Ben Affleck’s ‘The Town’ is a Masterful Heist Movie that’s Now a Streaming Hit

by

As a seasoned movie critic with over three decades of watching films under my belt, I must say that Ben Affleck has truly outdone himself with “The Town.” This gripping tale of bank heists and forbidden love is not only one of Affleck’s finest performances but also ranks among the greatest heist movies ever made.

Based on Chuck Hogan’s novel, “Prince of Thieves,” this film showcases a group of robbers who don nun masks and costumes, led by Affleck’s character Doug MacRay. The story takes an interesting twist when MacRay finds himself falling in love with the bank worker he briefly took hostage, played by Rebecca Hall.

Affleck’s directorial prowess shines through in “The Town,” which was a critical and box-office hit. Jeremy Renner’s performance as James ‘Jem’ Coughlin received high praise from critics, and the film sits at 92% Fresh by critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 85% by audiences.

What sets Affleck apart is his ability to consistently deliver top-notch films. During a five-year stretch, he directed three instant classics: “Gone Baby Gone,” “The Town,” and “Argo.” The latter even won the coveted Best Picture award at the 2013 Oscars.

“Gone Baby Gone” marked Affleck’s major feature debut as a director, based on Dennis Lehane’s novel of the same name. His brother, Casey Affleck, and Michelle Monaghan starred as private detectives searching for an abducted young girl. “Argo,” on the other hand, was based on real-life events during the Iran hostage crisis, where a CIA agent helped six American hostages escape by pretending to be a Hollywood producer.

Affleck has had his fair share of ups and downs in his career, but he always manages to bounce back with another hit. His latest directorial venture, “Air,” tells the story of Michael Jordan and Nike, and it’s been met with critical acclaim. With a 93% Fresh critical rating and 98% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this film is a must-watch for any sports or movie fan.

In closing, if you haven’t seen “The Town” yet, I highly recommend it. And remember, the best things in life are free… like the advice of an experienced movie critic!

Among Ben Affleck’s finest films, which is also considered one of the best heist movies ever made, has now become available on Hulu and is quickly rising in popularity on streaming platforms. Originally released in 2010, “The Town” features Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Renner (before his role as Hawkeye), Jon Hamm, and Blake Lively.

The movie is inspired by the novel “Prince of Thieves” by Chuck Hogan, and it centers around a bandit gang that pulls off a bank heist while donning nun outfits and masks. Initially, they hold a worker (portrayed by Hall) hostage, but events change when Affleck’s character, Doug MacRay, develops feelings for her.

The Town proved to be both a commercial and critical success, raking in $154 million worldwide against a production budget of only $37 million. It garnered significant acclaim from critics, with Ben Renner’s portrayal of James ‘Jem’ Coughlin receiving particular recognition. Notably, it was ranked among the Top 10 Films by the National Board of Review and awarded Best Acting by an Ensemble Cast. On Rotten Tomatoes, it boasts a 92% approval rating from critics and an 85% approval rating from audiences.

Ben Affleck is an Accomplished Director

At times, moviegoers might overlook the fact that Affleck boasts exceptional skills as a director and writer. Remarkably, he, along with his long-standing friend Matt Damon, were awarded the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for their work on the script for “Good Will Hunting.” Regrettably, Affleck often finds himself in the limelight due to sensational news coverage.

During a span of five years, Affleck directed three movies that became instant classics: Gone Baby Gone (2007), The Town (2010), and Argo (2012). Notably, Argo won three Academy Awards at the 2013 Oscars, including Best Picture.

In his first significant directorial venture, Ben Affleck made his mark with the movie “Gone Baby Gone”, which is an adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s 1998 novel. The story unfolds in and around Boston, where Affleck’s brother, Casey Affleck, and Michelle Monaghan play private investigators on a mission to find a missing child. Notable actors like Morgan Freeman, Amy Ryan, and Ed Harris also star in this production. “Gone Baby Gone” has been well-received, earning a 94% positive rating from critics and an 86% approval from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. In addition to the film’s success, Amy Ryan was nominated for an Academy Award for her outstanding performance.

The Academy Award-winning film Argo is inspired by true events surrounding CIA agent Tony Mendez (Affleck), who orchestrated the escape of six American hostages from Tehran during the Iran hostage crisis, with assistance from the Canadian Ambassador. To execute this operation, Mendez devised a clever ruse where he posed as a Hollywood producer scouting for locations to film a science fiction movie, and the hostages were part of his supposed production crew. Although Affleck did not receive the Best Director award at the Academy, he won several other accolades, such as those at the British Academy Awards.

After the success of Argo, Affleck took on Live by Night (2016), a film set during Prohibition in Boston that unfortunately flopped both critically and at the box office. However, Air (2023) was a triumph, garnering critical acclaim and audience adoration. In this movie, Affleck portrayed Nike founder Phil Knight, while Damon played Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis starred as Jordan’s mother Deloris. On Rotten Tomatoes, it boasts a 93% fresh rating from critics and a staggering 98% approval from audiences. Furthermore, it was nominated for and won several awards.

After finishing his role in “The Accountant 2”, Affleck will be directing “Animals” next, a gripping thriller for Netflix. The story revolves around a Mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped, and the lengths he’ll go to rescue him.

The Town is currently streaming on Hulu.

Read More

2025-01-04 02:35