The Town - 4/5

This movie is a modern heist classic, focusing more on the camaraderie of the lowlife thieves than on the sleuthing of the detectives tracking them down or even the thrill and mechanics of the heists themselves. It’s fun to watch the four main leads fully immersed in their characters and bouncing dialogue off each other. In that there’s a playfulness to the drama that doesn’t sacrifice the impact of the story to engage the audience.

Content warning: brief female nudity

Closest comparison: It’s like Four Brothers by way of American Heist.

Setting: Crime
Plot: Heist
Tone: Lowlifes

Café Society - 2/5

This this is a depressing tragedy of human moral weakness. It’s has great sets and costuming, but its main actors are miscast in their roles and struggle to melt into them. The story starts out witty and smart, but after the tragic drama begins finds itself unable to find purpose for its own existence. If you’re in the mood for a flashy dramedy with lots of pointless melodrama that never resolves then this is the film for you.

Closest comparison: It’s like Marriage Story by way of The Great Gadsby.

Setting: Romance
Plot: Tragedy
Tone: Comedy