Both Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner have been part of superhero teams—Affleck with his iconic turn as Batman in the DC Snyderverse, and Renner through his lengthy stint as Hawkeye in the “Avengers” films. However, in 2010, the pair had a unique team-up in a now-classic thriller that just missed making our list of the best heist movies of all time. The good news for fans is that this film has recently been made available for streaming on HBO Max.
Affleck not only stars in but also writes and directs **”The Town”**, playing Doug MacRay, the leader of a group of professional criminals. Their latest bank robbery takes a young woman named Claire (Rebecca Hall) hostage. After the heist is over and the gang escapes with the loot, Claire is set free. Yet, MacRay embarks on an unlikely romance with Claire—who is unaware that he is actually a member of the crew that terrorized her.
As their relationship deepens, maintaining his double life becomes increasingly difficult for Doug. Meanwhile, his partner Jem (Jeremy Renner) grows uneasy with their involvement with Claire, their former captive.
**”The Town”** garnered Jeremy Renner his second Oscar nomination and stands out as one of the finest crime thrillers you’ll find. Although it never fully cemented itself as an all-time classic, its arrival on HBO Max offers the perfect opportunity for new viewers to discover this gripping story and add to its growing reputation.
It’s fairly common for directors to also write their screenplays, but Affleck’s multi-role involvement in **”The Town”**—writing, directing, and starring—was especially notable. He collaborated on the script with co-writers Peter Craig and Aaron Stockard but took the helm as director and lead actor himself.
Interestingly, this ambitious feat initially made his co-star Jeremy Renner a bit nervous. Renner was unsure whether Affleck could manage all three creative roles effectively, especially considering it was only Affleck’s second feature film as both writer and director (he did not star in his first film, *Gone Baby Gone*).
In a 2012 interview with *Backstage*, Renner openly shared his initial doubts:
*”It was not an easy question to ask somebody, ‘What makes you think you can direct and star in this thing?'”* Renner said. *”But it’s an honest one, right?”*
Thankfully, Affleck—who admitted he felt intimidated by two of the film’s most intense action sequences—was understanding and approachable. Their heart-to-heart conversations helped ease Renner’s concerns.
*”He was such an affable guy and so insanely smart. He made me feel very comfortable, enough to be able to be very frank and honest with him,”* Renner recalled.
In the end, Renner was fully convinced of Affleck’s vision and talent:
*”Heck yeah, I wanted to work with him and swing for the fences, without a doubt.”*
The outcome is a film that stands as one of the best in both actors’ filmographies—a gripping, expertly crafted thriller that now awaits you on HBO Max. Don’t miss the chance to watch **”The Town”** and experience this remarkable collaboration between Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner.
https://www.looper.com/2013650/ben-affleck-jeremy-renner-crime-thriller-the-town-streaming-hbo-max/
