Talkin Pets

with Blake Lively (Krista Coughlin), Slaine (Albert ‘Gloansy’ Magloan), Owen Burke (Desmond Elden), Titus Welliver (Dino Ciampa), Pete Postlethwaite (Fergie), Chris Cooper (Stephen MacRay), Dennis McLaughlin (Rusty), and Brain Scannell (Henry).
The film is set in the back-drop of blue collar Boston within a suburb known throughout history as the town with the most bank robberies, Charlestown.  Fathers handed down their heritage as a bank robber to their sons as do the sons to their sons.  Armored guardsmen in this town make a little over $100.00 a day to put their lives on the line for money that weighs less than what its worth is. 
Four men enter a Cambridge bank, rob it, injure the assistant manager, take the bank manager, Claire, hostage and flee, later releasing their hostage.  A live wire so to speak, James, is nervous that Claire can identify the men in some way especially when they find out that she lives close by their homes.  In a power struggle, Doug, convinces James that he will keep an eye on her every move and in doing so meets her once again but this time not in a bank but rather a launder mat.  Next thing you know Doug is asking her out for a drink which later turns into continued dating, all along Claire not having a clue who Doug really is! 
The FBI, led by Adam Frawley, is anxiously in pursuit of these men as they uncover slight clues along their investigation.  Even though the four robbers know of the FBI they still continue to rob banks with plans supplied by their middle man, Fergie, the owner of a local flower shop.  Always in different masks and very good at covering their paths, Doug and his men are successful at their tasks but not without some glitches along the way. 
The four men are like family, always spending their time together.  Krista, James’s sister has a thing for Doug and always has, which tends to cause a problem down the road when she discovers that Doug is in love with Claire, putting his life as well as the others in potential harm’s way when he decides to pursue her.  Along the way Doug knows Frawley is getting closer to the answers and with his love for Claire decides he wants to turn his life around, not having a future like the one his father mapped out when Doug’s mother disappeared during his childhood.  Sometimes though when you’re in so deep it is not as easy to get out and even the truth can’t set you free.
One final job at Fenway Park, 3.5 million dollars, a potential new life in Florida with Claire and all could be a sunny day for Doug!  But sometimes no matter how well you fertilize a garden it does not mean you can grow oranges.  Well, maybe just one!  Albeit in the end, leading up to seeing the one you love on this side or maybe the other!
The film was maybe about 15 minutes too long, although I thought it was excellent and if you’re a Boston fan you’re really going to love it.  I am sure my Executive Producer will be the first in line since his dream is Fenway Park and his love over all is the Red Sox’s.  The direction is truly superb as well as the writing, special effects, action, chase scenes, score, wardrobe and gripping in a strange way, movie poster.  The film is raw and real adding the right mix of romantic elements to compliment the struggle of human emotions amongst other characters and the bottom line of criminal injustice all set to a very dynamic story line tying together like a thief and his plot.
Affleck not only does a brilliant job directing but acting as well, making this one of the best films I’ve seen him in even though at times in the story I believe his accent slips up.  Hall is the perfect companion to Affleck’s character, not too over-stated but perfect as his love interest.  Hamm a great counter-part in pursuit to bring Doug and his men to justice.  Renner is raw, uncontrollable and just straight to the point perfect.  Lively, I must say blew me away; even though her part is smaller than the others she truly knows how to portray the other side of the tracks so to speak, making her character believable to the core of a single woman with child that has lost her way to drugs, alcohol and the wrong crowd.  Overall great casting from beginning to end.  For a riveting story with the right balance of drama and action, nuns with guns, some laughs blended perfectly within a phenomenally developed screenplay, crashes and explosions and the f-bomb dropped ever so politely, this film is for you and worth the bank withdrawal.  Reporting I’m Jon Patch.