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Shalimar Sahota: Looks like what we have is Takers for the older generation, perfectly summed up by that stupidly daring poster of nuns with guns! It's a decent enough result, and I would see it myself largely based on Affleck's directing credentials, for I thought Gone Baby Gone was great. Oscar wise, it'll probably be nominated for Best Picture, but it's only there to make up the numbers.

Edwin Davies: This is about what I thought the film would do, based on the stellar cast and the generally good buzz that it generated before the bulk of the reviews came out. I thought that Gone Baby Gone was a terrific debut for Affleck, and the commercial success of this film should be a real boon to his career as a director (taking him from being an actor who occasionally dabbles in directing to a bona fide film-maker) and should add some more momentum to Jeremy Renner's hot streak.

Personally, I thought that Toy Story 3 marked the unofficial start of Oscar season (it's the only film released so far this year that I consider a dead certainty for a Best Picture nod) - especially if they're keeping the ten nominees gimmick from last year - but since early Fall is round about when studios start to release their "quality" pictures, then I think that the release of The Town is as good a time as any to start thinking about awards season. I haven't had a chance to see the film yet, but the reviews and the pedigree of the cast suggest that it could be a strong contender, especially since, as others have mentioned, similar crime dramas have done well in previous years.

Joshua Pasch: I couldn't agree more with Bruce. I think Mystic River hits a lot of false notes and Gone Baby Gone is a strong first outing for Ben, but with too many twists and turns it loses its way quite a bit (not to mention Casey was good but not half as good as he was as Robert Ford that same year). So on the scale of crime dramas set in Boston, The Town falls quite strongly ahead of those two efforts but shy of The Departed - which is not an insult in the least. Renner is absolutely electric in a role that feels like something his Hurt Locker character would be like if he had returned home with all that pent of angst. Rebecca Hall has been due for a worthy follow-up to Vicky Cristina Barcelona (she was Vicky), and Ben Affleck seems so appropriately at home in Boston.

The opening for The (charles)Town is quite strong - especially with a cast filled with actors that are likable but aren't necessarily proven draws. That The Town opened within spitting distance of The Departed's $27 million is quite impressive. Remember that Departed sported names like Damon, Nicholson, DiCaprio, Whalberg, and not least of all, Scorsese. I wouldn't be surprised if this legged it out to upwards of triple digits during the soft fall weeks ahead - but even with that strong box office, I'm not sure that this one screams Oscar. Maybe some noms for acting (Renner again) or possible Affleck for directing as a dark horse (mainly because the Academy loves nominating actors-turned-directors (see Eastwood, Clint::Mystic River).

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