The Town (2010 film)

Based on Chuck Hogan’s novel Prince of Thieves, The Town is the story of a bank robber who meets and falls for a bank manager whose bank was robbed as he and his gang is being pursued by authorities. Directed and starring Ben Affleck and screenplay by Affleck, Peter Craig, and Aaron Stockard, the film is a bank robbery drama that is filled with elements of the caper genre as Affleck sets the film in his native Boston. Also starring Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Jon Hamm, Pete Postlethwaite, Slaine, Owen Burke, Titus Welliver, and Chris Cooper. The Town is a masterfully-crafted and thrilling heist drama from Ben Affleck.

After a robbery in Charlestown near Boston where a bank manager named Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall) was taken hostage for the duration as the event left her traumatized. Later interrogated by FBI agent Adam Frawley (Jon Hamm), Claire talks about what she can remember as Frawley wants to lead the investigation over the robbery. Meanwhile, Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck), Jem Coughlin (Jeremy Renner), Gloansy Magloan (Slaine) and Dez Elden (Owen Burke) go over the take as they believe that Claire has talked to the FBI. While Jem wants to get rid of her, Doug decides to do the job where he would later meet her as he starts to get to know her without wanting to do anything.

With Frawley and his partner Dino Ciampa (Titus Welliver) making theories about the robbery that they believe is connected to reputed crime boss Fergie Colm (Pete Postlethwaite), they start to target Doug and his team since Doug’s father Stephen (Chris Cooper) is already serving a life sentence. Doug and Claire’s relationship starts to grow after Doug told a very personal story about how his mother left him when he was six though Jem remains suspicious about what Doug is doing. Still, Doug’s time with Claire gives him enough reasons to want to leave the life of crime after another heist that nearly goes bad. Frawley’s investigation has Doug, Jem, Gloansy, and Dez being interrogated by Frawley and his men about the recent robberies.

Though there wasn’t enough evidence to incriminate them, Frawley still decides to pursue them after learning that Doug is dating Claire as he decides to go after by revealing to her the truth. With Doug wanting to leave Charlestown and Boston as he tells Jem, Jem doesn’t like the idea as he reveals that Fergie wants them to do a job. Doug says no as he decides to tell Fergie himself only to realize that he’ll have to as Fergie decides to target Claire. With Doug deciding to do the job and tell Claire who he is and what he needs to do, Frawley decides to find out what will happen next as he targets Jem’s younger sister Krista (Blake Lively) for information on the job.

The film is a heist drama where a bank robber who was the son of a bank robber decides to give up the life of crime after falling for the bank manager he had taken hostage in a previous heist. Wanting to leave this life that he knew as it was passed down from his incarcerated father, he is forced to deal with loyal friends, a FBI agent, and a crime boss whose power reaches beyond the city of Boston that can put this man in check. The screenplay that Ben Affleck, Peter Craig, and Aaron Stockard create is brilliant for the way the heists are set-up and how everyone tries to do everything else afterwards while leading normal lives in their downtime. While there’s different narratives that would follow the actions of Doug and Frawley, the latter of which is trying to capture lead the hunt for Doug and crew.

Both men are presented in different ways where Doug is a criminal that does bad things but wants to try and keep things low key as he later decides to leave the life of crime. Frawley is just a guy that is just doing his job though he will do things to get answers that seem questionable although he’s not really a bad guy. Other characters like Jem and Claire are just as complex as Jem is just a criminal that wants to do what he feels is right and doing it carefully so he wouldn’t have to go back to prison after serving nine years for killing someone. Claire is also interesting because she is just this traumatized woman who doesn’t reveal everything in her interrogation as she befriends this guy while wanting to get her life back in order. The one character that doesn’t really work is Jem’s sister Krista since she’s only there as a plot device late in the film as it’s the one character that is badly underwritten.

Ben Affleck’s direction is definitely engaging for the way the heist scenes is played out while it’s the set-up and planning that is just as interesting. Shot on location in Boston, the film opens up with quotes about the world of Charlestown and its history of crime as it then goes into this amazing heist that moves a bit fast but also slows down to maintain the tension that occurs. While Affleck manages to keep things exciting and thrilling in these heist scenes with car chases and shootouts along with more low-key moments. He also balances it out with understated dramatic moments where it is about this man trying to help out this woman he had robbed without her knowing what he did.

With simple medium compositions and some camera movements to play out the drama. Affleck is able to keep the dramatic moments simple with bits of humor while also creating tension for scenes when Doug has to deal with Jem, Frawley, and Fergie in different situations. Notably as it would involve revelations that would add to Doug’s own understanding about his mother’s disappearance and why his father went to prison. Overall, Affleck creates a very smart and mesmerizing heist-drama that does a lot for what is expected in the genre and more.

Cinematographer Robert Elswit does a brilliant job with the film‘s photography filled with blue and green colors to exemplify the look of Boston with a bit of dark textures for some of the film‘s nighttime interior settings. Editor Dylan Tichenor does excellent work with the editing to play up the energy of the chase scenes while slowing things down for the film‘s tense heist scenes with its methodical pacing. Production designer Sharon Seymour, with set decorator Maggie Martin and art director Peter Borck, does terrific work with the set pieces for the film such as the banks and homes of the characters while a lot of the locations are actual sets including the climatic heist at Fenway Park.

Costume designer Susan Matheson does very good work with the costumes such as the masks Doug and the gang wear in the heists to more casual clothing for the rest of the characters. Sound editors Aaron Glascock and Curt Schulkey do amazing work with the sound work to capture the tense atmosphere of the climatic Fenway Park heist to the chaos of the chase with screeching tires and police sirens. The film’s score by Harry Gregson-Williams and David Buckley is wonderful for its bombastic and energetic orchestral score for some of the film‘s heist scenes along with more low-key piano-driven pieces to play up some of the drama in the film.

The casting by Lora Kennedy is superb for the ensemble that is created as it includes small appearances Dennis McLaughlin as Fergie’s henchman Rusty, Titus Welliver as Frawley’s partner Ciampa, Victor Garber as a bank manager in the opening heist scene, and Chris Cooper in a small but memorable role as Doug’s incarcerated father Stephen. Other notable small roles include Slaine and Owen Burke in their respective roles as robbers Gloansy and Dez while Pete Postlethwaite is great as the very chilling crime boss Fergie. Blake Lively is pretty unremarkable as the very underwritten role of Doug’s ex-girlfriend/Jem’s sister Krista as she is often seen drunk and desperate as it’s just a very bad performance.

Jon Hamm is incredible as the cunning FBI agent Frawley who is willing to go to great lengths to capture Doug and Jem while is willing to do things that are questionable though effective. Jeremy Renner is brilliant as Doug’s best friend Jem who is this aggressive robber that isn’t afraid to do what is needed as he tries to understand why Doug wants out as it’s one of Renner’s best performances. Rebecca Hall is phenomenal as Claire who tries to deal with the trauma of being robbed as she finds comfort in Doug’s presence only to be more troubled by who he really is. Ben Affleck is excellent as lead bank robber Doug who tries to come to terms with his criminal life as he seeks a way out while dealing with all of the consequences as he tries to redeem himself.

The Town is a rich and engaging heist-drama from Ben Affleck that features a terrific ensemble that includes Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Renner, and Jon Hamm. Fans of heist films will definitely enjoy the film for the way the heist is played out and set-up along with the tension that occurs. Notably as Affleck creates a film that doesn’t stray into conventions and keep things simple with its drama and suspense. In the end, The Town is a remarkable film from Ben Affleck.

Ben Affleck Films: (Gone Baby Gone) - Argo - (Live by Night) - Air (2023)

© thevoid99 2012

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

Written and directed by Rebecca Miller, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee is the story of a housewife whose perfect life starts to unravel by her memories of the past as she would befriend a man dealing with his own issues. The film explores the life of a woman as she tries to come to terms with her past as her seemingly perfect marriage and life starts to wind down. Starring Robin Wright, Alan Arkin, Maria Bello, Keanu Reeves, Monica Bellucci, Blake Lively, Julianne Moore, Zoe Kazan, Ryan McDonald, and Winona Ryder. The Private Lives of Pippa Lee is an engaging although messy film from Rebecca Miller.

Pippa Lee (Robin Wright) is the housewife of publisher Herb Lee (Alan Arkin) as they had just moved to a small town in Connecticut as they celebrate with friend Sam Shapiro (Mike Binder) and his wife Sandra (Winona Ryder). Just as Pippa seems to enjoy her role as a housewife taking care of Herb, things start to unravel by the messes she sees in her home thinking Herb caused all of it. Instead, Pippa traces back to her life as a child where her mother Suky (Maria Bello) was a crazed woman with a troubled amphetamine addiction that eventually took its toll by the time the teenaged Pippa (Blake Lively) decided to leave home. Living with her lesbian aunt Trish (Robin Weigter), she briefly becomes a model for Trish’s photographer girlfriend Kat (Julianne Moore) that featured Pippa in racy positions.

After being kicked out by Trish, Pippa would wander around New York City for a few years until she attends a party with some friends where she would meet Herb. Though Herb is married to a beautiful Italian woman named Gigi (Monica Bellucci), the two hit it off as Pippa finds someone in Herb she can be loyal to as they would later have two kids. Years later as the two live a comfortable life, Pippa’s persona starts to unravel after discovering who has been making a mess in her home. Meanwhile, her neighbor’s son Chris (Keanu Reeves) has just move in as the two become friends as he wonders about her behavior. Realizing she’s starting to have a nervous breakdown, Pippa decides to take control only to discover that not everything around her is going well at all.

The film is an exploration of a woman recalling her past just as her life as a helpful housewife starts to come undone through secrets and the fear that she might become her mother. Throughout her journey, this woman would endure the troubled chaos of her neurotic mother as well as trying to find a place where she can feel like she’s at home. Though things seem fine once she meets this much older gentleman, a breakdown gives in as she finds a friend in a man that has his own problems with the world. It’s a story that is engrossing in the exploration of a woman who would later unravel by the events of her past. It’s just that Rebecca Miller draws it out too much to the point that the story becomes a total mess.

Miller’s approach to the screenplay, that is based on her own book, is creating a narrative that moves back and forth that features a reflective narration told through Pippa’s perspective. While the narrative device is effective, it tends to linger too long on the segments of Pippa’s past where Pippa is trying to figure out what happens. While there’s a lot of interesting moments, the moments where Miller tries to infuse humor in these stories feels forced and out-of-place with the story. The segment of Pippa in the present time is a bit more interesting in the way Miller tries to figure out how she’s breaking down while making some discoveries about herself and her life as a friend of hers is also starting to unravel. It’s an intriguing story but doesn’t do enough to create a narrative that isn’t all over the place.

Miller’s direction is pretty stylish in the way she presents a lot of the film’s different period settings. Notably the scenes in the 1960s and 1970s to explore the young Pippa’s life as there’s a sense of style where things feel a bit exaggerated and quirky. By the time the story moves into the 1980s, style is still evident but becomes more restrained once Pippa’s life starts to become less crazy as she would become an adult. The compositions become more straightforward and also claustrophobic as it’s Miller wanting to emphasize the world where Pippa starts to lose control. A lot of it works though there’s scenes of fantasy where it doesn’t fit in with that portion of the film. Despite some wonderful moments in underplaying the drama and framing the actors to play out what’s happening. Miller’s film unfortunately falls short due to its emphasis to its uneven story and its attempts to draw out this woman’s trouble life into something grander.

Cinematographer Declan Quinn does excellent work with the film‘s very vibrant and colorful cinematography for the scenes in the 1960s and 1970s while utilizing more straightforward palettes for the scenes of the 1980s and present scenes despite the exaggerated fantasy scenes in the present segment. Editor Sabine Hoffman does superb work with the editing to play with the film‘s structure and create unique montages for Kat‘s photo material that the young Pippa takes part of. Production designer Michael Shaw and set decorator Cherish Magennis do great work with the set pieces created to emphasize the different places and periods that Pippa would encounter to play up her evolution.

Costume designer Jennifer von Mayrhauser does a wonderful job with the costumes that also plays up the different periods for Pippa in her evolution from more stylish clothes of the 70s and 80s to more casual clothes in the present. Sound editor Sarah Gaines does nice work with the sound to play up the party scenes that Pippa explores early to the more sparse intimacy of her time with Chris. The film’s music score by Michael Rohatyn is a pretty good for its low-key string orchestra and somber pieces to play up the drama in the film. Music supervisor Linda Cohen creates a soundtrack that is a mixture of music from pop and folk along with cuts by Dusty Springfield, Lucinda Williams, and a couple of ambient pieces from Brian Eno.

The casting by Cindy Tolan is terrific for the ensemble that is created as it would include small roles from Ryan McDonald and Zoe Kazan as Herb and Pippa’s adult children in Ben and Grace, respectively, along with Shirley Knight as Chris’ mother Dot, Robin Weigert as Pippa’s aunt Trish, Julianne Moore as Trish’s photographer girlfriend Kat, and Madeline McNulty as the 7-year old Pippa. Other notable small roles include Mike Binder as Herb’s writer friend Sam who has feelings for Pippa as well as Monica Bellucci as Herb’s vibrant Italian wife Gigi. Maria Bello is alright as Pippa’s mother Suky in the way she expresses a woman who is at the grips of addiction though Bello tends to overact some of the film’s emotional moments by going over the top. Winona Ryder is very good as Sam’s wife Sandra who is trying to deal with her failing marriage as she starts to break down and go to Pippa for help.

Blake Lively is really good as the young Pippa as a young woman trying to deal with her troubled life while finding solace in Herb. Keanu Reeves is superb as the very quiet Chris who becomes Pippa’s friend by helping her deal with her impending breakdown. Alan Arkin is excellent as Pippa’s husband Herb who tries to deal with her unraveling while is shown to be a very tender man who cares for Pippa in her evolution. Finally, there’s Robin Wright as the adult Pippa Lee as Wright gives an entrancing performance as a woman seemingly lost in her troubled state. Notably as Wright starts off as this calm and kind woman who slowly starts to lose herself as she tries to come to terms with everything around her.

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee is a decent but very uneven film from Rebecca Miller despite a great lead performance from Robin Wright. Despite an interesting premise and a superb supporting cast, it’s a film that falls flat due to a script that tries to do a lot and leave very little. Particularly as its exploration of a woman unraveling could’ve been very interesting but gets lost due to its over-stylized approach to the story. In the end, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee is a disappointing film from Rebecca Miller.

Rebecca Miller Films: (Angela) - Personal Velocity: Three Portraits - The Ballad of Jack & Rose - Maggie's Plan - Arthur Miller: Writer

© thevoid99 2012

Green Lantern

Based on the DC comics by John Broome and Gil Kane, Green Lantern is the story of a young fighter pilot who meets a wounded alien that gives a powerful ring as he would become part of an elite group of intergalactic fighters protecting the world against evil. Directed by Martin Campbell with a script by Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim, and Michael Goldenberg from a story concept by Berlanti, Green, and Guggenheim. The film is an origin story of how Hal Jordan became part of the Green Lantern Corps as he would battle the dark force of fear known as Parallax. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Tim Robbins, Angela Bassett, Jay O. Sanders, Taika Waititi, Temuera Morrison, and the voices of Michael Clarke Duncan, Clancy Brown, and Geoffrey Rush. Green Lantern is a very typical and uninspiring superhero origin story.

When the evil force known as Parallax (Clancy Brown) has broken out of his prison in a lost planet, he goes after the Green Lantern fighter Abin Sur (Temuera Morrison) of Sector 2814. Sur escapes Parallax’s wrath but is wounded as he makes his nearest destination towards Earth. Meanwhile, a test fighter pilot named Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) has caused more trouble for his longtime friend Carol Ferris (Blake Lively) during a test where he would cost several jobs. Later that night, Hal is summoned by a mysterious green light where he would meet the ailing Sur who gives him a green ring and a small lantern as he chooses Jordan to be the new Green Lantern. Sur’s body is later retrieved by the government as they call upon Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard) to examine the body as he becomes exposed by a mysterious yellow substance.

After learning about the Green Lantern’s powers, Hal is transported to the planet of Oa where he would meet several Green Lanterns as he learns about the role of the Green Lanterns. Befriending Tomar-Re (Geoffrey Rush) and Kilowag (Michael Clarke Duncan), the latter of which trains him, while Hal also deals with one of the Green Lanterns’ leaders in Sinestro (Mark Strong) who feels that Hal is too weak to become part of the Green Lantern Corps. Hal returns home to Earth unsure about his role until a party celebrating Carol’s success in nabbing a contract where Hector is at the party with his father Senator Hammond (Tim Robbins) who is happy about the contract. Yet, Hector’s exposure to the yellow substance has him reading minds as he decides to take his anger out on his father by trying to crash the helicopter until Hal as a Green Lantern saves the day.

After a battle to fight Parallax fails, Sinestro goes to the Guardians to help create something that will fight Parallax while Hal learns about what is happening to Hector who has become more powerful where the two learn that Parallax is coming. With Hector already realizing what he needs to do to fight Hal, Hal goes back Oa to reveal the Guardians where Parallax is going as he asks for help. Though the Guardians and Sinestro become impressed by Hal’s will to fight, they let him return to Earth to fight alone as Hal would face Hector and the dark force that is Parallax.

The film is essentially an origin story of how a guy becomes a superhero and saves the day. It’s a story that is often told again and again in a lot of origin stories about superheroes. The big question is that does the story of the Green Lantern standout from all of the others? Not exactly. The stories about the Green Lanterns, the origin of Parallax, and how Hal Jordan became a Green Lantern are the most interesting parts of the story. It’s just that everything else including Jordan’s own issues about the death of his father (Jon Tenney), his relationship with Carol Ferris, and theme of fear vs. will isn’t that interesting. Notably the latter which is told in a very heavy-handed manner that requires a lot of exposition that overdoes itself.

The film’s screenplay is definitely the weakest aspect of the film not just in terms of following a formula but not doing enough to make the film’s central characters to be very interesting. While the Hector Hammond character doesn’t start out as a villain because he’s just a small-time college professor who feels slighted by his dad. He becomes a very cartoonish character that ends up being a patsy for Parallax who is just nothing more than a big head surrounded by dark clouds that just sucks the life of scared people and creatures. Since the film is also meant to try and appeal more than just a comic book audience, the screenwriters try to inject some humor that will appeal to much younger audience that doesn’t really work either as it tries too hard to be a lot of things for a superhero action-blockbuster.

Martin Campbell’s direction has moments that does keep the audience be engaged and into the story. There’s some interesting scenes that is well shot such as the tension between Hector and his father, Hal dealing with his own family, and some of moments in Oa where Hal is introduced to this strange world. Everything else however feels quite pedestrian of what is expected in the genre. There’s wide shots of a city that’s about to be attacked as well as very big visual effects pieces that includes the climatic battle between Hal and Parallax. None of it is boring but it doesn’t bring anything new to the superhero genre. A lot of the compositions and directing actors to do this doesn’t have anything exciting while Campbell’s approach to the humor feels very forced. The overall work is pretty mediocre as Martin Campbell ends up creating another superhero film that doesn’t do much to stand out on its own.

Cinematographer Dion Bebe does a pretty good job with the cinematography such as some of the nighttime exteriors and interiors to help set a mood though there isn’t a lot of it is very interesting. Editor Stuart Baird does decent work with the editing to play up the intensity of the action though it‘s mostly typical of what is expected in a film like this. Production designer Grant Major, along with set decorator Anne Kuljian and art director Francois Audouy, does some fine work with the set pieces created such as the contract party and offices along with the look for the sets of Oa. Costume designer Ngila Dickson does some OK work with the costumes which is notable for the look of the Green Lantern uniforms as well as the fashionable dresses of Carol.

Visual effects supervisor Karen E. Goulekas, Kent Houston, and Gregory L. McMurry do some effects work that isn‘t very good at all. A lot of it doesn’t really do any effort to make it feel more realistic while the overall presentation of the look of outer space and the planet Oa isn’t impressive as the whole look of it feels too artificial. Sound editors Karen M. Baker and Per Hallberg do some nice work with the sound effects whether it‘s the sound of jet engines and gunfire along with some of the things Hal does to fight Hector and Parallax. The film’s score by James Newton Howard is all right as it‘s just a typical score filled with bombastic orchestral arrangements with bits of guitars to add more heaviness to the music. Additional music by Joints Jumpin’ is played in the background in the film’s party scene to add a bit of jazzy entertainment to the music.

The casting by Pam Dixon is stellar for the ensemble that is created though none of them really get a chance to stand out or do anything that is memorable. Among those making appearances include Jon Tenney as Hal’s father, Gattlin Griffith as the young Hal, Jay O. Sanders as Carol’s father, and Taika Waititi as Hal’s comic relief friend Thomas Kalmaku. The voice performances by Michael Clarke Duncan and Geoffrey Rush in their respective roles as the tough trainer Kilowag and the kinder Tomar-Re are really good with Duncan providing humor and Rush being the wise one. Clancy Brown’s voice work as Parallax isn’t good as all he does is talk in a gruff voice and act all threatening. Angela Bassett in the role of Senator Hammond’s scientist aide Dr. Amanda Waller is an unremarkable one as she just plays a lackey of his where Bassett looks like she’s sleepwalking throughout the film.

Tim Robbins is OK as the ambitious Senator Hammond who feels disappointed by Hector until he is threatened by Hector’s new powers while Temuera Morrison is really good as the fearless warrior Abin Sur who gives Hal the ring. Mark Strong is excellent in the role of Green Lanterns leader Sinestro who tries to deal with Hal’s presence as well as the dark force of Parallax. Peter Sarsgaard is decent as Hector Hammond who starts off as this curious scientist only to devolve into a crazed antagonist that doesn’t really work due to the bad makeup job and Sarsgaard screaming like a girl throughout the film. Blake Lively gives a serviceable but uninspired performance as Carol Ferris where all she does is look good, act frustrated at Hal, and all sorts of things were she’s hampered by the script’s weakness but also her own performance where she doesn’t really show much range in a very typical part.

Finally, there’s Ryan Reynolds as the film’s protagonist Hal Jordan. While it’s a role that allows Reynolds to carry a film where he would display his witty charm. It’s a very disappointing performance as Reynolds doesn’t really get a chance to stretch out as he is also hampered by the film’s weak script and lackluster direction. While the Jordan character is a guy who is unsure about himself and Reynolds does allow the character to be engaging. The stuff where he has to try and emote in a very serious manner or to be a badass doesn’t really work.

Green Lantern is a very bloated film that emphasizes more on creating a visually-exciting superhero blockbuster rather than something that will allow itself to standout. Despite the efforts of Ryan Reynolds and Mark Strong, it’s a film that wants to be a lot of things to its audience. It may be watchable and at times, fun but the overall work is just unimpressive as Martin Campbell just creates something that doesn’t really do more than what the genre wants. In the end, Green Lantern is a truly terrible and uninspiring film that doesn’t do enough to entertain its audience.

Martin Campbell Films: (The Sex Thief) - (Eskimo Nell) - (Three for All) - (Criminal Law) - (Defenseless) - (Cast a Deadly Spell) - (No Escape) - (GoldenEye) - (The Mask of Zorro) - (Vertical Limit) - (Beyond Borders) - (The Legend of Zorro) - (Casino Royale (2006 film)) - (Edge of Darkness)

© thevoid99 2012