. How could I not? Another Boston criminal/cop flick...brought to you by the same studio that brought you The Departed...starring Matty's best friend, Benny? Come on. On top of all of that, Jeremy Renner and Jon Hamm, too? Needless to say, I was very worried that the movie wouldn't live up to my unrealistic expecatations.

It did. I'm not saying that this is the new Departed, but the movie did not disappoint me in the least. I don't want to give anything away (because you really should see it. now.), but I will give a quick synopsis and review.

After carrying out an elaborate heist in Boston, Doug MacRay (Affleck), a seasoned bank robber, finds himself falling in love with Claire Keesey, a bank teller who had fallen victim during the robbery. As their relationship becomes more serious and a determined FBI agent (Hamm) comes closer and closer to catching him, Doug begins to seriously re-evaluate his life, his career, and his friendships.

The Town also marks Ben Affleck's sophomore stab at directing. I thought he did quite nicely, balancing his directorial duties while simultaneously acting as the lead. Jeremy Renner, as always, was incredible in his role as Affleck's best friend and fellow thief. He has come to define (for me) the quintessential rebellious badass, pushing boundaries with no second thought. Jon Hamm expertly played his role, causing the audience to vacillate between admiration for the law and blatant dislike. Affleck himself plays the same Boston boy character you would imagine. Throughout the movie, I found myself drawing slight comparisons between it and Good Will Hunting. Sounds odd, but you'll see. The action scenes were intense, the love scenes were believable.

Ultimately, I am very satisfied with the movie. I am interested to see the critical reviews of it. Affleck deserves some credit as a highly-capable director and I wouldn't be surprised to see some Oscar nods. Best picture, best supporting actor (for the ever-popular Renner), and maybe, just maybe, best director? There is still a long time before Oscar season is over. Only time will tell.

Here is what I do know: I want need to go to Boston. Between The Departed, Boondock Saints, and now The Town, I have decided that I must make a trip...and soon. I love the atmosphere and I am enamored by the whole cinematic depiction of the city. I need to go and find myself a nice, gritty Irish-Catholic boy with a hot accent and a chiseled jawline. Apparently, involvement in the Irish mafia and a history of armed bank robbery is not necessarily a romantic deal-breaker for me. It's all circumstantial...and if you look like Ben Affleck, well...

'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.' Right?

#notaproblem