The Film Thugs Movie Show

My relationship with Ben Affleck is a long and tumultuous one. Our first encounter was when I was forced to endure a young Ben as a part of the crew on the ill fated " Voyage of the Mimi," which attempted to teach us science by showing how it would help you in the real world.

You know, like when you and a group of scientists get stranded on a deserted island. It was about as helpful as an episode of Macgyver as far as the science went, and kind of turned many young minds off to science in general with the early, and I think somewhat unnecessary, all male "we have to spoon naked to keep from getting hypothermia" scene.

From there he was kind of a background player until he hit it big as O'Bannion in "Dazed and Confused." I do like this movie but being from Austin I do get a bit sick of it at times. When he entered the Kevin Smith world it seemed that he would have himself a good career as an actor.

Then came "Good Will Hunting," and it was on. He went from a decent actor to a movie star and the cash came rolling in as the credibility went rolling out.

Don't get me wrong. I have never thought Ben was a bad actor. I just though he was an actor with incredibly bad judgment. But, let's be honest, if you put enough zeroes in a paycheck and most people's judgment goes to hell.

I had written this once promising actor off as celebrity tabloid fodder who occasionally was in a bad movie when something incredible happened. He started directing.

At first, I was apprehensive. I mean, weren't we all?

I was especially so. The Dennis Lehane Patrick Kenzie books were something I had discovered in 1999, when I was just out of college, didn't know anyone in town, and did little more than work low paying jobs and read. They were solidly written detective books in the vein of Robert Parker's Spencer series that were a big part of my life during those dark days.

So, when it was announced that Ben would be directing a movie based on the fourth of, at the time four, books I didn't know what the hell to think.

I was upset that he was directing, that he was casting his brother, that he was skipping the first three books, all manner of things had me upset.

Then I watched it, and had to eat a whole bunch of my words. This was good. Really good. I mean, DAMN THAT WAS GOOD, good! Suddenly, Ben Affleck went from once promising actor to... my favorite new director.

So, when I was waiting for "Inception," and got hit in the face with the trailer for his second film "The Town," I was more than a little excited.

I finally got around to seeing it, it took a while but that is how I roll sometimes, and I was hoping was that it was half as good as the trailer.

And it was. It was, dare I say it, much, MUCH better. What could have been a cheap, easy, cliché ridden vanity project (Ben plays the lead as well) turned into something spectacular right before my eyes.

This was a solidly balanced, well written, well acted, well edited, and above all WELL DIRECTED film that kept my full attention from beginning to end.

This is the story of a group of friends in Charlestown, Massachusetts who are following in the family business. It just happens that business is bank robbery. Charlestown is the nation's capital for such crime and this crew is good. Very good.

After a successful heist, Doug McRay (Affleck in probably his best performance) entangles himself in the life of the bank manager, trying to see if she knows enough to be a witness. This does not go to plan, and the two fall for each other.

In the meantime, FBI Special Agent Frawley (the always awesome John Hamm) begins to close in on the crew.

There are almost too many great performances in this to go into, but I must.

Pete Postlethwaite is amazing, as always, as the "godfather" of the neighborhood.

Rebecca Hall adds a nice bit of humanity as Claire the bank manager.

Blake Lively proves that she is more than a nice body.

But the show was stolen by Jeremy Renner as James. As my Jewish friend Matt said after the show ended, "Looks like I'm going to have to keep up with this guy now." He was pitch perfect as the loose cannon best friend. His insanity never came off as forced or phony. James is just a fucking dangerous guy who honestly doesn't care what happens to him. He is fiercely, almost dangerously loyal, and has a determination that is equally dangerous and frightening. He is an amazing actor who is absolutely captivating here.

As the film unfolded I found myself getting lost in it. The characters were well drawn and engaging, the dialogue was crisp and real, the action scenes were seamless and were obviously directed and not just put together in editing, the character dynamics were outstanding, the pacing was great, and the emotional development felt genuine.

I have to say with surprised confidence that Ben Affleck is now one of the best directors working today.