The Town (2010)

Bank robbers in nun masks is the best image in The Town, and it’s a shame the romance can’t match it. Doug falls for Claire, a woman his crew just took hostage, and the movie wants you to find it sweet that he’s quietly tailing her to see what she remembers. It’s not sweet. It’s a guy hiding a major secret on every date. Rebecca Hall does her best with it, but you spend those scenes waiting for the next heist. And when the heists show up, Affleck delivers. The armored truck chase through those narrow Boston streets is the real deal, and Jeremy Renner plays Jem like a lit match in a fireworks factory. Jon Hamm is all jaw and patience as the FBI guy. Pete Postlethwaite’s crime boss runs a flower shop and is quietly terrifying. It made $154 million worldwide on a reported $37 million budget. A 7.3 because the robberies are tight and the love story is a speed bump. $3,272 says you try the accent once after this, hear yourself, and stop.

What works: The heists and the armored truck chase are tense and easy to follow, and Jeremy Renner’s Jem is a live wire.

What doesn’t: The romance between Doug and the hostage he’s secretly tailing is uncomfortable, and it slows the movie every time it shows up.

Who it’s for: Heist fans who like a little neighborhood grit, and people who will absolutely attempt the accent afterward.