I’m very curious on this one. Every conversation I have, it seems Ben Affleck’s “The Town” is something of a breath of fresh air. It’s nothing approaching revolutionary but it doesn’t need to be. It’s a comfortable, solid, inarguable piece of entertainment that just works and it’s probably one of the few films I’ve seen this year that will get multiple viewings. Guy was a fan out of Venice. The film opens today so tell us what you thought once you give it a look.
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43 responses to “Tell us what you thought of ‘The Town’”
I intend to get to it, but this weekend is all about Easy A and Catfish for me.
Let me know what you think of Catfish. Curious to hear your thoughts.
The Town is definately a Best Picture Contender!!!
I thought it was solid, but also that it peaked too early. The best moment in the film comes when Rebecca Hall’s character nearly sees Jeremy Renner’s tattoo. It’s brilliantly filmed and rife with suspense.
Based on the general tone Affleck’s films seem to have, can we start calling him “Community Organizer Ben Affleck”?
I enjoyed it. It’s nothing earth-shattering but Affleck is definitely growing as a filmmaker. I had some issues with the story which was quite conventional but Affleck’s eye for locations and action is very strong. The action scenes were probably the best of any major studio release this year – especially the “nun” sequence – superbly shot and cut. Renner was probably best in show.
“The action scenes were probably the best of any major studio release this year.”
Really?
I was impressed with it. It wasn’t at all the best movie I’ve ever seen, but it was a great movie for the year. Ben Affleck has shown that the directing chops he exercised in Gone Baby Gone weren’t a fluke. I think his performance was also noteworthy and believe that if he keeps acting on par with that he could lose all of the consistent negative IMDB commentary. Rebecca Hall and Jeremy Renner also gave dynamic performances (I could see the Academy throwing Renner a bone). I was, however, a little underwhelmed by Jon Hamm. I’ve been meaning to get into Mad Men and that wasn’t a very good advertisement.
Really, the only drawback to this film is that it demands comparisons to Heat, but its own design won’t allow it to measure up. Its action and drama certainly do their best, but the scope of this film is so claustrophobic that it can’t at all compete with the grandeur of Heat. But that’s the entire point of this movie, the claustrophobia. We’re supposed to want Doug to get out as the walls close in on him.
Pretty solid film overall, but less noteworthy than “Gone Baby Gone” and pretty stringently rooted in formula. Not a milestone, much like “Heat” and “The Departed” were. But Affleck has never given a bad performance, Renner was GREAT, and the third act was a doozy. Good film with a great one fighting to get out.
Chad: I hope you enjoy “Easy A” as much as I did. One of the best films of the year.
No Oscar Talk today?
Loyal: Okay, maybe not THE best but they’re very good. They were much more memorable than anything in The A-Team and The Expendables – probably the two biggest non-scifi action movies of the year.
I doubt the action sequences are better than some of the ones in “Inception” or the opening of “Toy Story 3.”
While it’s certainly nowhere on the same level as “Gone Baby Gone”, “The Town” is still a very good film. It’s got some thrilling action sequences that will leave you breathless, and some terrific performances. One of my favorite performances in the film is from Jeremy Renner; he in my opinion stole the show. He’s certainly someone who is on the rise and deserves to become a big star. Ben Affleck as he’s gotten older seems more comfortable and confident in front of the camera; he gives a solid performance and proves that he’s not just a pretty face. And as a filmmaker he continues to impress me, I am definitely looking forward to seeing what he’s got up his sleeves next. “The Town” may not be the most original film, but it’s a well-made thriller that will certainly please audiences.
I’m with all those who praised Renner; I felt like he was almost doing “The Public Enemy Goes to Boston”. And you’re gonna think I’m weird, but another thing I really loved was the score; I felt like in particular it made that last shot/line really beautiful.
Good film. Good, solid performances by everyone. Glad Pete Postlethwaite was in it for more than the blink of an eye. He’s great. Renner, Hall, Affleck were great. But, for me, Hamm was best in show. Surprising, yes… mostly to me. I expected Don Draper the whole time. But when he is interrogating Affleck (not a spoiler… it’s shown in the trailer), that right there was the best piece of performance in the film.
Not quite as good as “Gone Baby Gone” but I liked it an awful lot.
I will say, though, I wish Hamm’s character had been more fleshed out. We only really saw him professionally… if we had seen some personal development, he would probably get more notice.
I thought it was fantastic.
“I doubt the action sequences are better than some of the ones in “Inception” or the opening of “Toy Story 3.”
They were. Really the only impressive action sequence in Inception was the anti-gravity fight. THe Town’s shootouts are better shot and have more impact.
best bets for oscar nominations:
Supporting Actor, Jeremy Renner
Film Editing
long shots:
Supporting Actress, Blake Lively
Best Director
…Best Picture?
Thought it was a good movie, well done. But… I do not think it surpasses Gone Baby Gone, at the same time that film made my # 8 best of the year, so that’s most likley saying The Town is pretty damn good and proves that Affleck’s first go behind the camera wasn’t a fluke.
Is it just me or would Prince Of Thieves ( the book title ) had been a better name for the film ?
Alot better than Gone Baby Gone, which I was very underwhelmed by…but still this is one of those movies that I’ve pretty much forgotten about already and I saw it 5 hours ago…not a Best Pic contender.
Alex C. is exactly right: the movie peaks early. The first half makes excellent use of its great cast; the second half shows how implausibly clever and slick bank robbers can be, how fast they can drive, and so on. Hamm, Hall, Affleck, and Renner were all compelling throughout, though.
I though “The Town” was absolutely spectacular. It’s not as good as “Gone Baby Gone”, but lets try not to constantly compare this film to that one. This is my second favorite heist film of the year, and it does a brilliant job portraying the intensity of their situation. I wouldn’t say the film peaks early, as so many of the actors improve as they go along, and the heist sequences become bigger and better as it goes along. I really enjoyed this film, and it’s one incredible ride.
I really do think Affleck has a lot of potential, and The Town proves it. It’s nothing revolutionary, but there’s definitely something to be said for consistenly making entertaining, smart, effective popcorn flicks. I really enjoyed it, and it was pretty well-attended for a screening at 3 in the afternoon on a work day.
Rebecca Hall is brilliant. She really needs to take the U.S. by storm. Been a fan since Starter for 10, and she’s growing every film.
The only quibble is that I couldn’t understand a word Blake Lively said in her first scene, but she was pretty good otherwise.
I think Jon Hamm got it right in an interview a few weeks ago: “It’s almost like an old Hollywood movie,” the actor explains. “It’s got a love story, it’s got a crime element, but it’s very much for adults.” That’s exactly what I found refreshing about it. For me, though, it was a solid B, not much else. I can’t believe it’s been making “oscar maybe” lists this week.
Amazing. Almost as good as Gone Baby Gone. Renner was definitely the standout, and Affleck’s directing is promising. Can’t wait to see what he comes up with next
i thought it was fantastic, im suprised no one is talking about it in the sound categories, and renner is fantastic as well as afflec the actor and director, ill be rooting for it
It’s a highly entertaining crime thriller. Well made, well acted, never flashy, and always fun. Ben Affleck, like other actors of somewhat limited range, proves that he has a real gift for directing. Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner steal the show, as expected. Benn Affleck turns in a surprisingly subtle performance. But really, the film just works and serves as one of the most entertaining, mature, and well made films of the year.
Stupid story.
Here’s a better idea: Somehow get Rebecca Hall’s character down on the street during the final heist at Fenway. Like DeNiro in Heat, have Ben decide between the girl or the “code.” That is, see Hall on the sidewalk and stop because she would want you to, or die with Renner. Instead, Affleck stands there like a loser while Renner takes two shots in the face.
Scene at the end in the garden is laughable. You’re going to give the money back, right? That being said, Ben shows promise.
This was good. Great cast, Renner in top form, Blake Lively is making a successful transition to movies and Affleck is really building back his cred with this second career of his. Everyone`s deserving of the success. Very, very happy it opened at the top and with good opening day and weekend number.
Must say Affleck is working his butt off to live up to early career`s hype. He made many missteps (J-Lo,anyone?0 but Gone Baby Gone, this and his acting turn in Hollywoodland are all the right moves. Just watch Mickey Rourke squander the goodwill from The Wrestler with his awful choice of movies and roles (IM 2, The Expendables, that Megan Fox flick, Immortals).
“But really, the film just works and serves as one of the most entertaining, mature, and well made films of the year.”
That I can agree with. But the ending absolutely did not work for me. I actually thought the ice rink thing was absurd.
@ninja…nothing wrong with any of Rourke’s choices outside of Passion Play. IM and Expendables are both big hits and Immortals is a Tarsem film.
Just came back from an early afternoon showing filled with an audience that loved what they saw. It was nothing of a profound experience nor a particuarly moving one for me, not that I needed or even expected it to be, but Ben Affleck’s sophmore effort succeeds as an intense, gritty, and satisfying bit of shamelessly pulpy melodrama that’s bound to continue a healthy run for the masses. This run n guns capah is boasted by a believeable sense of regionalism and fine performances from it’s ensemble, with best surprise being Livley’s turn as a trashy acomplice with a need to get out. While the film doesn’t really add anything new to it’s appealing genre, again though, this fairly conventional romantic heist yarn offers a much needed sense of commercial adult entertainment and proves that Gone Baby Gone, obviously a much differnt picture, was not fluke. Say what you will about Affleck, but he is clearly a director to be reckoned with.
Too bad there wasn’t a film like this opening every week. Solid performances and Fenway as a supporting player (as in the AL East standings) worked for me.
Mr. Gittes points out a problem I was too polite to mention: that is a weird scene where Affleck just watches while Renner gets shot. The decision not to try to save the guy he owes a lot to seems not to cost him much emotionally.
9.0/10
Fun film, with a perfect performance from Jeremy Renner. The story was generic, but Affleck was able to direct a great one at that, with two characters you geniunely felt for, Affleck’s and Renner’s. This movie might have been stronger if it went into more detail with Affleck and Hall’s character, but still a very good movie.
It’s an incredible film. I think Renner will get his second nomination and he might even win. I think Blake Lively will get in as well. She has three incredible scenes that she knocks out of the park.
The film is standard. That’s it. The action sequences are handled with flourish, and Affleck shines when writing about the deep roots of Boston’s neighborhoods.
The romance falls almost completely flat. It’s missing that moment where the characters, and audience by turn, know that there’s chemistry between two leads. Consider “Out of Sight,” and the five minutes that Clooney and Lopez spend in the trunk. It’s incredible and holds tons of promise for the future of their relationship. The Town has virtually none of that, and suffers – especially when Hall’s character is all but dropped after the midpoint in favor of Hamm and more heists.
Speaking of Hamm, he’s an utter distraction here. He doesn’t sell as a dogged FBI agent, and everytime he appears on screen, the momentum stops dead. He holds no sense of threat or authority. Renner should have been cast in this role, as he would have provided the necessary tension. Renner’s is ludicrous – he’s obviously deisgned to be a ticking time bomb like Pesci in Goodfellas, but he’s basically an ogre and the audience is left wondering why a smart thief like Affleck works with this joker. Their relationship is also a tough sell because Affleck is never choosing between his friends and a different life altogether; when the movie starts, he’s already made his decision, so there’s no real tension.
All in all, the best things in the film are the action scenes, and the quiet moments that Affleck allows himself with Pete Postilwaite and Chris Cooper – when The Town is dealing with the past, it’s really quite good. When it tries to include the love story, it falters.
Fenway is a supporting player in the film? Now I know I’m really going to hate it.
The action scenes was probably not as great as “Inception” but I must say the car chases were superb!
I really enjoyed the it though the film lacks something I cannot pin-point…
I’m wondering why this film is not having much Oscar buzz.. It was well made.. Kudos to Ben Affleck…
@davelow: Fenway as a “supporting” player, as in Boston’s standings: not in a good way. Go NYY.
Caught this Sunday afternoon. It enjoyed it, but something about it seemed a bit distant – or didnt connect with me 100% – not sure what it was though. I agree with Guy and 3/4 stars seems about right… well directed and the acting was great too. Say Easy A on Friday night, that was a fun teen movie, being 28 my wife and I were one of the oldest ones in the theater though. But it was better than I originally thought it would be.
PS: @Patryk, I agree, lets go Yankees!
Very close to being as good as Heat or The Departed. My only qualm with the film is the very last shot. I think they could have ended it with the shot of the orange.