A Sundance darling, this documentary (although some don't trust that title) follows a New York photographer as he meets a family over facebook.  After building a relationship with several members, he decides its time to meet this group of artists in middle-of-nowhere Michigan; and thats where things go awry.   The film by itself is pretty cool, in fact the first half is extremely engaging and suspenseful.  But thats where things with the movie itself go awry.  The trailer (watch it below) and multiple media sources created a hype that overshadowed the film.  They lead people to think "What could they be hiding? What on earth happens?!?"  drawing conclusions of an incestual family of killers, or Saw-like death traps.  But what actually occurs is far less dramatic and in fact about 8 or 9 years behind.  If this doc had been released in 2001, prior to our generation having melded every aspect of  its lives with the internet, it would've been extremely shocking and revealing.  Alas, viewers yet to reach their 40th birthday will leave the theater underwhelmed as the twist gives audiences nothing they didn't already know.    
6/10

The Town is another incident alluding to big things for Ben Affleck after a career that was seemingly derailed by the hot but obnoxious J-Lo.  After taking a few years off, and then directing Gone Baby Gone, Affleck returns with an edgy film about a Boston crime family.  While it may seem as though you've heard that one before, The Town is good enough to warrant a return to those seedy streets.  The film follows Doug MacRay and his group of bank robbers as they continue to knock off major banks while Doug is actually looking for a way out of the lifestyle.  Complications arise when his hyper-violent best friend Jem (played spectacularly by Jeremy Renner) takes a hostage during one of the heists, and Doug ends up falling in love with her.  Things get even more difficult when the FBI, headed by Jon Hamm's character, comes into town and starts knocking down doors to find this rugged crew of thieves.  The robbery scenes are fantastic as Affleck shows a keen sense for action by perfectly blending the speed and tension of the situation yer keeping shots clean and clear.  While The Town doesn't break any barriers or redefine the genre, it will go down similar to Gone Baby Gone as a well-put-together drama thart is fun to watch.
7.5/10