The Town

Plot

As he plans his next job, a longtime thief tries to balance his feelings for a bank manager connected to one of his earlier heists, as well as the FBI agent looking to bring him and his crew down.

Release Year: 2010

Rating: 7.6/10 (116,268 voted)

Critic's Score: 74/100

Director:
Ben Affleck

Stars: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm

Storyline
The Charlestown neighborhood of Boston is renowned for churning out a high number of armed robbers, generation after generation. These robbers never leave their Charlestown life on their own volition, the neighborhood where there is an unwritten code to protect that lifestyle. Such robbers include friends Doug MacRay, James Coughlin, Albert 'Gloansy' Magloan and Desmond Elden. Doug and James in particular treat each other like family, as the Coughlins have realistically been as such to Doug since Doug's mother ran off and Doug's father, Stephen MacRay, was sent to prison. James' single mother sister, the drugged out Krista Coughlin, and Doug have a casual sexual relationship. The foursome carry out a mostly successful bank robbery, but due to circumstances take the bank manager, Claire Keesey, hostage for a short period before releasing her physically unharmed. They find out that Claire lives in Charlestown…

Writers: Peter Craig, Ben Affleck

Cast:

Ben Affleck
–

Doug MacRay

Rebecca Hall
–

Claire Keesey

Jon Hamm
–

FBI S.A. Adam Frawley

Jeremy Renner
–

James Coughlin

Blake Lively
–

Krista Coughlin

Slaine
–

Albert 'Gloansy' Magloan

Owen Burke
–

Desmond Elden

Titus Welliver
–

Dino Ciampa

Pete Postlethwaite
–

Fergus 'Fergie' Colm

Chris Cooper
–

Stephen MacRay

Dennis McLaughlin
–

Rusty

Corena Chase
–

Agent Quinlan

Brian Scannell
–

Henry

Kerri Dunbar
–

Henry's Girl

Tony V.
–

Vericom Crew Chief

(as Tony V)

Taglines:
Welcome to the bank robbery capital of America.

Details

Official Website:
Warner Bros. [France] |
Warner Bros. [Japan] |

Release Date: 17 September 2010

Filming Locations: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $37,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $23,808,032
(USA)
(19 September 2010)
(2861 Screens)

Gross: $92,173,235
(USA)
(2 January 2011)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min
 |
150 min
(DVD extended cut)

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Slaine (Gloansy) was a concession seller at Fenway Park as a teenager. He described going back there to shoot the film as "surreal."

Goofs:

Errors in geography:
While the gang prepares to rob Fenway Park after the Red Sox-Yankees series, the TV shows a game between the Red Sox and Toronto.

Quotes:

[first lines]

Doug MacRay:
[narrating]
Driver's name is Arthur Shea. Former Metro Police officer, fifty-seven years old. Soon as his partner leaves with the coal bag, Artie cracks a Herald, and he don't look up 'til the guy gets back. Marty Maguire. Cummins Armored courier. Five-ten, two-twenty, fifty-two years old. Picks up every Wednesday and Friday at exactly 8:12, makes a hundred and ten dollars a day, carries a Sig nine. And he's about to get robbed.
[cuts to Doug and Jem briefing their comrades, Gloansy and Dez, in a dark room]

[…]

User Review

Take a bow Mr. Affleck….you have certainly earned it.

Rating: 8/10


My Oh My how Ben Affleck has had a up and down career. Starting out as
the cheesy yet funny guy in those Kevin Smith flicks, to the academy
award winning writer of "Good Will Hunting", all the way back down to
the pathetic string of acting he produced only 10 years ago. But there
is a silver lining….with his directorial debut in "Gone Baby Gone",
and his much improved acting in "Hollywoodland". Ben Affleck is
beginning to once again prove his worth in Tinsel Town. Hopefully he
can continue to feverish pace.

Well i can say with complete just, that this is the best "Heist" movie
since "Swordfish"……Now i know most of you may not like "Swordfish",
but what other bank robbery movie can you compare it to in the past 10
years? Maybe "Snatch"? "Lock Stock"?….eh, if you classify those
movies as "Heist" pictures, than okay, it's the best heist movie since
"Snatch" or maybe even "Oceans 11"….either way, it's a big
compliment.

Ben Affleck has certainly proved that "Gone Baby Gone" was not a fluke.
He can actually direct a major motion picture. And not only can he do
it, he does it very well. Sure the movie had some minor flaws, but
nothing that takes too much away from the overall big picture. The best
way i can compare it is…..it's like an east coast "Heat". Now, the
group is not as fool proof or professional as the gang in
"Heat"……well, let's face it, you will probably never top that group
in movie…..ever. But never the less, the style of film making really
pulls you into each sequence, whether it be the action packed bank
robbery, the emotional dialog between characters, or the intense
decisions the players all must endure.

The movie doesn't try to WOW! you by offering a different style of bank
robbery. Which is a good thing, because you really run the risk of
tripping over your own two feet in the process. But i really think the
major factor in this film, was the acting. Everyone came to play ball
in this one……..but i can also say this with complete
confidence…….Ben Affleck was the best actor in this movie. Yes, i
know it's hard to swallow for some of you, but he really showed us all,
what he is truly capable of doing. So Mr. Affleck, let me tip my hat to
you and say job well done sir. You took a lot of crap to the face, and
you wiped it off, and came back strong.

Bottom Line……Yes, i can honestly say that this is one of the best
movies of the year so far. Sure the movie gets a little sappy at the
end, but it's pretty necessary. But overall, your very well
entertained.

I read an article a few months ago about even after "Gone Baby Gone",
people still wouldn't hire Affleck as a director. And he had to fight
tooth and nail to land this deal. Well, hopefully now you can find more
work buddy, because you have certainly earned it.