The Town- The First Impression

This is the new movie from "The Director of Gone Baby Gone". Now I put this in quotes because of the fact that this director perhaps should reveal to the audience his little secret. Right out of watching that trailer, I chuckled. Why? Cause this director is none other than its very own star, Ben Affleck. Now, maybe the trailer is just trying to seem cool with its "From the director of" thing, but part of myself wonders if this is a possible cover up of his name because of the fact that Affleck no longer holds great actor status after movies like Gigli and Reindeer Games (the latter of which I found hilarious, I mean come on, in what other movie are you going to find the protagonist make a trade off of bank robbery plans for a glass of hot chocolate). It seems these days that Mr. Affleck gets no credit for his work. He's not amazing or anything, be he's always great in supporting roles (recently Mike Judge's Extract) and was pretty damn good in some of his earlier movies (Good Will Hunting, Chasing Amy). I think its time for a return. Affleck Redemption. In fact, I think he should go ahead and reunite the Affleck/Damon team, and also get Casey Affleck in on it too. I smell oscar number 2 for that one. But until then, this one looks pretty good. Also, can't say I don't enjoy the fact that Affleck has robbers wear face masks in both Gone Baby Gone and The Town (I think we have found a director trademark.)

Post Viewing: This movie is great and I couldn't be happier!

- Jeff Bassin

Sucker Punch, A Headcase from Zack Snyder

Despite the fact that Snyder was taking a break from his usual color explosion work like 300 and the film adaptation of Watchmen to do Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, that owl animated movie "from the makers of happy feet", it seems he has been planning something exciting after all. I remember hearing about the film's concept a while back and I couldn't help but shake the feeling that this year's craze was going to be "Alice in Wonderland" type movies, especially since Tim Burton already came out with his poorly done version. Turns out, this year's theme is actually crazy Protagonists (Shutter Island, Inception, The Crazies (what? it counts), Chloe, Youth in Revolt, Greenberg, and all the others. Since the plot of this revolves a girl's imaginative coping strategy used to escape a lobotomy at a mental institution, the theme is obviously present with nice shiny bright blinking lights. Anyways, based on the trailer, I am impressed. It's got everything a guy like myself wants to see in an action flick; ensemble cast of girls (Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, a change of pace from Disney I see, Abbie Cornish, and Emily Browning? has anybody seen anything with her since "A Series of Unfortunate Events", yes the Jim Carrey one) in questionably burlesque uniforms, dragons, samurai, steampunk, and Jon Hamm (the question is why he isn't in more movies?). This is most likely not going to be your date movie as it is clearly quote unquote for "all the young dudes" like the song's title. In the end, although I am afraid this movie may cop out for one of those, she never made it out, she is crazy so you can't trust the entire movie you watched, lobotomy, the end, I still think I may enjoy it for the ride.

Post Viewing: It's sort of what I thought it would be, but because of its lack of exposition, one does not understand the situation they are in so it's just plain old confusing, but the visuals are nice, even if the cgi looks like a video game.

- Jeff Bassin