The Town

Adapted from Chuck Hogans novel Prince Of Thieves,this film is set in Charlestown,Massachusetts,which has the unique distinction of being known as the robbery capital of the United States. This one neighborhood outside Boston has produced more bank and armored car thieves than any other.

Now meet the gang: Albert Gloansy Magloan,a getaway expert; Desmond Elden,a specialist with alarms; James Coughlin,a ex-con who loves his weaponry and Doug MacRay,former hockey prospect and now the brains behind the outfit. They work for Fergus Fergie Colm and are always one step ahead of the law. FBI man Adam Frawley wants this to change. The foursome take bank manager Claire Keesey hostage and release her. Adam sees a way in. With the help of the frightened woman,he gets inside the Charlestown neighborhood. James is concerned that Claire will be a problem,so Doug agrees to take care of it. Instead,he falls in love with her. Desperate to get out of the game,he agrees to one more massive heist,hoping it will let him pay off Fergie,sneak away,and forget his days as high-tech street hoodlum forever.

Compelling,complex and crackling with suspense,Ben Afflecks second effort is every bit as good as his first foray into feature filmmaking. The Town initially takes one by surprise. The crime element is handled with matter-of-fact fierceness,our band of gun-toting antiheroes outsmart almost everyone involved. As they quickly move from preplanned problem-solving to sheer violence,Affleck lets his confrontational approach and rapid-fire editing style substitute for any plot loopholes. The main action set-pieces are edge-of-the-seat stuff,like a car chase in between the back alleys of a downtown business district or the heist and ensuing shootout in the baseball park at the end.

Jeremy Renner and Pete Postlethwaite deliver exacting performances. With this gritty crime noir,Affleck once again proves that,while perhaps lacking a certain element in front of the camera,he is an auteur in the making behind it.

RATING***

One star for direction and script. One for action. One for performances.