‘The Town’ Is Inspiring House Republicans During This Difficult Time

Tim Grierson
·Editor
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We don't talk much about politics on this site. That's intentional: While movies can touch on all different sorts of topics (including politics), they're largely a way to escape reality or at least address reality in a compelling, entertaining way. Still, we can't help but find it kind of hilarious that as Congress and the White House continue to struggle with the nation's debt ceiling, the GOP are using whatever means they can to pump up the troops. And if that means misusing a clip from "The Town," eh, what's the harm?

Movieline alerted us today to a piece in The Washington Post that was ostensibly about House Republican strategizing but included this curious tidbit: During a recent closed-door GOP meeting, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy played a clip from the 2010 Ben Affleck crime drama. The scene concerned Affleck and Jeremy Renner, who play longtime friends and thieves:

[Affleck] asks his friend: "I need your help. I can't tell you what it is. You can never ask me about it later."

"Whose car are we gonna take," [Renner] says.

According to The Washington Post, after the clip was over, another Republican, Rep. Allen West, was so inspired that he stood up and said, "I'm ready to drive the car."

If this is true, it sounds like the GOP members basically created a real-life scene straight out of a sports movie or inspirational-teacher-who-makes-a-difference drama. Aren't these the same guys who always complain about Hollywood corrupting America's values?

Funny thing, though: McCarthy actually did some creative editing. Here's the original scene:

OK, it's a minor thing. But still.

Movieline decided to contact Affleck to see what he, an outspoken Democrat, would have to say about the Republicans' co-opting of his film for their purposes. "I don't know if this is a compliment or the ultimate repudiation," Affleck responded, "but if they're going to be watching movies, I think 'The Company Men' is more appropriate."

That one, of course, is a grim drama about people getting downsized because of the Great Recession. That probably won't fly, Ben. Nobody talks very tough in that movie.

Ben Affleck Responds as House Republicans Forge Unity With Inappropriate Clip From The Town [Movieline]