Years ago, if anyone mentioned Ben Affleck, a series of jokes would fall out of people’s mouths about his drinking, partying and short-lived engagement to Jennifer Lopez. 

The jokes were forgotten after Affleck broke into the directing world in 2007 with “Gone Baby Gone.” Affleck proved to be successful yet again, with “The Town,” a movie about crimes, law and inner city life. Not only did Affleck direct and co-write “The Town,” he also starred as main character Doug MacRay, a conflicted gang mastermind living near Boston.

“The Town,” based on the novel “Prince of Theives” by Chuck Hogan, takes place in Charlestown, Mass., an area described as producing more bank and armored car robberies in one square mile than anywhere else in the U.S. In Charlestown, robbing banks is a family business; fathers pass down the tricks of the criminal trade to their sons. 

In the creative, yet creepy opening, MacRay and his gang, which includes his brother-like friend Jem (Jeremy Renner), rob a bank wearing skeleton masks. They abduct bank manager Claire (Rebecca Hall), but they end up leaving her unharmed.

The movie takes a turn when the gang realizes that Claire lives near Charlestown, and Jem wants to make sure she can’t tell on the gang. MacRay opts to check her out and find out what she knows, but when the two characters meet, they end up falling for each other. 

Their love affair is continuously plagued by the FBI’s involvement in Claire’s case and MacRay’s involvement in the gang life. After awhile, the FBI begins to get a little too close to finding out about MacRay and his gang. With the FBI on his tail, MacRay has to make a decision about whether he wants to stay in the family business or get out before his luck runs out.

Affleck’s decision to direct, co-write and star in this movie was one of the best things he could have done for his career–”The Town” is a movie worth seeing, and is playing in theaters everywhere.