The Town

Is Charlestown the bank robbery capital of the country? Although disputed by current residents, the claim makes for a good movie. Based off of the book, Prince of Thieves: A Novel, by Chuck Hogan, The Town tells the story of Charlestown—a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts—which the book and movie claim is the home to the most armored car robberies in America.

Starring Ben Affleck as Doug MacRay, the leader of a criminal group, the movie works its way through various bank robberies and car chases as expected. Early on, Doug falls for the young woman, Claire Keesey (played by Rebecca Hall), who the gang temporarily kidnaps during one of their raids. However, viewing the trailer will already tell you this—and unfortunately more of the plot.

The other members of the gang add a plethora of realistic, drama-filled characters, all of which are flawed but engaging. Although the plot was somewhat predictable at points, the characters kept it original. And while the viewer at first may question why this group is robbing banks, the film delves into their private lives giving us more understanding as to their motivations. As the movie continues, we begin to notice the regret and melancholy that Doug experiences. Along with the raw characters, the scenes weren’t dressed up and this added a sort of authenticity, most likely a result from Ben Affleck (also the director and co-writer of the film) having grown up in Massachusetts.

The stunts pulled by the gang in each subsequent raid continually get better and better, keeping the robberies interesting for both the characters and the viewer. There is also a great car chase scene on narrow streets, resulting in a much more tense and engaging action sequence than the normal high-speed chases found in usual action flicks.

While the majority of the music seemed to blend into the background, there were a few wide shots of Charlestown where the music accompanying the scene sounded reminiscent of the Dark Knight soundtrack. There was a nice feeling of dread and adventure.  Compared to other crime movies, this one appeared more realistic and quite refreshing. The characters seem real, about what to expect from bank robbers in Boston and unlike clean-cut, high-profile, classy criminals. Blending action with drama, romance, comedy and brutality, this movie provides a realistic look into the world of robberies in Charlestown.

While the majority of the movie presents genuine characters and a realistic plot, the end seems like out of a different movie entirely, and entirely cheesy. It results in quite a disappointing end to a fairly good movie. Although current residents may dispute that Charlestown is home to the most bank robberies in the country, there is history to support the ideas behind this movie. Moral of the story? Don’t start a bank in Charlestown.