Ben Affleck is an interesting study in movie stardom. He’s pretty much been as big as you can be… and been pretty much as loathed as can be almost simultaneously. The man has made some undeniably, and unbelievably bad films… but he’s also turned in some absolute gems.
The man is more than an actor. He already has one Oscar for writing Good Will Hunting with buddy Matt Damon, and now The Hollywood Reporter is calling his new film and directorial debut “Gone Baby Gone” ONE OF THE BEST CRIME MOVIES OF THIS DECADE. High praise indeed. Affleck is a tough one to nail down.
However, despite the Gigli and Jersy Girl… despite Pearl Harbor and Surviving Christmas… I’ve always really liked Affleck. Not for his off camera shenanigans, but for his work. I think people do a huge disservice to Affleck when they marginalize the amazing work he’s done in Changing Lanes (which I still can’t believe how many people haven’t seen), Good Will Hunting, Hollywoodland, Chasing Amy, Dogma and Reindeer Games (ok ok ok… I’m just kidding about that last one).
Regardless of where you fall on this question, we can all agree that Affleck is a personality that clearly divides opinon. How can a guy be so clearly good one minute… and then so clearly bad the next? And he’s done both enough to establish that neither is a fluke.
Personally, I really enjoy Affleck (hell… i even loved daredevil)… but that’s just my opinion. With the huge positive buzz now coming from Gone baby Gone, I thought it would be interesting to throw the question out to you guys…. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF BEN AFFLECK AND WHY? Discuss.
