Have you seen Gone Girl yet? Some are calling it Ben Affleck’s best performance to date, a film that shows that the boy from Boston can actually act.
Affleck is kind of the male version of Anne Hathaway – an actor that people just love to hate, but why? He is smart, he is articulate, he has not one but two Oscars on his mantle yet people think he has no business making movies.
But in his latest fictional incarnation of Nick Dunne, a man accused of murdering his beautiful wife in Gillian Flynn’s best-selling novel, Affleck has been scoring some cred for his acting chops by those who normally pooh-pooh his on screen efforts.
The actor, who can often polarize audiences, “excelled in this role” said the Washington Post.
“He’s not just movie-star excellent,” said Kevin Fallon of the Daily Beast. “He’s excellent as in, like, actor-y excellent. As in, like, we may all need to start changing our minds about how we feel about Ben Affleck, the actor.”
Scott Mendelson of Forbes said: “Affleck is terrific, although frankly the role fits him to a tee.”
But, like his character Nick, Affleck has been a movie star for long enough to know that the fickle minds of the masses could see their affection for him dissipate as soon as the award circuit ensues.
We take a look back at the 42-year-old’s career and try to make our minds up about Ben.
Of Ben Affleck’s performance as Nick Dunne in Gone Girl, Kevin Fallon of the Daily Beast said: “He’s not just movie-star excellent… He’s excellent as in, like, actor-y excellent. As in, like, we may all need to start changing our minds about how we feel about Ben Affleck, the actor.”
Armageddon: Firstly, no, it’s NOT Deep Impact, it’s the other apocalyptic flick of the late 90s! But let’s be honest, the most memorable thing about this movie is the music clip where Steve Tyler and his posse of elderly rockers sing “I don’t wanna close my eyes!!!”
Forces of Nature: This guilty pleasure from 1999 can now brag about its Oscar winning stars Ben and Sandra Bullock.
The Town:Rotten Tomatoes said: “Tense, smartly written, and wonderfully cast, The Town proves that Ben Affleck has rediscovered his muse – and that he’s a director to be reckoned with.” The only thing we disagree with is the 84 per cent rating – it should be higher!
Good Will Hunting:‘Great Will Hunting’ as it should be known is one of Ben’s best ever. His “the best part of my day is when I knock on the door and you might not be there” pep-talk will go down in the ultimate wingman’s handbook forever – and Ben wrote it, so THAT makes it even better!
Pearl Harbour: This movie makes every woman blush, despite the tough subject matter, it’s a film for the romantics.
Runner Runner: While this film could have been a big blockbuster with a notable cast in Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake, a stimulating plot about a poor college student who cracks an online poker game goes bust, and some intense action, the film fell flat. But honestly, Ben is hardly to blame for this one.
Argo: The tense political thriller which Affleck produced, directed and starred in was out of the park amazing. The film tells the true story about the CIA agents who orchestrated the elaborate rescue of six American diplomats from Iran in the 1980s. The edge of your seat blockbuster is Ben’s best work to date and nabbed Best Picture at the 2013 Oscars.
Gigli:The 2003 romantic comedy, starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, or “Bennifer” as they are better known, was called by Rotten Tomatoes as “worst movie ever made”. This is obviously a gross exaggeration but, because it was released at the height of Bennifer, special attention has been paid.
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