The Town - Supposedly Hopeless Townies!

(2010) ★★★☆☆

Doug (Ben Affleck) is enjoying a conversation with Claire (Rebecca Hall) at a table. He's developing feelings for her. He cares about her though she's held hostage by his crew during their earlier heist, and she could be a threat to them. James (Jeremy Renner) joins them unexpectedly. He's got a tattoo on the back of his neck that would give him away if seen by Claire, but he doesn't know about that. He keeps playing sarcastic, making Doug feel embarrassed and jumpy.

Doug learns that Claire is bullied by a scumbag. He then decides to give him a lesson. He asks James for help, but doesn't tell him why. Together they grab tools and break in that man's house in masks. Doug hurts that man's head and hand, telling him to move away from the neighborhood or they're going to come hurt him again. When they're done and about to leave, James, all of a sudden, points a gun at that man's feet and questions him if he knows what he's done to make Doug so pissed, but of course he doesn't have a clue. James pulls the trigger. It hurts. But he can't get the answer. He shoots him in the leg again, and again. Then he takes off his mask, and says to that man: now you've seen my face. Go tell the police. But remember, I've seen yours too.

Scenes like these are definitely sensational and needed in a heist drama, but somehow I feel like they could've been done better. Things seem to have ended too soon. The heat should've been stretched further. I always believe that a good heist drama should use gunfire scenes as an appetizer, not a main course. Ben Affleck knows the ropes, but he just can't seem to get it done more perfectly and bring out the philosophy behind a so-called trade passed from generation to generation.

Ben Affleck writes and directs the story. He's also the lead in the film, but I guess he should've stayed behind the scene and let Jeremy Renner take over. The story seems to kick off quite okay but later it gets inauthentic and senseless, and I start to lose concerns about the characters, especially Doug.

I'm okay with a criminal getting away in the end in a film, but The Town's ending seems too hopeful, or say, bright to me. Since things in Charlestown, like we're told to believe, are so poignant and robbers so hopeless and chained up, a contrast like that somehow makes me feel cheated.