A longtime thief, planning his next job, tries to balance his feelings for a bank manager connected to an earlier heist, and a hell-bent F.B.I Agent looking to bring him and his crew down.
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The Charlestown neighborhood of Boston is renowned for churning out a high number of armed robbers, generation after generation. These robbers never leave their Charlestown life on their own volition, the neighborhood where there is an unwritten code to protect that lifestyle. Such robbers include friends Doug MacRay, James Coughlin, Albert 'Gloansy' Magloan and Desmond Elden. Doug and James in particular treat each other like family, as the Coughlins have realistically been as such to Doug since Doug's mother ran off and Doug's father, Stephen MacRay, was sent to prison. James' single mother sister, the drugged out Krista Coughlin, and Doug have a casual sexual relationship. The foursome carry out a mostly successful bank robbery, but due to circumstances take the bank manager, Claire Keesey, hostage for a short period before releasing her physically unharmed. They find out that Claire lives in Charlestown, so they want to ensure that she did not see anything that could incriminate ...Written by
Huggo
Victor Garber's short appearance in the film was a favor for his friend Ben Affleck. Garber worked for five years with Affleck's ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, on the series Alias (2001), and Garber officiated at Garner and Affleck's wedding. See more »
Goofs
At the flower shop, a bar across the street is called "Fitzgerald's." Later in the movie, a shot of the flower shop at night shows the reflection of the same bar across the street, but the sign says "The Junction", the real name of the Southie bar where the scene was filmed. See more »
Quotes
[first lines]
Doug MacRay:
[narrating]
Driver's name is Arthur Shea. Former Metro Police officer, fifty-seven years old. Soon as his partner leaves with the coal bag, Artie cracks a Herald, and he don't look up 'til the guy gets back. Marty Maguire. Cummins Armored courier. Five-ten, two-twenty, fifty-two years old. Picks up every Wednesday and Friday at exactly 8:12, makes a hundred and ten dollars a day, carries a Sig nine. And he's about to get robbed.
[...] See more »
Crazy Credits
Charlestown's reputation as a breeding ground for armed robbers is authentic. However, this film all but ignores the great majority of the residents of Charlestown, past and present, who are the same good and true people found most anywhere. This film is dedicated to them. See more »
Alternate Versions
The 152-minute extended cut has the following additions and changes:
When Frawley and Dino examine the burnt-out getaway car, Dino says that he's also from Charlestown and although there are witnesses, the police are unlikely to get a single response. Frawley deduces that the robbery gang are a new band since he had put away most of the professional gangs away in jail.
During Frawley's interrogation with Claire, he reveals more details including robbery statistics including bank robbery being a common thing in Charlestown. However, her question of whether she can get a lawyer has been removed. Doug and James try to replace the robbed money by buying marijuana from a dealer and selling to another dealer.
Since the visit to the drug dealer has been shown, Frawley's briefing to the team has been replaced with more shots in the casino and Doug's team taking drugs.
When Doug and Krista talk in the bar, there's more dialogue by her that makes her character more unappealing and establishing her as a xenophobic.
James stops Krista from hitting Doug before the latter leaves for home. While watching Heat on television, Krista shows up at his apartment before segmenting into the sex scene. Doug later plays puck briefly.
The first date between Doug and Claire has been removed in place of a new scene where Claire tells Doug that during the robbery, her assistant manager David was hit by James' rifle butt many times that he had to go for an eye surgery. They head to the hospital to see him.
At the hospital, David is revealed to be permanently blind on one eye, as a result of James' outburst of violence. A police officer on duty rants about robbers that makes Doug more aggrieved.
A 4-minute scene between Doug and Claire after the restaurant (he learns that the owner is also a friend that uses to play ice hockey with him). He explains about the definition of the slang "Tunie" but lies about his parents, while Claire says she's from Marblehead. Doug also points out that juveniles hold robbers of high-regard like rock stars.
Frawley meets Claire again because of missing information, specifically she didn't tell him that she lives in Charlestown, and intimidating her for being suspicious.
Doug and James beat the two gangsters that harassed Claire. They make it look like a drug deal gone wrong. More beatings on Alex. (note: this pays off more significantly at the end of the Alternate cut)
Extra line by Doug to James: "You hate prison but you can't wait to get caught."
Extra line by James during the second robbery: "He didn't want to end up on the wall of the VFW."
Before Gloansy's turn in the interrogation scene, James calls for lawyer, and Doug deliberately speaks too fast and fuzzily on the microphone.
The scene where Doug gives Claire a necklace (actually a robbed loot) and her quitting the job plays out differently. In the new cut, it takes place at a park. Now she says that she had voluntarily quit her post and plans to be teacher or a social worker in Charlestown. However she remains uncertain of him as she is unsure whether he was involved in the attack of the two of her molesters. Frawley becomes more suspicious of her when he sees the necklace after being asked to leave.
Doug berates James for accepting another job from Fergus, but is told he's can't simply leave because of Krista and her daughter. When he doesn't see himself as a father (because of her going out with a lot of men), they fight. James then recalls of Brendan, a man killed by Doug able to walk away after being shot.
Now that the relationship between him and Claire has crashed, Doug gets some cocaine, sits in an abandoned vehicle and fires his gun until blank. This scene is meant to show that his abstinence is over and he is ready for one final heist plus his resolve to kill Fergus. He meets Krista again to tell her that he will disappear for a while after the job.
Frawley narrates the jury of the hug contest story to Krista. This scene shows a contrast of reaction between Claire's (natural) and Krista's (mimic / artificial ).
The robbery team's diversion is restored. Dez the decoy, takes the company car home for the weekend, while an FBI-agent (as a jogger) plants the transmitter in the van. This pays off moments later in an added scene when Frawley and Dino fell for it.
James explains why he couldn't quit his crimes. Doug bids goodbye in contempt.
During the robbery, Desmond calls Doug a coward for suggesting to surrender.
CCTV shots during Doug and Fergus' shootout.
The final exchange between Frawley and Claire has been moved up and has dialogue, making him more distrustful of her.
Jolene
Written and Performed by Ray LaMontagne (as Ray LaMontagne)
Courtesy of RCA Records Label, a Unit of Sony Music Entertainment
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing See more »
User Reviews
Take a bow Mr. Affleck....you have certainly earned it.
My Oh My how Ben Affleck has had a up and down career. Starting out as the cheesy yet funny guy in those Kevin Smith flicks, to the academy award winning writer of "Good Will Hunting", all the way back down to the pathetic string of acting he produced only 10 years ago. But there is a silver lining....with his directorial debut in "Gone Baby Gone", and his much improved acting in "Hollywoodland". Ben Affleck is beginning to once again prove his worth in Tinsel Town. Hopefully he can continue to feverish pace.
Well i can say with complete just, that this is the best "Heist" movie since "Swordfish"......Now i know most of you may not like "Swordfish", but what other bank robbery movie can you compare it to in the past 10 years? Maybe "Snatch"? "Lock Stock"?....eh, if you classify those movies as "Heist" pictures, than okay, it's the best heist movie since "Snatch" or maybe even "Oceans 11"....either way, it's a big compliment.
Ben Affleck has certainly proved that "Gone Baby Gone" was not a fluke. He can actually direct a major motion picture. And not only can he do it, he does it very well. Sure the movie had some minor flaws, but nothing that takes too much away from the overall big picture. The best way i can compare it is.....it's like an east coast "Heat". Now, the group is not as fool proof or professional as the gang in "Heat"......well, let's face it, you will probably never top that group in movie.....ever. But never the less, the style of film making really pulls you into each sequence, whether it be the action packed bank robbery, the emotional dialog between characters, or the intense decisions the players all must endure.
The movie doesn't try to WOW! you by offering a different style of bank robbery. Which is a good thing, because you really run the risk of tripping over your own two feet in the process. But i really think the major factor in this film, was the acting. Everyone came to play ball in this one........but i can also say this with complete confidence.......Ben Affleck was the best actor in this movie. Yes, i know it's hard to swallow for some of you, but he really showed us all, what he is truly capable of doing. So Mr. Affleck, let me tip my hat to you and say job well done sir. You took a lot of crap to the face, and you wiped it off, and came back strong.
Bottom Line......Yes, i can honestly say that this is one of the best movies of the year so far. Sure the movie gets a little sappy at the end, but it's pretty necessary. But overall, your very well entertained.
I read an article a few months ago about even after "Gone Baby Gone", people still wouldn't hire Affleck as a director. And he had to fight tooth and nail to land this deal. Well, hopefully now you can find more work buddy, because you have certainly earned it.
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My Oh My how Ben Affleck has had a up and down career. Starting out as the cheesy yet funny guy in those Kevin Smith flicks, to the academy award winning writer of "Good Will Hunting", all the way back down to the pathetic string of acting he produced only 10 years ago. But there is a silver lining....with his directorial debut in "Gone Baby Gone", and his much improved acting in "Hollywoodland". Ben Affleck is beginning to once again prove his worth in Tinsel Town. Hopefully he can continue to feverish pace.
Well i can say with complete just, that this is the best "Heist" movie since "Swordfish"......Now i know most of you may not like "Swordfish", but what other bank robbery movie can you compare it to in the past 10 years? Maybe "Snatch"? "Lock Stock"?....eh, if you classify those movies as "Heist" pictures, than okay, it's the best heist movie since "Snatch" or maybe even "Oceans 11"....either way, it's a big compliment.
Ben Affleck has certainly proved that "Gone Baby Gone" was not a fluke. He can actually direct a major motion picture. And not only can he do it, he does it very well. Sure the movie had some minor flaws, but nothing that takes too much away from the overall big picture. The best way i can compare it is.....it's like an east coast "Heat". Now, the group is not as fool proof or professional as the gang in "Heat"......well, let's face it, you will probably never top that group in movie.....ever. But never the less, the style of film making really pulls you into each sequence, whether it be the action packed bank robbery, the emotional dialog between characters, or the intense decisions the players all must endure.
The movie doesn't try to WOW! you by offering a different style of bank robbery. Which is a good thing, because you really run the risk of tripping over your own two feet in the process. But i really think the major factor in this film, was the acting. Everyone came to play ball in this one........but i can also say this with complete confidence.......Ben Affleck was the best actor in this movie. Yes, i know it's hard to swallow for some of you, but he really showed us all, what he is truly capable of doing. So Mr. Affleck, let me tip my hat to you and say job well done sir. You took a lot of crap to the face, and you wiped it off, and came back strong.
Bottom Line......Yes, i can honestly say that this is one of the best movies of the year so far. Sure the movie gets a little sappy at the end, but it's pretty necessary. But overall, your very well entertained.
I read an article a few months ago about even after "Gone Baby Gone", people still wouldn't hire Affleck as a director. And he had to fight tooth and nail to land this deal. Well, hopefully now you can find more work buddy, because you have certainly earned it.