The Town

The Town, a gritty crime drama directed by Ben Affleck, follows a group of lifelong friends who rob banks in Charlestown, Boston. As the leader of the gang, Doug MacRay (played by Affleck), struggles to balance his criminal lifestyle and newfound love interest with Claire Keesey (portrayed by Rebecca Hall), an unexpected turn of events puts both his personal and professional life at risk.

The film is a tense exploration of loyalty, redemption, and the human capacity for change. Affleck's direction is both confident and nuanced, masterfully capturing the gritty underworld of Charlestown while never losing sight of the complex emotional stakes of the story. The cast is uniformly excellent, with amazing performances from Jeremy Renner and Jon Hamm. However, it is Lively's portrayal of Krista, Doug's ex-girlfriend, that truly shines.

Lively brings a raw vulnerability to the role, infusing Krista with a sense of strength and resilience that is both captivating and heart-wrenching. Her chemistry with with the remaining cast is electric, adding a layer of emotional depth to the film that elevates it beyond a standard heist movie.

Overall, The Town is a tense and engrossing crime drama that showcases the best of its talented cast and crew, and Lively's performance is a standout among them. This masterpiece deserves to top our list of the best movies of Blake Lively.

Release: 2010

Cast: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Blake Lively

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%