Trailer Trash (BAH-STON Edition)

Now we have a trailer for a film I am anticipating greatly, even if it does not seem wholly original:



For those of you who don't know:

The Acclaimed Director of Gone Baby Gone = Ben Affleck.

However, I can understand how it would seem strange advertising a movie as "A Ben Affleck Film", especially when he is also starring. I am not sold on Ben Affleck as an actor, maybe because until recently his choices have been suspect, but as a screenwriter and director he is beginning to separate himself from the pack. This began to show when he and ex-husband Matt Damon won an Oscar together for their screenplay to Good Will Hunting in 1997.

However, in 2007 Affleck gave the world Gone Baby Gone, one of the more shocking REALLY good movies in a while. No, seriously, it's awesome. There's a depth to Affleck's writing and directing that most of his acting can only dream of. Gone Baby Gone created a haunting portrait of a community, and the moral dilemma faced by the protagonist Patrick (played by Casey Affleck) is handled as if Affleck has directed for years.

Now he returns with The Town, which will be released in mid-September. If there's anything unfortunate about this film, it's that Affleck might be settling into a groove making Boston crime films. It's too early to honestly judge, but I hope he gives us more diverse works in the future. For now, however, The Town looks like it could be really good. Affleck humbly casts himself as the protagonist, who appears to be a criminal looking to settle down. However, judging from the trailer, Jeremy Renner of The Hurt Locker seems none to content with his partner softening up. Throw in Rebecca Hall as a love interest and Jon Hamm (who needs to do more movies. Now.) as the Al Pacino cop-type hunting them down and you've got a good old-fashioned crime saga.

There's a real intensity to this trailer that makes it seem as if it could stand out from the pack when released. Affleck in the director's chair turns out to be a real positive, and the cast is pretty stellar as well. I'm fully aware this film could come out incredibly generic, but I think everything's lined up for a real winner. Oscar contender? Probably not. But watch out, Hollywood. Affleck's coming to get ya!