First published on October 5, 2022 / 11:09 PM. But in recent decades, Charlestown has changed, says Looney. You notice were still here., Bob Fitzpatrick, a retired townie who says he was paid $107 to be an extra in The Town, says he grew up in a family of 14 kids. Convicted bank robber arrested again after several recent holdups Sequeira appeared on the local legal television show Caught in Providence two years ago, Boston25 reported. [18] The Town grossed $92.1 million in the United States and Canada with an additional $61.8 million in other territories for a total of $154 million worldwide on a production budget of $37 million. At about 3pm, as an undercover Dedham Police officer warned the Citizens Bank manager about the possibility that Sequeira might rob the bank, in walked Sequeira wearing a hospital mask and a cap. Your honor, attorney Sam Cheng began, My client, because of covid, hes unemployed right now. Instead of coming off as a regular heist movie, the film compromises on the efficiency of its heists, and instead, focuses more on its characters and its well-established Charlestown setup. [29] The film also takes influence from Boston bank robbery film The Friends of Eddie Coyle; several scenes in The Town, including the release of the blindfolded hostage to walk to the water's edge, mirror sequences in this film. William Sequeira, 59, was charged in Boston Municipal Court Central with two counts of armed robbery of a bank and one count of attempted armed robbery of a bank. Thats a pretty good conclusion, Comcowich says. And, he says, Its a good movie., Townies cite their pride in growing up in a close-knit neighborhood with traditionally large Irish Catholic families whose members went on to work as priests, politicians, police officers, and firefighters. We outnumber the bad guys.. / CBS Boston. A Fall River man with a history of attempted bank robbery was charged in connection with a September incident at a TD Bank branch in Boston. [11] Later the film's actors also researched within the community to make for more believable characters and performances. "[31] Writing in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Laremy Lengel titled his review "The Town Works Best if You Avoid the Heat," also referencing Mann's film. Accused bank robbery suspect who says Ben Affleck played him in 'The He was ordered held on $50,000 bail Thursday, and is next scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 3 for a pre-trial hearing. Our work isn't possible without your support. [4][5] It also stars Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite, Chris Cooper and Slaine, and follows a Boston bank robber who begins to develop romantic feelings for a victim of one of his previous robberies, while he and his crew set out to get one final score by robbing Fenway Park. Boston. The site's critical consensus reads, "Tense, smartly written, and wonderfully cast, The Town proves that Ben Affleck has rediscovered his museand that he's a director to be reckoned with. Charlestown is a nice town no different from any other town. Well, if statistics can't prove that Charlestown is the bank robbery capital of America, then it must not be, right? Accused bank robbery suspect who says Ben Affleck played him in The Town, appears in court. According to the charging documents, on Sept. 30, a white male later identified as Sequeira entered the TD Bank branch on Union Street in Boston. Others in the Dunkin Donuts, including William McNelley and his wife, Linda, also defended Charlestowns image. Right now, Sequeira is charged with three Boston bank robberies. Sequeira was arrested Wednesday afternoon, allegedly caught in the act of robbing the Citizens Bank branch at Berkeley and Boylston Streets in Boston. A witness reported seeing a man run from the bank into a car with Massachusetts plates. Its sad, Peletier says. While Affleck had grown up in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts, he barely knew the harsh inner-city environment of Charlestown. The actors remarks, Mr. Looney says, made it clear that the movie is in no way a poor reflection on the people of Charlestown. BOSTON - An infamous criminal, who claims he's robbed more than 100 banks, was arrested in an attempted heist in the Back Bay. According to prosecutors, Sequeira has served previous long sentences for bank robbery. Within that subgenre, which includes The Boondock Saints, The Departed, Mystic River and Affleck's Gone Baby Gone, The Town is more of a straightforward crime-procedural and has a more optimistic outlook. In a stroll of Charlestown on a sunny day, its hard to believe this tiny Boston neighborhood could be the bank robbery capital of America the Warner Bros. hype about Ben Afflecks new film The Town, which opens Friday. "Thanks to diligent investigative work he was apprehended before anyone got injured.". An accused banker robber who claimed Ben Affleck played him in "The Town" has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges in connection with a spree of bank robberies in Massachusetts earlier this year. Doug reluctantly agrees but swears that he will kill Fergie if anything happens to Claire. BOSTON At 59 years old, William Sequeira has spent much of his adult life doing time. The Christian Science Monitor is an international news organization offering calm, thoughtful, award-winning coverage for independent thinkers. Your session to The Christian Ive got an apartment. The film was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2010, while Renner was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor[6] and Postlethwaite was posthumously nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor.[7]. William Sequeira, 59, was charged with one count of bank robbery and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, according to a press release from the office of United States. William Sequeira, 59, has previously claimed that Ben Affleck's character in "The Town" is based on him. [26] In his review for The New York Times, A. O. Scott commented on the opening heist, "That sequence, like most of the other action set pieces in the film, is lean, brutal and efficient, and evidence of Mr. Affleck's skill and self-confidence as a director. Its prologue says that One blue-collar Boston neighborhood [Charlestown] has produced more bank robbers and armored car thieves than anywhere else in the world. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Now William shares his story after his Caught in Providence case went viral.-----. William Sequeira, 59, was charged with one count of bank robbery and faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Police had that location under surveillance and were able to arrest Sequeira after he allegedly went from one teller to the next, demanding "give me hundreds.". In the last week, William Sequeira drew the heat big time, allegedly robbing a series of banks in Fall River and Boston. [14][15] The former MASSBank branch located in Melrose, Massachusetts, was used as the location for the first robbery of the film, taking on the name Cambridge Merchants Bank[16] (the exterior shots, however, are of Cambridge Savings Bank in Harvard Square). Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. William Sequeira, 34, of Boston, and two brothers, Philip Lafond, 33, of Acushnet, and Donald R. Lafond Jr., 37, of New Bedford, already face state charges in connection with the robbery, at. Frawley interrogates them but is forced to release them. In Boston Municipal Court, Sequeira briefly arged with his own lawyer as he was arguing for low bail. King in turn showed it to Warner Bros. studio, who agreed to make an adaptation directed by Lyne and written by Sheldon Turner. The attorney placed his hand in front of Sequeiras face urging him to keep quiet. Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com. [9][11] By 2008, The Town was decided as the title and Ben Affleck, fresh off his directorial debut in Gone Baby Gone, was brought in by Warner Bros. to serve as the films star, director and co-writer. The Town is Ben Affleck's new thriller set in the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown. [21], On February 5, 2012, to promote the upcoming The Town: Ultimate Collector's Edition set, the AMC Loews Boston Common theater hosted an "exclusive engagement" of The Town (Take 2), wherein three showings of the film were shown with the alternate ending featured in the new home media release. The Town is a scintillating crime drama that grips from its very onset and keeps you hooked till the end. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, according to United States Attorney Rachael Rollins. The Town is a 2010 American crime drama film co-written, directed by, and starring Ben Affleck, adapted from Chuck Hogan's 2004 novel Prince of Thieves. William Sequeira, 59, was charged with one count of bank robbery and faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. William Sequeira, 59, was charged in Boston Municipal Court Central with two counts of armed robbery of a bank and one count of attempted armed robbery of a bank. All rights reserved. William Sequeira, 59, has previously claimed that Ben Affleck's character in "The Town" is based on him. subscription. He also told Pacheco that he had been on an episode of "Caught in Providence" with Judge Frank Caprio. an episode of "Caught in Providence" with Judge Frank Caprio, Houston House helps residents get back on their feet, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. On Oct. 5, law enforcement surveilling the Back Bay area in an effort to locate Sequeira spotted him entering a Citizens Bank branch on Boylston Street in Boston. https://www.caughtinprovidence.com/ Doug knows that Jem will kill her if he knows so, to dissuade her from talking, Doug tells her that if she tells the police, they will put her in witness protection and send her to live in another state. Behind the news are values that drive people and nations. Doug flees by donning an MBTA uniform and escaping on a train. Later, while she is gardening, Claire finds a buried bag containing money, a tangerine, and a note from Doug that suggests that she can make better use of the money than he can and that they might see each other again. However, unlike the movie, this shop is actually located in South Boston, not Charlestown. Knowing that Claire is in danger and that he will never escape as long as Fergie is alive, Doug kills both him and his bodyguard Rusty, and calls Claire. In October, Sequeira was caught in the act at a Citizens Bank branch on Boylston Street. Caught in the act: Accused bank robber who says Ben Affleck played him "[28] Justin Chang wrote in Variety that the action scenes strike "an ideal balance between kineticism and clarity" aided by cinematographer Robert Elswit and film editor Dylan Tichenor. Watching from across the street via binoculars, he sees the FBI are with her as she tells him to come over. "The bottom line is, the statistics speak for themselves, Mr. Comcowich says. The Town is not based on a true story. improve functionality and performance. "[30] The reviewers at Spill.com also praised one of the shootout scenes, saying "It is surely the best shootout scene we have seen in decades. William Sequeira, 59, faces one count of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery, with the former charged carrying up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and. EAST PROVIDENCE Bill Black, Principal, Shane Messier, Assistant Principal, Lian Furtado, Assistant Principal, Bob Hanlon, CTC Director, and the amazing staff of East Providence High School, announce the Honor Roll for the 2022-2023 Third Quarter. The WBZ News team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on WBZ.com. Ben Affleck played this real-life bank robber in 'The Town'. The movie itself aspires to create a cinematic representation of Boston and in no way attempts to antagonize Charlestown or its people. Doug asks Claire to go away with him, and she accepts. CRANSTON, R.I. -- U.S. Attorney Sheldon Whitehouse brought federal charges this week against three Massachusetts men arrested after a Dec. 11 bank robbery and ensuing 35-mile police chase. But after his arraignment in Boston Municipal Court on charges of robbing three Boston banks over the last week, it might be some time before he ever gets his freedom back. Shocked that Doug was one of her assailants, she cooperates with the FBI and breaks up with him. A supporting affidavit filed with the new complaint confirms and reiterates the sequence of events that police reported in the wake of the robbery and chase. The movie is actually a loose adaptation of Chuck Hogans novel Prince of Thieves. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Movie Facts: Is The Town A True Story? - Flicknights "[23] Metacritic gives the film a weighted average score of 74 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". We The Town is a 2010 American crime drama film co-written, directed by, and starring Ben Affleck, adapted from Chuck Hogan 's 2004 novel Prince of Thieves. Is The Town Based on a True Story? - The Cinemaholic 'The Town': Is Charlestown really America's 'bank robbery capital'? This message will appear once per week In 2003, Paramount Pictures had optioned the rights to Chuck Hogan's novel Prince of Thieves before it was even published, and Dick Wolf signed on to produce before the project fell through. William Sequeira, 59, was indicted this week on four counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery, the United States Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins announced. The film premiered on September 8, 2010, at the Venice Film Festival before being released in the United States on September 17, 2010. William Sequeira, 59, was. In fact, there were 23 reported bank robberies in the entire state of Massachusetts in the first quarter of 2010, compared with 49 in Illinois and 136 in California, according to the FBI.[34]. June 30, 2020 'The Town' is a scintillating crime drama that grips from its very onset and keeps you hooked till the end. William Sequeira, 34, of Boston, and two brothers, Philip Lafond, 33, of Acushnet, and Donald R. Lafond Jr., 37, of New Bedford, already face state charges in connection with the robbery, at gunpoint, of $6,100 from the First Bank & Trust Co. at 645 Reservoir Ave. Police Oversight Committee Eyes Next Steps, Marty the Mini Pony is Looking for a Good Retirement Home, Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter, Ex-Hopkinton Deputy Police Chief Charged With Child Rape, Defense Team's Claim in Case of Officer's Death Stirs Controversy in Canton, 2 Teens Charged in Unprovoked' Attack on Woman at South Boston MBTA Station, Tens of Thousands of New Englanders Wake Up Monday to No Power, Aerosmith Announces Farewell Tour, Including New Year's Eve Show in Boston. I dont think we want to officially comment on whether a certain place has a higher count of robberies than another place, he says. Its not the same town as it was in the early 90s and the 80s., When asked about the films portrayal of Charlestown, Bill Peletier, wearing a green Charlestown Townies sweat shirt at the Dunkin' Donuts, says, Movies are fixated on the bad part. In the movie, Its evident that a lot of it is fiction., But the films portrayal, he says, just doesnt define the town.. Rebecca Hall (l.) and Ben Affleck appear in 'The Town. Hollywood will do anything that will sell tickets. I-Team: Serial bank robber arrested for attempted heist in Back Bay. Frawley deduces that Claire tipped him off, but her tip is too cryptic to provide grounds for an arrest. So many viewers must be wondering if bank robbery actually became a family trade in Charlestown? Its gentrified and diverse now. He will appear in. Last year Sequeira appeared on the popular Caught In Providence You Tube channel where he bragged about robbing a hundred banks and even compared himself to Bostons Ben Affleck. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. William Sequeira, 59, was charged with one count of bank robbery and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, according to a press release from the office of United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. According to prosecutors,. The charge of bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The hour-long chase drew state police and officers from Johnston, Coventry and Hopkinton, R.I., as it proceeded onto Routes 295 and 95. On Oct. 4, Vertentes was able to alert law enforcement in Boston that Sequeira was en route to that city. Boston police say they can't verify that: They don't track bank robberies nationwide, and they dont break out bank-robbery statistics from all robbery numbers for the city. He was taken into custody moments later. unless you renew or During a visit to his father, Stephen, in prison, Doug shares his plan to leave Boston for Florida.