Lively in Ben’s Town

Ben Affleck’s sophomore effort after the amazing GONE BABY GONE is shaping to be pretty good itself, if only for an increasingly strong cast.

With Affleck himself alongside Mad Man Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall and Jeremy Renner comes Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively onboard THE TOWN; can’t say I ever watched her show, but I don’t mind when our pals at Movie Hotties bring her up. Perhaps more important is the negotiation to have the always badass Chris Cooper onboard as well. Hopefully with his front teeth intact.

Based on the Chuck Hogan novel “Prince of Thieves”, the film centers on a career criminal who has to deal with feelings for the bank manager he just robbed and the FBI agent hot in his trail. Filming is set to start next month.