(HEAT in Beantown, or ROMEO AND JULIET with guns and masks - take your pick...)
CAST: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Pete Postlethwaite, Chris Cooper.
DIRECTOR: Ben Affleck
WARNING: Some SPOILERS and sheepish Ben Affleck worship straight ahead...
In my review for STATE OF PLAY (review #16), I contrasted Ben Affleck with Russell Crowe. I called Mr. Crowe a true movie star, and Mr. Affleck someone who could merely act well. There is a difference, you see, and this comparison was in no way meant to disrespect Mr. Affleck.
While I have gone through my periods of Affleck-bashing (hey, if we're going to be honest here...), I kept reverting back to the original warm regard of him that I felt with GOOD WILL HUNTING and CHASING AMY - before the whole "Bennifer" thing made him look like a preening choad. But I still stand by my assessment of his acting skills: while he can act well, I don't think of him as a movie star. Again, that is not an insult.
I suspect Mr. Affleck could care less what I think. But, somehow, I also suspect that he just might agree with me. I suspect that he is comfortable with not being a true movie star, and just someone who can act well. I believe that Mr. Affleck's real passion lies not in acting, but telling a story cinematically - behind the scenes, if necessary.
The evidence lies with his freshman effort behind the camera, directing GONE BABY GONE (2007) from Dennis Lehane's acclaimed novel of the same name. Affleck's adaptation of that novel received commensurate acclaim and was, to put it mildly, a very strong debut. It more than hinted that he was not just a good actor: it pretty much announced from the rooftops that he was a good actor who is an even better director.
And now, with the arrival of his sophomore effort, THE TOWN, it can no longer be denied: while he may not be a bonafide movie star in the classical tradition, Ben Affleck is most certainly a bonafide director of the highest-caliber. Anyone who thought his directorial success with GONE BABY GONE was a fluke need only sit through this film to be set straight.
THE TOWN opens with title cards informing us that Charlestown, a section of Boston, is known as the "Bank Robbery Capital of America." Soon, as if to prove this claim right, the movie foists an adrenalized bank robbery on us. A team of Halloween-costumed thugs storm the local Cambridge Bank. The usual "get down throw your cell phones this way don't fucking move blah blah blah open the goddamn safe right now you fucking bitch" takes an unexpected turn when the robbers take the bank manager hostage during their escape.
The bank manager is tall and gorgeous Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall), who is learning first-hand that it's better (and safer) to be homely and plain when it comes to bank robbery situations. The less attention you attract, the better off you are. Unfortunately, Claire looks like, well, Rebecca Hall... So on goes Mr. Blindfold and off goes Ms. Keesey into the robbers' van.
Fortunately, the escape goes just fine - and the thugs decide to let Claire go. Later, she is questioned by FBI Special Agent Adam Frawley (Jon Hamm). Agent Frawley, in addition to being a hammy smart-ass, is also cut from the same cloth as Julianne Moore in HANNIBAL and Angelina Jolie in TAKING LIVES. In other words, the bolt of cloth labeled, "Agents Who Look More Like Supermodels."
While interrogating the equally gorgeous Claire, Frawley senses that she is holding something back. Especially when he asks her if she saw something else that might be helpful. "No," Claire levelly replies. But Agent Frawley knows better. He lets it slide, though, because Claire looks like Rebecca Hall.
What did Claire see? Easy: a "Fighting Irish" tattoo on the back of one robber's neck. But she's keeping that one close to her chest. Probably because nothing ruins your social life than having to testify against a bunch of dangerous robbers. Not to mention just ending your life, period.
So Claire goes about trying to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of the robbery. As they say, the best cure for shell-shock is to brush yourself off and soldier on. Operating from this handbook, Claire busies herself by... doing laundry. Well, it's a start. I was thinking of something more along the lines of, I don't know, going drinking with your friends until the wee hours and waking up the next morning in front of the Bunker Hill Monument.
Anyhow, it's at the local laundromat that she runs into a soft-spoken local hottie Doug McRay (Affleck). Doug disarms the wary and guarded Claire with his goofy sense of humor. The chemistry is just right, so he asks her out for a drink - and before you know it, Claire's self-described "bad week" is starting to look up. It's comforting to think that the Universe doesn't let you get abducted by a bunch of ruthless bank robbers, without paying you back by having you meet a hot, goofy guy who looks like a talented director.
Except, uh, Doug is actually one of the bank robbers. Hmmmmm. Maybe the Universe is more fucked-up than I realized.
Evidently, Doug is on a mission on behest of his psycho buddy/fellow bank robber Jem Coughlin (Jeremy Renner). Jem wants Doug to spy on Claire and make sure she doesn't tell the FBI anything that could lead to them. Hmmmm. If you choads were so worried about that, perhaps you shouldn't have, you know, kidnapped Claire?
Whatever. At any rate, things gets complicated when: (1) Doug and Claire slowly fall in love; (2) Doug decides to do one last job and then run off with her, (3) Jem starts to get antsy about Doug getting too close to Claire, especially since (4) he wants Doug to marry his slutty/trashy sister Christina (Blake Lively); and (5) Agent Frawley crafts a strategy to nail Doug and his cronies by (6) zeroing in Claire herself.
The burning questions... Will Doug and Claire have a happily ever after? Is there even something like that for someone like Doug? Will Jem ruin everything by going Full-On Psycho on everyone? What about Christina? Will her refusal to take "Get The Fuck Away From Me You Skanky Bitch" as an answer hurt Doug and Claire's bond? What sneaky tactic will Agent Frawley use to get the drop on Doug and his gang? Will Doug be able to walk away at all? Is that actually Blake Lively under that push-up bra and all that make-up?
Discover for yourselves. Just don't blame if this movie gives you a phobia of nuns even more than Catholic School did. If you don't know what the hell I'm talking about, just look at that goddamned poster.
BUT, SERIOUSLY: There will be inevitable comparisons between HEAT and THE TOWN. I will be the first to agree that there are definite parallels between the two: (1) a brooding anti-hero criminal wanting to go clean, (2) a love interest who gives him the motivation to actually do so, (3) a determined and flamboyant law enforcement official on the trail of the bad guys, and (4) dynamic heist scenes.
However, if I had to pick between the two... I pick THE TOWN. Why? Well, for starters it's not four years long like HEAT was. Don't get me wrong, I liked HEAT. However, I also think it's a just a bit overrated and didn't have to be as long as it was. There were parts of it that could've easily been whittled down. It's still a very good movie - but it ain't perfect, folks. Let's not kid ourselves.
THE TOWN isn't perfect either, but it's a lot more streamlined and graceful. I haven't read the novel the screenplay is based on, but I hear that Affleck and his co-writers were quite faithful to it. If that's the case, I salute them for being true to the spirit of the book. Unlike HEAT, where there were sections where I was actually a little bored, THE TOWN constantly engaged me - even when the pace slowed down for quieter character moments.
The script nails the working-class flavor of the robbers' lives. Of course, this is to be expected because Affleck hails from there. It's interesting that one of his most poignant performances is as Chuckie from GOOD WILL HUNTING - which was also set in working-class Boston. Something about his hometown seems to bring out the best in him, because he is even better here playing Doug McRay - someone who Chuckie might have turned into. Affleck manages to disappear into his role, successfully playing against his looks.
Rebecca Hall manages to do the same as Claire. As I mentioned to the friend who I saw THE TOWN with, Hall has that special ability to not intimidate you with her beauty. She's gorgeous without being unapproachable or aloof. Hall turns Claire into a winning blend of tentative shyness, understated strength, and touching humanity. Her blossoming relationship with Doug anchors THE TOWN in a way that none of the romantic relationships in HEAT completely achieved. The Doug-Claire pairing that inspires him to go straight is much more effective than the one between Robert De Niro and Amy Brenneman's characters in HEAT. That one felt half-baked.
Someone who doesn't manage to play against his looks - at least, at first - is Jon Hamm as Agent Frawley. The guy is just so handsome that it's distracting. After awhile though, he grows on you. In hindsight, as my friend pointed out, maybe Affleck's casting of Hamm was deliberate to contrast the flashy and hammy Frawley with the more low-key and pensive Doug. In any case, Jon Hamm is okay in the role. I guess I just expect FBI agents to look less, well, perfect.
Jeremy Renner as the unstable powder-keg, Jem, further solidifies his reputation as a rising talent. He keeps us on edge with his unpredictable portrayal. In his hands, Jem is an unsettling combo of ego, rage, frustration, and deadly calculation. While it's clear that Jem cares for Doug and Christina, we sense that he's not above manipulating both to get what he wants.
Speaking of Christina, Blake Lively has the same problem that Jon Hamm has in the beginning. She just seems too wholesome and perfect for the role of this trashy whore who also acts as a drug mule for the local dealers. As the movie progresses, though, Lively becomes more effective. I suppose it doesn't help that the role feels like an older actress (at least in her late-20's) should be playing Christina. Still, Blake Lively manages to acquit herself in her final scenes - which confirm her character's pivotal role in the plot.
As for the rest of the supporting cast, Pete Postlethwaite as a local crime boss operating behind the front of a local florist is his usual solid self. His specialty is being menacing by saying as little as possible, and it works again here. Also good is Chris Cooper as Doug's bank robber father, whom Doug visits regularly in prison. Their scenes together drive home that old adage, "Suffer the Children for the Sins of the Parents...."
In the end, THE TOWN may not be the most original story, especially if you saw HEAT (and who hasn't). But sometimes, execution is everything - and Affleck "executes" very well as a director and co-writer. And, if I may so, as an actor.
The last time an actor ventured into directing and garnered this kind of attention was back in 1971 when an actor directed and starred in a film called PLAY MISTY FOR ME.
That actor was Clint Eastwood. Look at him now.
Saluti, Mr. Affleck... You've got reason to celebrate.
