Ben Affleck has proven himself as a worthy director as well as an actor, and a movie which showcases both of these talents is now streaming on Netflix. Affleck was a child actor, but he really rose to prominence in the 1990s, culminating in Good Will Hunting, which he wrote with Matt Damon. He made his directorial debut a decade later with 2007's Gone Baby Gone, and he has since directed in a variety of genres. His most recent movie is 2023's Air, the biographical sports drama with a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Ben Affleck's career trajectory has shown that he's willing to experiment. He's excelled in historical dramas, comedies and superhero movies, but some of Affleck's best movies are crime thrillers. Whether he's playing a husband caught in a deadly trap in Gone Girl or a CIA agent pulling off a daring rescue in Argo, Affleck manages to combine his everyman persona with a volcanic intensity that brings his characters to life. It's no surprise that one of his greatest and most downright entertaining movies is another crime thriller, with Affleck both directing and starring.

The Town Is Now On Netflix - What It's About

Affleck's Heist Thriller Is Full Of Twists And Turns

The Town was the second movie that Affleck directed, but it demonstrates the confidence and expertise of someone who had already been at the top of his game in Hollywood for over a decade. Affleck stars as the ring leader of a group of Boston bank robbers who aim for one big score by robbing Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox. This plan is complicated by the fact that Affleck's character starts a romantic relationship with a victim of one of his gang's robberies. Soon, he finds himself struggling to separate his personal feelings from his line of work, which risks jeopardizing himself and his entire crew.

The Town is one of the best heist movies ever made, although it never tries to recreate the genre in any fundamental way. It mixes the troublesome romantic entanglement of Ocean's Eleven, the volatile thief archetype of The Taking of Pelham 123 and the eruption of violence in the streets of Heat. However, far from being derivative, The Town thrums with life, casting its various genre tropes in a new light which makes them feel real and relatable. This is partly because the script is so sharp and emotionally resonant, and partly because the story is so relentlessly entertaining that it's hard to worry about comparisons.

The Town Proves Ben Affleck Is A Good Actor, But An Even Better Director

Affleck's Pacing And Atmosphere Make The Town Work

As an actor, Ben Affleck knows what it takes to get great performances out of his fellow professionals when he's in the director's chair. The Town is blessed with a great cast, and Affleck is just one of several strong performers. Jon Hamm's gruff lawman is arguably his best movie role, Rebecca Hall is a believable and endearing love interest, and Jeremy Renner delivers an outstanding performance as the wildcard in the gang of bank robbers. Affleck's composition often gives his actors room to operate and make choices without being too overbearing.

Affleck's style enhances the story without ever pulling focus. There aren't many shot choices that make a splash or draw attention to themselves, and this helps Affleck create a tense, immersive atmosphere. His portrayal of Boston is so engrossing that it has a genuine impact when the shots start to ring out. In the action scenes peppered throughout The Town, Affleck prioritizes clarity, but this doesn't mean that he neglects the pacing. He has an economical style that doesn't waste a second, whether he's shooting a confrontation with the cops or a quiet conversation scene.

Affleck's Next Movie As Director Is Going Back To This Genre

A Reunion With Matt Damon Awaits

While The Town is on Netflix, the streaming platform will also be home to Animals. Not much is known about Animals so far, aside from a brief synopsis and some of the cast. Affleck is set to reunite with frequent collaborator Matt Damon, as well as Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Kerry Washington and more. The story follows a politician who has to scramble to come up with enough money to pay the ransom when his son is kidnapped. Although there are a lot of question marks surrounding Animals, it's exciting to see Affleck directing another crime thriller. If it's half as good as The Town, it could be a huge hit for Netflix.