While certainly drawing its inspiration from one of the better action/crime dramas made in the past 20 years (the visually stunning and thematically complex Heat with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino), The Town falls short of surpassing it. However this does not mean the film was a vapid waste of time, quite the opposite. Ben Affleck not only showed a great deal of emotion and depth as Doug, but proved himself to be a more polished director as well. He let the cast (including an explosive Jeremy Renner and stoic Jon Hamm) evolve into richly, complex characters that helped to bring the story of a bank robbing crew from Charlestown to life. Affleck also took the time to properly craft the love story between Doug and Claire, which was central to the film. If that part of the film failed to reach the audience then the entire story would appear vacuous for the main plot device was Doug's desire to get out of the game and start something more with Claire. Thankfully their interaction on screen felt real, which made it easier for the audience to root for them in their attempt to get away from a town which was a breeding ground for armed robbers and criminals in general.
Where The Town fell short was in its action sequences (which were gripping but reminded one a little too much of the ones in Heat) and time spent (or a lack thereof) developing the relationships within Doug’s crew, but those drawbacks should not dissuade you from checking out The Town for it is an emotionally thrilling crime drama.
Grade: B
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