Oct 08, 2010 08:59 PM
2243 Views
I never liked Ben Affleck as an actor but as a director he marked his mark in his debut directorial Gone baby Gone, he proved he is better behind camera as director. The Town is based on a novel by Chuck Hogan and set in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston. which, an onscreen caption informs us, is home to more bank and armored car robbers than any other square mile in the world. Affleck plays one such robber, Doug MacRay, who leads a gang of rubber-mask-wearing heist-pullers that includes trigger-happy best friend Jem (Jeremy Renner), driver Gloansy (Slaine) and tech expert Des, though they're also expected to fork over a cut of each bank job to florist-slash-gang-boss Fergie (Pete Postlethwaite).
Affleck's direction is superb, firmly cementing his talent as a director after Gone Baby Gone. The action sequences are particularly good, most notably a thrilling car chase and a tense shoot-out.Ben shows skill, as well as staging a car chase the equal of the ones in “Bullit” and “The French Connection.” Affleck shines equally on the other side of the camera, giving a strong, sympathetic performance for me his best act. Equally strong is Renner, my favorite , the hot head of the group. His performance here proves that his Academy Award nomination for last years’ “The Hurt Locker” was no fluke. As the FBI agent on McCray’s heels, Hamm also delivers. Just like hindi movie OUTIM with tight script excellent dialogues. Funnier, cocky according to character and script. The heavy boston-accented dialogue is excellent and the script throws up several good lines, such as Frawley complaining that “We'll never get 24 hour surveillance unless one of these idiots converts to Islam”.In custody one inspector says I know your dad & comes Ben’s reply me too.
Affleck’s sophomore behind-the-camera effort doesn’t even pretend to reinvent the wheel. Rather, it simply treats its stock dynamics and themes with respectful professionalism. Robert Elswit’s cinematography provides the proceedings with an alluring big-budget sheen, and Affleck’s cast – which also includes Pete Postlethwaite, Chris Cooper, Titus Welliver and a surprisingly messy-sexy Blake Lively – strikes a proper balance between earnest gravity and out sized panache. You can deride the high quotient of flimflam or you can relish the pace, sense of place, and pulsing dialogue. The movie has a Mamet-like cravenness. Every time it deviates towards the preposterous or the gonzo-surreal (nun masks and robes for one raid), Affleck as director/co-writer wrenches it back to the straight bull’s eye. This is a tough urban thriller that ranks with the best recent efforts in the genre. It lacks the originality of Michael Mann’s Heat, but for me it’s at least on a level with Eastwood’s Mystic River and Scorsese’s The Departed.
I am writing mainly about Ben’s director capability is because he got perfect star cast for tense thriller, than he directed himself, script is tight, dialogues excellent so what are you reading go and enjoy THE TOWN.
