The Town
2010 · Directed by Ben Affleck
Original language: English
- crime
- drama
- thriller
The story
A proficient group of thieves rob a bank and hold the manager hostage. Things begin to get complicated when one of the crew members falls in love with her.
What it’s like
Gritty, rain-slicked Boston streets, sodium-orange streetlight and the cold blue wash of fluorescent interiors, with the camera mostly handheld and close, pressing in on faces during tense exchanges and pulling back to wide, grey urban skylines between heists. The city feels damp, tight and claustrophobic, all cramped row houses, bars with worn wood, and car chases through narrow, tangled streets. Score is restrained, with ominous low strings and sparse percussion that drop out in quiet moments. The vibe is brooding, tense and melancholy, with a current of working-class loyalty running beneath the adrenaline. It suits a late-night watch with the lights down, or a rainy evening when you want something with momentum. Pacing is steady and escalating, punctuated by sudden bursts of violence: gunfire, fistfights and a few brutal, abrupt confrontations, with some blood but no gore for its own sake. Emotional register is hard-edged, with a lonely, bruised romance between a hardened thief and a bank manager slowly unsettling his loyalties. Strong language and frequent profanity throughout. For viewers who like crime dramas grounded in place and character, and who can handle sudden, ugly violence.
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