One blue-collar Boston neighborhood has produced more bank robbers and armored car thieves than anywhere in the world. Charlestown.
This opening text from THE TOWN explains the less fortunate working class world we are about to enter where being a criminal is a trade passed down from generation to generation. Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) and his crew are meticulous and clever, scrubbing off their dead skin, tucking their pants into their boots, keeping their time limited and shouting commands in their sweet Bostonian accents while wearing different masks (I personally like the nuns) for each bank heist and armored car lift. Unfortunately MacRay’s reckless best friend and partner in crime James Coughlin (Jeremy Renner) has gone against protocol by briefly kidnapping the bank manager, Claire (Rebecca Hall), as insurance to help their escape.
Claire is released but happens to live a few blocks from James. When his plan is to take care of the problem his own way, Doug steps in not wanting any bloodshed. Upon tailing Claire, he quickly develops feelings. As someone not satisfied with what he does or who he is, Doug’s yearning for change coupled with her vulnerability from being kidnapped helps ignite an unlikely relationship between the two. Unbeknownst to her, the man she is finding comfort in is the very man who is behind her traumatic event.
Everyone turns in phenomenal performances. Supporting our already mentioned stars is the amazing Chris Cooper in a small but very impactful role as Doug’s imprisoned father. The late Pete Postlethwaite is especially strong as Fergie, the top bad guy and florist. And no heist story would be complete with out the law enforcement hot on their trail. The always charismatic Jon Hamm as FBI S.A. Adam Frawley fills this role nicely. Affleck and Renner give multiple layers to their characters that help them be relatable and likable even as bad guys. This is key when your film hinges on the audience rooting for a protagonist who is also a villain.
I do absolutely love the extended version, which adds nearly a half hour but makes the film actually seem shorter. The extra character developments and explanations enhance the film’s realism and flow. Unfortunately, the 4K version only includes the theatrical version, which is disappointing. But at least we get a copy of the Blu-ray, which has both versions.
The concept is interesting on its own merit with many aspects of danger and drama but director Affleck raises the quality to another level by understanding his actors, the characters, telling a story in an engaging way and pacing the film properly.
The first time I saw THE TOWN it made the bottom of my top ten best films of 2010 list. Watching it a second time, I can safely say the exciting bank heist thriller from writer (along with Peter Craig and Aaron Stockard) and director Ben Affleck moves way up in the ranking as an entertainingly smart character drama. Ben Affleck has made three films now, GONE BABY GONE, THE TOWN and ARGO and all three of which are among the best of their respective years.
4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY REVIEW
Video: At only 6 years old, I’d hardly consider THE TOWN an “old” movie, but let’s call it “older” for the sake of argument. The issue with some of these catalog titles is that I’m not sure what the source is. There’s no way any studio is going to go back and completely remaster a film that barely made a $100 million at the box office, so I suspect they’re taking the original source of the Blu-ray scan and then upconverting it. So that means we’re going to get UHD titles like THE TOWN, which are definitely better looking, but won’t blow you away. THE TOWN looks wonderful and the HDR and added clarity definitely shine through. The scene when Doug and Krista are talking in the room is a good example; the dark part of the room looks sharper, with more detail and the light parts of the room shine through with added color. This is a nice upgrade and fans of the film should be pleased.
Audio: The DTS track from the Blu-ray is included on the UHD.
There are no 4K exclusive features included on the 4K disc, but it does include a copy of the Blu-ray and you can read our review by clicking THE TOWN Blu-ray Review.
Click 4K Ultra HD to read more of our 4K reviews. And you can also follow us on Instagram (@flix66pics) to see previews of our upcoming 4K reviews and more pics of the packaging.
