A Heist Film With a Difference

    “The Townâ€� takes its name from Charlestown, the beautiful, tough, tribal, still-mostly-Irish Boston neighborhood that — according to a somber announcement at the beginning of the film —  has raised more bank robbers than any place else.

   It takes its story from Chuck Hogan’s novel, “Prince of Thieves.â€� But it gets its energy and assurance from Ben Affleck, who co-wrote, directed and even stars in the movie.

   If “Gone Baby Gone,â€� Affleck’s terrific directing debut, was mournful and introspective, “Townâ€� is  fast-paced, with smashing set pieces and sequences of calmly horrifying or gently romantic exposition.

And Affleck’s top-flight cast delivers all he asks and often more.

   The story is conventional for a genre heist film:  Doug (Affleck) is the leader of a small band of thieves who early in the film robs a bank. The bank’s manager, Claire (Rebecca Hall), is abducted, then released. But she turns out to live close to one of the gang, and Doug’s best friend Jem (Jeremy Renner in a nervy, psychotic performance) wants to “take care of her.â€� Instead, Doug steps in to follow her and — as it turns out — falls in love. This unexpected event allows Affleck the actor to show Doug’s softer side and ambiguity.

  Meanwhile, FBI agent Frawley (“Mad Men’sâ€� Jon Hamm) is hot on the gang’s tail.

   Along the film’s way, “Gossip Girl’sâ€� Blake Lively has some juicy moments of slurred speech and mascara overload as Jem’s drug-dependent sister, Krista, who loves Doug; Chris Cooper portrays Doug’s imprisoned father, Stephen, hiding a devastating secret from Doug, who only learns it from the gnarled, numbers-runner and mastermind of the robberies, Fergie (Pete Postlewaite.) Fergie’s revelation of the secret is a statement of pure evil.

   Of course the film begs suspension of disbelief, especially in a wonderfully loony but mesmerizing final caper in Fenway Park. (I was fascinated by both Affleck and Hamm’s fashionable, five o’clock shadow beards: Sometimes they have them, sometimes they don’t.) And the ending is saccharine and sentimental, as if Nicholas Sparks had stepped in to write it.

   “The Townâ€� is great, if bloody, entertainment. Charlestown’s historic, convoluted streets provide unusual spots for chase scenes and shoot-outs. Robert Ellswit’s camerawork is somewhat agitated, but you won’t get a headache from the edge it gives. The soundtrack is good, with the inclusion of Ray LaMontagne’s haunting “Joleneâ€� near the end. Brilliant.

  Affleck’s direction is clipped for action, and gentler, more lingering for character-building scenes. He is absolutely and positively in control. He might — just might — turn out to be another Scorsese.

     “The Townâ€� is at The Moviehouse in Millerton, NY, and the Triplex in Great Barrington, MA. It is rated R for violence and torrents of profanity.