Ben Affleck’s film The Town has been praised by a former bank robber for its realistic depiction of a heist, highlighting a particular scene as a perfect example of authenticity. The expert’s review emphasizes how The Town’s portrayal of a bank robbery stands out from other Hollywood productions by combining suspense with accuracy.
A Former Robber’s Praise for The Town’s Opening Heist
Cain Vincent Dyer, who once committed bank robberies, shared his insights on various heist scenes in Hollywood movies in a YouTube video for Insider. Among the films examined, he awarded the initial robbery scene in The Town a flawless 10 out of 10. Although Dyer explained that he never collaborated with a group similar to the gang depicted in the movie, he found the characters’ strategies to be genuinely reflective of real-life tactics.
One notable detail Dyer mentioned was the approach taken by Doug MacRay, Ben Affleck’s character, who asks the bank teller a question about the security system despite already knowing the answer. Dyer confirmed this was a tactic he would personally use to gauge if a teller was trustworthy or attempting deception.
The scene also shows the robbers pouring bleach on the bank’s cash tills in an effort to destroy evidence before they exit, which Dyer identified as realistic. The thieves’ use of masks, gloves, and full-cover clothing to avoid leaving skin or fingerprints also contributed to the scene’s authenticity. While The Town features a larger heist later at Fenway Park, it is this early bank robbery that earned Dyer’s top rating.
How The Town Compares to Other Hollywood Heist Films
Dyer’s analysis extended beyond The Town, as he evaluated several other notable bank robbery scenes. He gave a 9 out of 10 score to The Place Beyond the Pines, appreciating Ryan Gosling’s character’s nervous demeanor and the detail of taping sleeves to gloves to prevent identifiable markings. Likewise, Steven Soderbergh’s Out of Sight, Sidney Lumet’s Dog Day Afternoon, and the movie Cherry each received perfect scores from Dyer.
Reflecting on a moment from Out of Sight, where George Clooney’s character bluffs a bank teller by suggesting a stranger is one of his associates, Dyer commented,
“I have done that.”
—Cain Vincent Dyer, Former Bank Robber
In contrast, Dyer criticized scenes from films like Inside Man, Baby Driver, and Den of Thieves for inaccuracies, yet he found The Dark Knight’s opening bank robbery by the Joker to be the least realistic, awarding it a mere 1 out of 10. This clear discrepancy highlights how The Town manages to balance excitement with a portrayal grounded in reality rather than Hollywood fantasy.
The Importance of Realism in Portraying Heists on Screen
The endorsement from a genuine expert like Cain Vincent Dyer draws attention to the care Ben Affleck and the filmmakers took in crafting The Town’s heist scenes. For audiences and critics who value verisimilitude in crime dramas, the film’s attention to detail makes it stand out among other genre entries. This blend of authenticity and tension not only enhances viewer engagement but also respects the complex and often dangerous nature of actual bank robberies.
With its high marks for realism, The Town is likely to remain a reference point for future heist films aiming to depict criminal activity with sincerity and accuracy. The acknowledgment by a former bank robber adds a layer of credibility to the movie’s depiction of how real-life robbers think and act, setting a benchmark that few productions have achieved.
