Living On The Wrong Side of Town

No one gets to choose where he or she lives. It’s a decision that is made for you before you are born and it can often shape you for good. When you come from a wealthy background, growing up in a decent neighbourhood shouldn’t be a problem or choosing to move to one, should you so desire. You have resources.

Having resources means that any obstacles you have to face are already half dealt with because you have them. But to those who don’t and still have to overcome any, the task is much harder.

When you’re living in despair and among the wrong crowd of people too, not being pulled down into your environment’s social dynamics is often impossible. The hope of keeping a dream for a better life alive with little or no proof of success usually is met with a fatal blow in the form of reality.

If you grew up in Charlestown, Boston, that blow was most likely the result of an armed robbery gone wrong.

In his second feature film as director, Ben Affleck sketches a vivid picture of life growing up in Charlestown. Affleck co-wrote the screenplay as well as starred in this edge of your seat crime-drama.

Doug MacRay (Affleck) is a career criminal, but he’s had enough. After the last bank robbery he and his fellow gang of robbers had commit, Doug realises that there’s a difference between being forced to quit and quitting while you are ahead.

Growing up in Charlestown, nothing good has ever happened in his life. His father was a career criminal too and his mother left them while he was still a young boy. But, when he is forced to follow the young bank manager they kidnapped on their last heist out of fear that she might reveal something to the FBI, Doug’s life takes an unexpected turn for the good when the two of them strike up a romantic relationship.

Claire (Rebecca Hall) is entirely unaware of the true nature of the man she is busy dating, until FBI agent Frawley (Jon Hamm) knocks on her door one day to inform her that since she opened the safe for the robbers and are now seeing their chief suspect in the case, she is likely to face prosecution, unless she is willing to help co-operate and help them catch him.

Round every twist and turn, there’s a classic standoff between the law and the lawless, complemented with some great dark-humour moments, too. 

For Doug, the hope of finding redemption in his life by running away with Claire and starting a new one seems like a real possibility. Who knows, perhaps his heart will be rewarded with what it has always longed for: the opportunity to get away from the wrong side of town.

 ‘The Town’ is a brilliant must-see movie.