"The Town" is a 2010 American neo-noir crime thriller film co-written, directed by, and starring Ben Affleck. Adapted from Chuck Hogan's 2004 novel "Prince of Thieves," the film revolves around a group of Boston bank robbers from Charlestown. Doug MacRay, the leader, begins to question his criminal life when he falls for Claire Keesey, a bank manager they briefly took hostage. This is complicated by an FBI agent's pursuit and Doug's loyalty to his volatile friend, Jem. The film blends action, drama, and romance while exploring themes of loyalty, redemption, and the impact of one's past. "The Town" premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 8, 2010, and was released in the United States on September 17, 2010. It is available on Netflix.
- Director: Ben Affleck
- Ben Affleck as Douglas "Doug" MacRay
- Rebecca Hall as Claire Keesey
- Jon Hamm as Special Agent Adam Frawley
- Jeremy Renner as James "Jem" Coughlin
- Blake Lively as Krista "Kris" Coughlin
- Chris Cooper as Stephen "Big Mac" MacRay
- Pete Postlethwaite as Fergus "Fergie" Colm
- Slaine as Albert "Gloansy" MacGloan
- Titus Welliver as Det. Dino Ciampa
- Owen Burke as Desmond "Dez" Elden
"The Town" received positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 92% approval rating based on 238 reviews, with an average rating of 7.70/10. The site's consensus reads, "Tense, smartly written, and wonderfully cast, The Town proves that Ben Affleck has rediscovered his muse—and that he's a director to be reckoned with". Metacritic gives the film a weighted average score of 74 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.
The film grossed $154 million worldwide against a budget of $37 million. It received several accolades, including the National Board of Review Award for Best Cast. Jeremy Renner was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards, while Pete Postlethwaite received a posthumous nomination at the BAFTA Awards.
