Is actually very good!
It might unfair to compare this to Gone Baby Gone, which was better, but still - the film has an interesting plot, great characters, good actor’s playing the parts and you feel like you are really in the neighborhood in Boston.
Although there were no real “boring parts”, the film did seem a bit long. There were a few cliche moments, but enough twists from the usual cliches to keep you guessing.
If you like caper movies with some bad guys who are good, and some good guys who are bad, you should like this quite a bit. BTW, Ben pumped himself up nicely for the role - he doesn’t look bad shirtless.
Not really necessary to see on the big screen - so if you wait until DVD or cable, good enough. Still - a good film - catch it when you have the opportunity.
I like it a lot. The ending was a bit too easy, , but the relationship between Affleck and whats-her-name was good. I’m sure she’ll be nominated for an Oscar.
I liked it a lot too, but I knew I would, I knew it would be good. Over the past few weeks as I’ve been seeing previews for it in the theater, I’ve had to smirk at the wimps who insisted that “From the acclaimed director of Gone Baby Gone” was added, without mentioning who that acclaimed director is. I suppose there are still some ignorant idiots who are scornful of Affleck, but I hope that after this, they are never catered to again.
Rebecca Hall! I first saw her in a little movie called Starter For 10, with James McAvoy. She was also in The Prestige, as the woman who wasn’t Scarlett Johansson, and of course she was the Vicky in Vicky Christina Barcelona, as the woman who wasn’t either Scarlett Johansson or Penelope Cruz. Before The Town, I saw her most recently in a fine little film called Please Give, with Catherine Keener. She’s British but does dead-on American accents.
It’s great seeing her in a more high-profile role, and pretty soon people will remember her name (which I’ve forgotten in the past too, but never will in the future).
Hubby and I saw this last night. We had not seen Gone Baby, Gone, so had no idea, really, what to expect.
We both liked it. It was a lot more cerebral than I was expecting (based on the synopsis I’d read of it) and the characters were a lot more nuanced than I’d thought they’d be.
There were some really good action sequences, but the sequences that gave me glimpses into the character’s life were better.
Do seek out Gone Baby Gone. It’s even better, IMO, but that’s because I thought the story and moral questions were fascinating, and I adore Casey Affleck.
I liked Gone Baby Gone, and I loved The Town. Mild spoilers below.
I thought it was perfect. Certain scenes, I put in my Movie Classics file already. The interrogation scene between MacCray and agent Hamm. The scene between MacCray and the mobster in the flower shop (damn, all the flower shop scenes) and the scenes with Gem’s sister. ( I could just look at her face and see years of being used, dissapointed, desperate, conniving, struggling…so much she was bringing to her scenes). And of course, the scene of MacCray visiting his dad…I could not tear my eyes off of his dad. I was riveted. Loved it.
The only problem I had with the film was that ‘emotional/romantic’ scenes felt a bit forced and hokey. When he was telling Claire about the day his mom died, I actually had to stifle a couple of chuckles.
I don’t think the actress playing Claire was very good. There. I said it. But I freely admit that I am no acting connoisseur, so hell, she may win an Oscar for that performance.
Yeah, because the movie would have been so different had it been set in the '90s.
I liked it. Unfortunately I missed the first few minutes of it (I came in when the violent brother was beating the bank guy over the head with the butt of his rifle) but I got into the flow just fine.
I thought it was much better than the similar, but vastly overrated, Heat. The action was not only well done, but it was intriguing and believable. I came away completely satisfied and entertained. It was also cool to see Jon Hamm on the big screen. The supporting performances were universally stellar. Blake Lively knocked that roll out of the park.
Because the film insisted on telling us that this trade is passed down, I would have liked to see some screen time dedicated to showing us. But it was implied well in the prison scene.
I can’t give Ben Affleck a pass on directing a shot that features his new abs perfectly lit and shadowed. I’d be proud of those too, but sheesh.
I just realizEd my last post actually has a pretty big freakin spoiler. Sorry about that. Maybe a mod can add that there’s spoilers in the OPs title? Or something? Again, my mistake. I guess I was over excited about the film and got carried away.