Academy Award-winner has crafted an illustrious repertoire over his decades-spanning Hollywood career, with the actor and filmmaker starring in a slew of hits including Good Will Hunting, Argo, Gone Girl, and Air. In 2007, Affleck made his directorial debut and enlisted the talents of his brother Casey when he helmed Gone Baby Gone, a successful introduction to his unique approach to storytelling, and one he followed up with in 2010 with the crime thriller .
Based on Chuck Hogan's novel Prince of Thieves, . The Town was a critical and commercial success and has been singled out for its realistic depiction of robberies while becoming a must-see entry in the heist genre. Let's take a closer look at the engrossing film.
Set in the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown, Massachusetts, the riveting 2010 crime thriller The Town focuses on lifelong friends Douglas "Doug" MacRay (Affleck) and James "Jem" Coughlin (Jeremy Renner) as they team up to rob a bank with their other crew members, whom they treat like family. The tight-knit group briefly takes the bank manager, Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall), hostage before releasing her after the job. When they discover Claire lives in Charlestown, the men set out to ensure she does not see anything that could incriminate them.
Related
Best Movies Directed by Ben Affleck, Ranked
Ben Affleck has proved his sheer capabilities as a filmmaker. Let's look at his directing filmography, ranked.
. After discovering that Claire knows something that could lead to Jem's arrest, Doug struggles to keep his true identity a secret and is torn between his loyalties to his best friend and his dreams of starting a crime-free life outside of Charlestown. Agreeing to do one final score, Doug and the gang set out to rob Fenway Park, leading to a deadly turn of events.
, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats as Doug and his crew methodically executed the dangerous heists. Affleck paid close attention to every intricate detail during the robbery sequences, which helped the film feel authentic and genuinely nerve-wracking. This is largely why the thriller became an overwhelming success, landing a stellar 92% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics.
In a video analysis by Insider featuring former bank robber Cain Vincent Dyer, who breaks down bank heist scenes in television and film, Over the course of two and a half years, Dyer had committed over 100 bank robberies, and his unique insight into the criminal world is fascinating for viewers to hear. He commended Affleck's inclusion of the crew using a police scanner during the heists, saying it is "absolutely something a gang of that caliber would have."
Related
The 10 Best American Heist Movies, Ranked
When money laundering and high-end criminal activity isn't enough, a great heist movie goes even further, and these are some of the most thrilling.
Dyer also explained that Doug and his crew switching cars after the robbery was "very, very, very common" and that most vehicles they used were stolen. He pointed out that . Ultimately, Dyer felt The Town was extremely realistic in how it masterfully executed the robberies and awarded the thriller a 10 out of 10 rating in his review, further cementing the film's revered status.
The Town proved to be both a critical and commercial knockout, grossing $154 million against a $37 million budget and garnering numerous accolades, including an Oscar nomination for Jeremy Renner for Best Supporting Actor, as well as being named one of the Top 10 Films of the year by the National Board of Review and winning Best Acting by an Ensemble Cast. The thriller's pulse-pounding action sequences, engaging character dynamics, and a gripping storyline have helped it become regarded as one of the finest heist films of the 21st century.
Fans of the adrenaline-pumping heist genre and the gifted actor-turned-director can , and they can either rent or buy the esteemed crime thriller on multiple streaming platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Fandango.
