The Town - DVD Review

13 March,2011 08:57 AM IST |   |  Aviva Dharmaraj

So, what's the male equivalent of the tart with a heart? Let's go with the thief in grief. Or Doug MacRay, Ben Affleck's character in The Town


The Town
Director: Chris Weitz
Cast: Ben Affleck, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively
Price: Rs 599
Label: Reliance
Movieu00a0''''
Extras ''


So, what's the male equivalent of the tart with a heart? Let's go with the thief in grief. Or Doug MacRay, Ben Affleck's character in The Town: keen to hit the road to redemption (Florida, in this case) because he's tired of his life of crime, and in love with Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall) whou00a0-- in a Bollywood-esque sweepu00a0-- is the manager of the same bank he and his buds raid in the opening scenes of the film, and whom they proceed to take hostage.

Born in Charlestown, the meanest neighbourhood in Boston, MacRay has been abandoned by his mother, and is missing a connection with his absentee father. How can Keesey, but fall in love with this man, so badly in need of healing, and thus push the Oedipal narrative along.


Special Agent Adam Frawley (Hamm) plays MacRay's nemesis, the man so focused on putting MacRay and gang behind bars that he becomes the heartless fanatic.

Adapted from the novel Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan and co-written by Affleck, who also takes on the mantle of director, The Town is a compelling drama, not in the least for its heart-pounding action sequences and unashamed exploitation of melodrama.

Special Features include a three-minute piece on the 'real' people of Charlestown and a seven-minute piece on Afflecku00a0-- the director and actor, which borders on sycophancy, but is still tolerable, given that he does manage to pull off both roles with a degree of flourish.

If you decide to buy this DVD, buy it for the film, which despite its occasional over reliance on male-rescue-fantasy staples, still comes off as a meaningful drama, courtesy solid performances by its impressive cast and some slick editing.
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The Town DVD Review Jon Hamm Rebecca Hall Hollywood