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An Open Letter To Ben Affleck From A 'Lil White Girl' Regarding REINDEER GAMES...
When I read this heart-wrenching gut piece from Lil White Girl... I just knew that the soul and anguish in the piece must be shared with the world at large... just as she instructed me. This is one Lil White Girl with love in her heart for Mr Affleck, and stabbing shards of glass within her skull from his latest career turns...
Reindeer Games
An open letter to Ben Affleck:
Dear Ben,
As a fan of your work since School Ties and Dazed and Confused, I watched
you rise as a promising star. I laughed at Mallrats; I cried at Chasing
Amy, I watched you imitate my college life in Glory Daze. You became an
auteur for both myself and many of my friends – you knew how to pick roles
that spoke to us. In interviews, you spoke with elegance and intelligence.
I cheered when you won the Oscar.
Then something happened. Did you fall and hit your head? Armageddon?
Phantoms? A romantic comedy with Sandra Bullock? Yesterday I tried to sit
through Reindeer Games, your newest embarrassment. I left to go sneak into
the new teen romance vehicle because, well, when I watch a bad movie I like
to know what I’m getting into.
Look, Dogma was pretty good. It needed to be longer, so that it could make
sense, but it was still the best thing you’ve put out since Chasing Amy. So
I propose this: you exclusively do movies for Kevin Smith. It could be like
a De Niro/Scorcese relationship. You owe it to him – You owe your career to
him. He could use your star power; you could use his dialogue and
direction.
All I’m saying is that you’re digging your own grave. At the very least,
hire the same script reader as Mr. Damon – he didn’t fall into the same vat
of mediocrity after Good Will Hunting. Yes, he chose scripts in which he
essentially plays the same character. But at least his characters were
relatively believable. Hell, I’ll even volunteer to be your script reader.
(I can only work at night, I have a job to take care of.)
Or maybe you could take a vacation. Move to the Italian Riviera and take up
painting or music or something. Just please take some time off from making
the crap I’ve been wasting my time and money watching. Get back to your
roots. They need you.
Thank you,
Lil' White Girl
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Matt Damon did NOT play Will Hunting in Talented Mr. Ripley!
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Harry9 here...my mind has been transdferred over from my old generation Harry body (banned....hmmmm) and here i am again. ah, a brand new day until robogeek ruins it again (curses). affleck is a hack who road damon tails. i hate to tell you this lil white girl but he's making these choices because he can't be believable in any quality project, damon is credible and believable and that is why he is able to take these great projects. mark this, affleck will be the answer to a trivia question in ten years and doing v-h1 specials. harry9 out
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Feb 02, 2000 4:41:58 PM CST
Spare me!! Affleck is cashing in because he knows the gig is up
by dennis
Ben Affleck is no Matt Damon. Sure, he has generic leading man qualities, but he's no fool. His pretty boy looks will not last forever, and he's not got the acting chops of his best buddy to back it up. He's cashing in whilst he still can. Personally, I'd be surprised that until he takes a real nosedive will we be seeing any depth of talent from Mr. Affleck, and even then it will not be by choice.
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Affleck is certainly no worse than Matt Damon, who did indeed play his same old-same old in "Ripley" (genius, outsider, charming, vaguely psychopathic, etc - Tom Ripley just didn't have Robin Williams doing unethical and incompetent psychotherapy to shift him onto a less antisocial path). I agree with Lil' White Girl, though, Ben of the Big Teeth needs to start reading his scripts before he cashes the checks.
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Armageddon was better than 90% of the big blockbuster summer popcorn flicks that come out. It wasn't great but it had some funny lines, nice fx, and a lot of girls will cry at it when Mrs.Nesbet sticks it in her vcr which is allways a plus because Mrs.Nesbet will comfort them.
Phantoms sucked but it was made before Good Will Hunting and Chasing Amy hit it big so give him a break. It sucked but the guys gotta pay the rent somehow. As for
Forces of Nature, haven't seen it, but any movie with Sandra Bullock where she doesn't at least come close to dying (A Time To Kill, Speed to some people I guess) does indeed, blow. But he's not going to work only for Kevin Smith.
Smith has Mewes, Moisier (sp?), Anderson, etc who work only in View Askew films because they can only play one role. Smith is no Scorcese, he's a Woody Allen. He's a director who makes films that a group of people love and hold dearly, don't make him out to be the messiah or Oliver Platt or anything. -
I actually (in spite of myself) enjoy seeing Ben Affleck in a movie...so long as the movie itself is good. While there are no excuses that can be made for PHANTOMS, FORCES OF NATURE, or (most punishably) ARMAGEDDON, Mr. Affleck has turned in several remarkable performances in his better movies. Despite seemingly being miscast in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, Affleck proved charming and provided a welcome note of egotism to the film (not his ego, the character's). In DOGMA, Affleck proved to be the soul of the film with what is revealed to be a touching portrayal of the prodigal son coming to grips with his own damnation (oh yeah, and he made a few good dick jokes). The scene where he breaks down crying in front of God was one of the best of last year. CHASING AMY is still one of my favorite movies of all time, not just because I'm a big fan of lesbians, but also largely because of the honest portrayal (by Mr. Affleck) of how stupidly fucked up almost all guys are. And despite all the amazing lines written for Matt Damon in GOOD WILL HUNTING, Affleck stole the entire film with the speech he delivers to Damon about how Will owes him. So stop your bitching everybody. Ben Affleck is by no means an amazing actor, but neither is he by any means a horrible one.
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All of his movies, even his stinkers, have been mildly entertaining in a sort of "it's Sunday and nothing else is on" kind of way. I think if he took a cue from the audience's reaction to his performance in Dogma (which was pretty favorable) and played more whackos, he might pull out of the nosedive. The purpose of this diatribe is to bring up again my idea of a Daredevil film, penned by K. Smith with Damon as DD and Affleck as Bullseye.
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To be fair, read Ben's self-penned WHO THE HELL DOES BEN AFFLECK THINK HE IS? in the latest PREMIERE before dissing the guy. Me, I think he's at least interesting, as opposed to (fill in gap). And, excuse me, there's absolutely nothing wrong with getting close to Sandra Bullock, IMHO. (Shit, that last Jagermeister is REALLY kicking in...)
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They used to be the exact same kind of actor. Now they're as completely different as possible. Damon chooses his roles carefully, playing unique characters with much variety (no, he does not essentially play the same character in every movie- a gambler, a WWII soldier, a young lawyer, a bisexual serial killer... each one very convincingly). Affleck has abused his power. He puts out predictable crap like ARMEGEDDON and FORCES OF NATURE on a monthly basis. He has no future ahead of him in the "respected actor" area. Damon does.
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First - Affleck is a great guy who takes the time to respond to thoughtful criticism, and respects his fans. While I might agree that some of his film aim below the level of Lawrence Olivier, I think as a young star you have to strike a balance between keeping your name out there and doing quality work - so you prove that you have the draw, ergo get offered the better projects. I think it's a catch 22 for many actors. But while you rank on him for doing Armageddon, he uses it to prove bankability. This is the classic movies-as-art vs. movies-as-business conflict. So if you don't personally like him or his style of acting, that's one thing, but to begin to presume you know better which projects he should do is hubris. I think he has balanced the demands on either side of this argument resonably. I'd like to see him challenge himself, but not at the cost of disappearing from the firmament...
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I was reading the Talk Backs, and was struck by the general acceptance of all that Affleck is a sub-par actor. I wholeheartedly disagree. There was a moment in Good Will Hunting that sold the movie for me, and others I know. The scene where he stands on the porch and quietly absorbs the reality of his friend leaving gave an amazing moment of truth in a film already full of them. A lesser actor would have tried to do something cute, or cry, but Affleck calmly thinks, and give a half-smile. It was the best moment of the film. You can disparage his studio-film choices, and say that those movies suck. But, I think that the moment that I described from Good Will Hunting and others prove that Affleck is a quality actor not deserving of the level of discourse here.
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Ya know, Ben Affleck should make more interesting films, because it looks like his friend, Matt Damon, is getting a lot more praise these days than he is. I mean, Affleck is working with mainly amateur or unprofessional directors these days (well, director John Frankenheimer is a veteran director, but his movies used to be great... ex: The Manchurian Candidate), while Damon is working with lots of great and interesting directors (Coppola, Redford, Thorton, Mingella, etc.). If I were Affleck, I'd look at Damon's career. Whether Damon's movies are bombing or not, they aren't "crap". What was up with Affleck's performance in "Armageddon"? He was acting like a wuss and shit! That is sooo not Affleck!
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Hmm, it's true that from what he's done, Affleck hasn't made some great career moves. However, he was in Shakespeare in Love (great movie by the way), but that was only a cameo really. Oh, and how could I forget the epic Armageddon? If I recall correctly the "Mighty" Joe Hallenbeck throught it was the greatest thing since the flushing toilet. Still, he's gotta do a better job screening his scripts...and whatever happened to Hallenbeck anyway?
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Or maybe, Mr. Affleck, just MAYBE, you could go away FOREVER and spare us from ever again having to look at your mug up on the silver screen. Barring that, I agree with 'Lil White Girl that you should work exclusively with one director, however, I would suggest that that director be MICHAEL BAY. You two sellout hack artists deserve each other. Of course, that would mean that it would be you we'd see sweating in the cockpit of a B-19 as "IT'S WAR, DANNY; WAKE UP!!!" came crackling over the loudspeaker. But then, we're going to be seeing that anyway, aren't we? Christ Almighty.
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IDIOT...you should be BANNED for that...giving away the ending to Scream 3...it's convienent to do it under a message board that has NOTHING to do with the movie..but you really just BLEW it...a NOTE TO EVERYONE: Do not read the post by stevereno81...thanx alot, pal..note to self: never read anymore talkbacks again...ever
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I am not a fan of his or any of his movies, but I don't hate the guy. He's making bad Hollywood films because he is a movie star, not an actor. That's something I guess he realised. Sure he made Shakespear in Love but, frankly in my opinion his performance and the film itself was grossly overrated. What bothers me is Matt Damon. He is a movie star who thinks he's an actor. I've seen most of his films and his perormances are always the same and mediocre at best. Often times I think that he actually ruins films. Case in point Rounders, it wasn't such a great film to begin with, but my point is that guys like Ed Norton and John Malkovich act circles around him. To me, that's much more irritating than bad blockbuster Hollywood films, because can I avoid those. But I find Damon's arrogance in his film choices much more agravating.
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First I can't believe I'm posting twice to defend this guy, maybe Mrs.Nesbet's family is right and she is gay. But if you listen to the commentary track on Armageddon he's no dummy. He knows how stupid the movie is but its also funny. God forbid anyone makes popcorn films.
I love the person who said he acted wimpy in it which was "soo not Ben". Isn't that kind of the point of acting?
If your going to complain about someone who puts out mostly dumb popcorn bullshit you might as well turn this into a rant about most of the actors in hollywood, save Oliver Platt. He'll still make movies with Kevin Smith, Matt Dammon, etc. Go see those
and leave the popcorn movies to the 40 or so million people who do. -
What kind of assholes give away the ending of a movie just to get back at people who read a web-site? Are you stupid? Why the hell are you here posting and wasting our time and your own if you hate it so much? Incidently I think that is the first complaint about "too harsh" reviews I have seen here. Usually it is someone ranting about studio plants. *Sigh* Whatever.
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Feb 02, 2000 6:12:52 PM CST
What's with the bastard going around and spoiling scream 3?
by coopcooper
Personally, I'm not even a fan of the scream series. I saw the first one only cause this chick I dug wanted me to watch it with her. I never saw the second one and probably won't see the third one. It's just the principle. Some bastard spoiled the ending of the Sixth Sense for me on this site (the movie still kicked ass, but it kinda sucked to have it spoiled) way before that movie came out. What a cocksucker. Oh well. I can't remember what the subject of this talkback is. I haven't posted anything on subject recently. Fuck it. I could see spoiling it on the Scream 3 review page. But putting it in every forum is just being a dick. Oh well, it is kinda funny.
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Y'know, I only made it about halfway through Kevin Smith's Daredevil story arc before deciding I didn't like it, so I wouldn't want Smith helming a DD movie...but...I'll be damned if Matt Damon doesn't seem like a good choice for Matt Murdock. And Affleck as Bullseye? Yeah...yeah, that just might work. I don't think these guys are another Pesci/DeNiro duo who should always work together, but for Daredevil, they might indeed rock. Probably even crowd-pleasing choices too.
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We seem to agree on lots of comic-to-film issues. I think Damon is perfect for Murdoch and even before seeing Dogma, I just pictured a buffed up Affleck with that pointed chin and pearl-white grin about to tear DD a new one! There were aspects about Kevin's DD tenure I didn't care for. Mostly the whole "Karen has AIDS" story and the baby antichrist. What I did like about it, and what I thought were nice contrasts were a guy dressing as a devil who works outside the law, feeling guilt due to his Catholic upbringing. I also liked that added touch of his mother being a nun. If you did a DD movie, what characters/storyline would you incorporate? I'd like to see DD vs Kingpin, with Fisk trying to whack DD the old fashioned way. When that doesn't work, he calls in the big gun "Bullseye". I'd like it to be as much a character-driven courtroom drama as a superhero film.
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Why has this letter been posted on here? I could not possibly care less about the opinion of some misguided, silly little girl who thinks that Kevin Smith movies are good and worth seeing in the first place. To compare him with Martin Scorsese in ANY way is nothing short of an abomination.
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I always liked how Murdoch was either getting Fisk in court or outside of it by taking the law into his own hands. In some of the more memorable issues, you really get the sense of Murdoch's frustration with Fisk being able to use legal loopholes to cover his dirty business dealings. I think it this day of ruling corporations, most people can identify with that.
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Call me cynical, but last time I checked Reindeer Games hasn
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One of the things I didn't like about Smith's Daredevil was, indeed, the revelation that Karen had AIDS. Been many years since I read an issue of Daredevil, but Frank Miller's "Born Again" storyline, one of the last I remember, heaped so much tragedy on the poor bastard, I just bristled when Smith decided to off his girlfriend (who'd already provided enough misery in his life) for the sake of drama. "Born Again" was all about Daredevil and Karen falling as far as humanly possible, yet ultimately finding mutual redemption. To kill her off...it's about the same to me as killing off Newt and Hicks in the opening credits of Alien 3. It's like a slap in the face of the superior source material, an easy attempt to one-up it on grittiness. I didn't buy DD chuckin' that kid off a building either. ******** For the first Daredevil movie, I'd like to see a pretty hardboiled crime story ala Miller's work. Kingpin as villain, and Bullseye as henchman, yes. Bullseye's presence would perfectly set up his confrontation with Elektra in a hypothetical sequel. Not sure about having much courtroom drama, but I definitely think that Murdock's mental struggle to justify his vigilantism while simultaneously upholding the letter of the law as a lawyer should inform the film throughout.
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THAT GUY BETTER GET FUCKING BANNED FOR RUINING SCREAM 3! I was so looking forward to going this weekend, having a great time, and wondering how they'd finish the series off. Now this asshole has robbed us all of what I hold dearest. The experience of a new movie. I don't even tell a person the end of a movie if they ask me to. It's bad kharma. I hope this guy finds out when he's going to die before it happens. See how he enjoys his life.
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Anyone that was involved in that production should be allowed to do whatever they want. I can't believe Ben withstood all the time with that crusty old man on a ship and only eating peanut butter :>
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This girl obviously didn't see Reindeer Games. First of all, She didn't even explain why she didn't like the movie or mention any plot points. Second, I saw this film a few weeks ago and it was amazing. One of Affleck's best. Frankenheimer is a great action director and this movie has some cool action scenes. It will definitely make at least 70 million at the box office when it opens. Don't listen to this girl. In fact, I have absolutely no idea why Harry put up this stupidass letter. It contains no useful information whatsoever.
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Feb 02, 2000 7:32:28 PM CST
Death to the Bastard who gave away the ending to SCREAM 3. His p
by twmcfall
Ok. I want everyone to know that this is my first post. I sit around here and read the stuff everybody has to say about this actor, that film, this director, and so on. I am (or was) an innocent bystander. Then I read Steverino, or whatever the fucker calls himself, I read his post that symbolically fucks me in an uncomfortable place. This fucker is the kind of guy who supports random gunfire in crowded buildings. I suggest that the individuals who partake in these talkbacks on a routine basis do the sensible and mature thing involving this matter. Click on Steverino and email that worthless cock-nobber until he can't get to his mail without a constant reminder of the colosal ass licker that he is. I truly hope, for his sake, that he dies an early death. Quickly and in his sleep. Otherwise, he should get used to the fact that what comes around....
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Think it would be interesting to have Elektra as a "shadow figure" in the first film? Would Murdock's powers even allow him to confuse Elektra for Bullseye? That could get interesting. Would you even WANT to see Karen in the DD movie? What other villians would you like to see? I'd kind of like to see Typhoid Mary. I thought her dual personalities (though similar to Two-Face) were pretty interesting.
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Feb 02, 2000 7:40:33 PM CST
Ben Affleck=Flashes of Bloated Talent, Matt Damen=Talented Actor
by truemask
Ok. Ben Affleck. Hmmm... Let's just say he USED to be good. Now I'm talking about movies such as Good Will Hunting and his other oldies. As for his latter movies, after Good Will Hunting, umm, not so good. Matt Damon rules. I cannot see how some people can say that he is a stoic and bad actor. For those who think he plays every character the same way, well, do you guys have a problem with DeNiro, Dafoe, Bogart, Hepburn (both of them), Fiennes, Neeson, Hanks, Meg Ryan, Oliver Platt, Jimmy Stewart, Douglas, and Brannagh? What, you want Damon to do slapstick comedy in order to show his range? It's Affleck who doesn't have range. Seriously, I swear he doesn't act. He acts in movies the same way he acts in real life. So I believe the letter is justified. As for Reindeer Games, I'm thinking the movie might be good, but only cuz' Frankenheimer's directing it. That's guy's got speed like a Ferrari's got speed. No doubt, Affleck's asking for it, and before long, we'll here him in the news beggin' Damon for money and work. And if I am not mistaken, Damon is one lucky individual to be able to snatch such a gorgeous lady was Winona Ryder.
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Feb 02, 2000 7:41:44 PM CST
DID SOME MOTHERFUCKER JUST POST THE KILLERS FOR SCREAM 3???!!!!!
by tall_boy
KISS MY ASS, YOU COCKSUCKING FAGGOT BASTARD!!!! I DIDN'T WANT THIS ONE SPOILED YOU MOTHERFUCKING DICKHEAD!!! I was looking through a talkback HEADLINES on BEN AFFLECK and some cocknocker posts THAT INFO?! What kind of a jackoff are you? FUCK YOU!!!
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I forgot...SCREW YOU STEVENENO81!!! BITCH, WHY DON'T YOU GO AND SUCK ON SATAN'S DICK IN HELL!
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That is the lamest thing I have ever heard. i would like to thank the guy who posted for making sure I didnt go see it.
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Feb 02, 2000 8:01:26 PM CST
Finaly the truth (and I don't care much for Ben Affleck)
by eddie munster
Finaly a fan that speaks her mind. If an idol is taking the piss, someone should let him/her know. I mean who else but the fans know if it is shit or not and have the guts to tell the truth. Also, if any of you haven't seen Dazed and confused: be ashamed and run to the nearest video rental store and steal it. It is one of the coolest films I know and Affleck plays a complete asshole in this seventies movie.
Cheers to 'lil white girl. -
Dear Oliver,
I just saw you on the Rosie O'Donnell show. Seldom have I been able to draw my eyes away from Rosie's big fat, orange on a toothpick, sputnick head but this was deffinetly one of those occasions.
Your wrestling movie opens up in just a few short months and I'm sure you'll be able to bring some popularity to the almost ignored sport the greek's made famous. This will no doubt be up there with Hoosiers, Field of Dreams, and Major League III:Back to The Minors. What I was really wondering though Oliver is
why would that asshole Steverino ruin Scream 3 for so many people? Why would Kevin Williamson have Courtney Cox (I refuse to put fucking Arquette after her name) one of the killers? Is it punishment for marrying such a brain dead, collect calling, asshole? I mean come on, ghostface allways gets pretty hurt during the film. It was stretching it to have Roseanne's sister taking a beating but Monica??? What the hells with that?
What's with the jar the comes with peanut butter AND jelly? How messed up is that? I can tell by looking at you Mr. Platt that you are a two jar man so you know where I'm comming from on this one.
I bet sometimes you wake up with a tear that no one trully understands you. Understands the artist that is Platt. I know how you feel though. Damn Reagan ILL GET HIM FOR YOU OLIVER YOULL SEE!! uhhmmm I mean I uhh like your movies and stuff. Your funny.
Anyways I figure if some dumb cracker 'ho as we call them on the mean streets of Silverdale, Washington can write a letter to Ben Affleck I can write a letter to the chosen one, I thank you once again Mr.Platt for making my life a little more liveable.
Mr.Nesbet
PS. I'm watching you
PPS. That was just a joke, I'm not really watching you Oliver. Now I've messed it all up with my "humor" God Im such an idiot.
PPPS.I really am watching you -
Hmm, I hope you all aren't forgetting that Affleck has some pretty important projects coming up. He's joined the cast of "Daddy and Them", Billy Bob Thornton's upcoming project and he just finished Don Roos' ("Opposite of Sex" next film "Bounce" with Gwyneth Paltrow. He's not making sh!tty decisions. Besides, he was the best thing about "Forces of Nature," and he convincingly ran the gamut from a thoughtful admirer of humans to a jealous, malicious deity in "Dogma." I think he's got a lot of talent.
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Stop bad mouthing Matt Damon, people. He is one of his generations's finest actors. He held his own with Norton in Rounders, he was the only entertaining part of Dogma, he kicked ass in Ripley, etc. Admittedly, Good Will Hunting was pure bullshit, after school special, preachy, "what the hell is Gus Van Sant doing to his career?" crap! But that film has one element that Damon's real triumphs don't: Affleck. The guy is an idiot who masks his ignorance with winking knowingness and non-insights, clearly influenced by the eighth grade-level intelligence of Kevin Smith (Honestly, his movies all suck. Have some standards.). Did anyone read the Affleck article in the current PREMIERE. It's worth reading just for the fake interview between the real Ben Affleck and the Affleck image. Holy shit, this guy is pathetic. Not only is he trying to deconstruct an image that he was responsible for creating but he has the audacity to tell PREMIERE's apparently idiotic readers what we're really supposed to think about him. If there is any better indicator that an actor is living in the clouds than this article, someone please tell me about it. And the worst part is, PREMIERE is going to publish three very complimentary letters next month when, in fact, they should publish a statement from Satan, congratulating Affleck on his astonishing ability to willingly embarrass himself in print. Personally, I think Matt Damon's personal life needs some help. Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Affleck, and Winona Ryder are all morons and Damon seems like a reasonably bright guy. Which reminds me, why the hell is Edward Norton going out with Salma Hayek? Why the hell did he go out with Courtney Love? These people are seriously fucked up? Why is Reese Witherspoon married to that idiot from 54? I don't know any of these celebrities personally but they all seem to be completely screwed up, launching themselves into a potentially unending series of downward spirals. THE END.
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Feb 02, 2000 9:16:36 PM CST
Why oh Why didn't Affleck's dad "Pull Out" of his mom the night
by gilmour
Am I the only one who thought Good Will hunting was just terrible? What an overrated piece of shit it was! Armaggeddon was better then 90% of the summer films, WTF???? I know summer produces mindless popcorn flicks but my god that was a shitfest! What a manipulative SOB that film was. The love story was simply stuck in to attract a female audience to a mindless action pic.Actually Affleck's giant teeth scared the sh*t out of me during phantoms.
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Feb 02, 2000 9:18:22 PM CST
This whole Talkback spoils SCREAM 3!..harry should delete everyt
by dast
I haven't read it...and I won't do it.
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You better be doing that just to piss people off, and that isn't the real ending, because I know quite a few hackers who will RUIN YOUR FUCKING INTERNET ACCOUNT SO FAST YOUR HEAD WILL SPIN!
Maybe, oh, say, crash your e-mail with a virus? Or maybe one that kills your whole computer? Yeah, that'll do nicely.
Jackoff. -
I doubt it. My post was pretty low key. But spoiling the ending to a movie is dick, regardless. Although, it'd be pretty fuckin' funny if the guy was full of shit and got everyone all pissed off over nothing. I hadn't thought of that. You have a point, though. People get way to upset over movies. Especially when they go so far as to wish death on people based on shit said on this site. At least trash talking can be creative and seemlessy included in legitimate arguements and debates. If you can get that wound up over that type of shit, maybe you should get out more. Oh yeah, this is the Affleck open letter page, right? Shit, some of you guys really hate him, huh? I think he's alright. His article in Premiere was pretty good. He can play a jackass (200 cigs), an asshole (dazed and confused, mallrats), an egomaniac (shakespear in love) and an average guy (chasing amy, good will hunting) pretty good. I haven't seen Forces of Nature (thankfully), but you can't blame him for his embarrassing role in Armageddon. Blame the writer for having him say, "I love you," to Bruce Willis. You can't blame him from taking the part, either. Maybe he wanted to be in a popcorn flick, maybe he wanted some extra cash. Owen Wilson was in Armageddon and the Haunting and no one's busting his balls. I'm giving Reindeer Games a chance because John Frankenheimer kicks ass, if for no other reason (oh and Charlize Theron's pretty hot).
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I agree Ben Affleck's been in some bad movies, but I challenge anyone in this talkback to pore through a stack of scripts sent to you by your agent, figure out which one is going to be a) a great or even good movie and b) enough of a hit to allow you to do another movie - all this after the script goes through several rewrites in the development process, is forced to conform to notes from studio execs (who, in many cases, don't know what they are doing but are required by their superiors to turn in notes!)- c) well directed (even though you may not have any idea who or how good the director is), d) well-acted by the other players (whom are not yet cast) and d) survive more studio notes in editing.
An actor, any actor, with a string of great movies that perform well is not a better actor, just a luckier one.
Before you throw around Access Hollywood terms like "choose better projects" consider all these variables. You may think you'll be savvy enough to make the right call. But the bottom line is this: you can not know what script in your stack of options will turn out to be a great movie. An actor has to go with his or her gut and hope things work out. -
I'm with you all on this. I, personally, DESPISE the "Scream" movies, but I would never be such an asshole as to go all over this site spoiling them, just to be spiteful. I really don't care who the killer is in "Scream 3", but I shall nevertheless join the chorus in saying, Harry, PLEASE DELETE THIS WHOLE TALKBACK. Do it NOW, for the sake of the few people left who HAVEN'T been spoiled by this sorry son of a bitch. Hurry.
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Feb 02, 2000 10:35:34 PM CST
kkrankk says: Ben Affleck is an asswipe. Why single out Reindeer
by kkrankk
He belongs in tiny almost-straight-to-video movies and deserves to fade into painful obscurity but I'm afraid we'll see his stupid grin plastered on his even more stupid face in big Hollywood movies for years to come and all the birthday wishes in the world won't change it.
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Look lets be frank these are not actors just too prety boys who got lucky and will fall out of flavor as soon as the current round of tenny-booppers grow up..
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Feb 02, 2000 10:50:12 PM CST
I have to eat my words. Affleck had the most memorable and conv
by dennis
I laughed during the death scenes in that film, except when his character died on the comet. So, I guess I'm saying I do think he can act. At times...
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Well, if you REALLY want to hate Ben, then listen to his commentary on the Armageddon (Criterion) DVD...whether you love or hate the film, you can't argue that he is a little pompus shit-brained jerk. He constantly rips the film and the people making it...hey Ben, don't forget all the dough that film made you, not to mention your celeb status! He's decent in small roles, Shakespeare In Love for one...but he mostly gets on my nerves in his leading roles. At least Damon takes on more diverse and risky roles!
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I haven`t even read these talkbacks, because I pretty much hate Ben Affleck, but wasn`t he the rich kid Troy in "The Goonies" who drives that convertible? Or am I sadly mistaken? Oh, by the way, the ACTORS from "Scream 3" don`t even know who the real killers are, because Craven shot multiple endings, and no one - again, not even the actors - knows which ending is real. So how would this guy know the ending?
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Ben Affleck was created by Hollywood, because Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and Bruce Willis were getting too old to play certain parts.
Does anyone remember what this guy used to look like. Rent Mallrats. Look at Ben, then and now. Proof, that Hollywood can make a sex symbol out of anyone.
The following is a list of young actors I would rather see play any part, Ben Affleck is being considered for. (not necessarily in this order)
Everyone on this list is a better actor. And 95% are better looking.
1) Don Cheadle, 2) Leo DiCaprio, 3)Ed Norton, 4) Vince Vaughn, 5)Christian Slater, 6) Wes Bentley, 7) Freddie Prinze Jr., 8) Mark Wahlberg, 9)John Cusack, 10)Jude Law, 11)Brendan Fraser, 12) Matt Dillon, 13) Jay Mohr, 14)Tom Sizemore, 15) David Duchovny, 16) Chris Rock, 17) John Leguizamo, 18) Benicio Del Toro, 19) Phillip Seymour Hoffman, 20) Luke Wilson, 21) Matt Damon, 22) Joseph Fiennes, 23) Russel Crowe, 24) Will Smith, 25) Frank Whaley.
Just to name a few.
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Affleck's character didn't die in Armageddon. What are you smoking?
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I think I'd completely hold on Elektra till the second film. Probably wouldn't hurt anything to set her up in the first flick, ala the Phantom Zone criminals in Superman, but I'd kind of like her first appearance to be something special, not just an aside. As for Karen Page, nah, no reason to bring her in either. In my own magical dreamland, I'd feature her in for the sequel (though how to balance that with Elektra?), then showcase her prominently in a third flick that'd adapt the "Born Again" story arc directly. In fact, it'd be kinda nice for the first installment of a superhero series to have *no* romantic involvement at all for a change. Typhoid Mary? Never actually read any stories with her, Miller's run being my only real association with DD. Sounds interesting enough, though, and I seem to recall she was pretty striking visually. Again, good material for after a first film. The one character who *must* be in the first DD is Ben Urich. Nice thing about Daredevil is that he carries less baggage than other superheroes, and doesn't require the setting of a stylized "superhero world" to back him.
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Freddie Prinze Jr is a better actor than Ben Affleck? WTF? I hope you are smokin' some really good hydro shit, cause otherwise there is no excuse for that statement.
Do you really think that Freddie could have played Bartelby in DOGMA as well as Affleck? And, I must agree that Affleck stole the show in Good Will Hunting (for both the porch scene and the You Owe Me speech). Freddie Prinze is a very very bad character-actor with a very short shelf-life. I seriously hope you were trying to be funny.
I don't know why everyone hates Affleck, other than it's kinda trendy. I don't really love Affleck, but I don't hate him and I really can't see myself getting all worked up about it.
And, about Scream 3: This poster doesn't give any proof. Seriously, how would he know and, given the actions of at least one of the "killers" in the last flick
do you really think that it could be them? And, is it surprising that neither of the characters were new to the series, so the poster didn't need to really know jack about Scream 3? You gotta think people!!!
-Creep- -
I don't understand why this letter was ever even posted....this site is usually a reliable source of film information and criticism from a discerning and passionate group of film goers, but I don't know what warrants all this - great, so you don't agree with his career choices - thanks for sharing that - but for people to become absolutely enraged - to go so far as to tell this man to KILL himself...good lord people...life is a slippery slope - and Hollywood is a more fucked up place than most to try to make your way...how many people could tear apart your choices with the gift of hindsight? please gain some perspective and finds a more useful place to focus your energy.
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Here's what I'm trying to figure out, HOW IN THE HELL are Will Hunting, Private Ryan, and Tom "I'm a frickin' sociopath" Ripley the SAME character?
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Well I think "CaptainLoft" would agree on this one... ben aflek sucks a big green donkey one... the man is horrible... no not a horrible actor for he actually does portray himself well (strickly speaking in the"school of acting" sense). However the roles just suck.... I mean give me a break, ARMAGEDDON MADE ME SICK. Why is every movie Ben does about him being this whiny prissy heartbroken beverlyhills90210 reject???? WHY I SAY???? I'm about to vomit just thinking about him... dude, heres a tip ben... put in your resume for the Power Rangers Light Speed Rescue (the newest incarnation of that crap) or better yet, try to get into LFO or N'SYNC or dare i say the Back Street Boys, cuz htats where ya belong man, with the frickin teeny boppers crying about how you broke up with your girlfriend who you were dating for all of 3 weeks and how u loved her so much and how she was "the one".... give me a break...
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Feb 03, 2000 12:12:38 PM CST
WHAT???!!! The post from the guy claiming the ending IS TRUE????
by all thumbs
If it is...YOU FUCKING PRICK!!!! (Sorry, someone mentioned it above) I've been waiting for this movie since the sub-par Scream 2 came out. I've been avoiding all the Talk Backs related to Scream 3 that have shown up recently just so I could go into the movie with a clear head. I've tried to avoid commercials, etc. I've even got my own theories and a really good bet going with my boyfriend on who the killer is, and if what this idiot has been putting in his subject headers is true, we both lost. Dammit. And the movie will surely suck because that killer (not going to name the killer for those who didn't see) makes no sense at all because of the way the character is headed in the first two movies. DAMMIT. Sorry for my non-Affleck post. BTW, what the hell is this article doing here in the first place?
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I realized after I typed it that I actually meant the Willis character. But seriously, that was the only believable acting in the whole film, courtesy of Mr. Affleck.
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Directed by the great john frankenheimer (he's stated quite a bit that he wants to direct, I think it wise of him to choose to work with good directors) and he got to bang charlize theron. I don't see the big deal. and folks, he signed to do armageddon before the good will hunting acclaim. he had name recognition from chasing amy, and was cast as part of the indie actor cadre of that movie if you'll recall. "hey here's six hundred grand come be in this big dumb bomvie that will make you internationally known and most certainly make oodles of money. phantoms was, incidentally, a throwback to the oldschool studio system as ben was contracted to do another film for the producers.
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I agree, a love interest is not necessary for the first DD film. I really want to see the supporting characters at the law firm, which I guess would include Karen. Do you think it would be too much content to have the first film focus on Murdock's origin, his coming to terms with his powers, a nosey reporter who discovers his identity, and the beginnings of his rivalry with the Kingpin? Then the second film could feature Elektra as Kingpin's assassin-for-hire, her romance with Murdock, and subsequently her death at the hands of Bullseye? Probably too much for one film. Then the third could have his romance with Karen, with Typhoid Mary interfering. I think Mary is really one of the most interesting characters in the DD rogue's gallery. For one, her own abilities could throw off Daredevil's senses. Also, her split love/hate personality for Matt was very interesting and it was disturbing (in a neat way) to watch them both self-destruct (Matt cheats on Karen with Mary). Actually, an interesting parallel is Typhoid Mary, and Tim Burton's version of Catwoman from Batman Returns -- the characters are nearly similar.
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Feb 03, 2000 2:59:50 PM CST
YEAH, BEN AFFLECK SHOULD DO WHAT YOU SAY TO SATISFY YOUR WISHES
by bgw claw
Despite what they might have you believe, actors are in this business to get PAID. And Ben Affleck gets PAID well for his services, whether the film is good or not. HE believes the film is worth doing, and that's HIS opinion. So let HIM decide what to do with HIS career. He doesn't owe Kevin Smith anything, they're friends, but Ben Affleck is not on this earth to assist Kevin Smith's career whenever possible. Come on now.
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Ben, as intelligent, articulate and talented as he is gets my vote for Most Prominent Wigger of the Year. He's snuck under the radar with his chiselled looks, but the facts are the facts.
See, Micheal Rappaport gets my vote for most authentic wigger, but Affleck, he's sneaky, tricky and freaky.
Exhibit A: His singing "i'm leaving on the next train", probably inspired by Just Ice's "Latoya".
Exhibit B: Looking to produce Howard Zimm's History of the U.S....
Exhibit C-Z: Read any one of the profiles (Vanity Fair, Playboy etc.) for his rendition of the "special white boy" saga.
John Travolta: eat your heart out tubby. Enjoy the your bubbleless ice-cubes.
God bless all of you, my bleeding hearted wigger friends. -
Was Ben Affleck's one and only truly great performance. It was the first time I saw him act and I was genuinely taken aback with respect for his layered portrayal. So the potential is there. But...when not doing utter shit and dreck like Phantoms, Forces of Nature, Glory Daze, and yes, even Armageddon, he is lucky not to ruin a good movie (Dogma), or at best, just be a very expendable part of a great movie (Shakespeare in Love). I'll reserve judgment on Reindeer Games until I see it, RENT it, rather, but I'm remaining skeptical. On top of all that, he doesn't really seem like a particularly grateful or nice guy, either. Oh well..he still DOES have good chemistry with Damon in Dogma and GWH, so maybe he can have fun riding on his buddy's coattails until his 15 minutes are up. And I agree with a previous poster who pointed out that Damon is a movie star who thinks he's an actor. And that's not dis, merely description.
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In most superhero flicks, it's pretty much imperative to focus a lot on the origin story. With Daredevil, I almost think they should gloss over it very quickly to get the modern crime story moving quickly. Hmm, what if Ben Urich actually narrated the flick and provided voice-over for the origin portion? It'd be brief, based on his limited knowledge of DD's life, and would serve the dual purpose of introducing Urich as a prominent character in Matt's life. I'd prefer the more elaborate version of DD's origin, all his training with Stick, for instance, to hold for flashbacks in the Elektra sequel. The conflict with the Kingpin should be central to the first movie, with DD's struggle between law and vigilantism providing the film's emotional backdrop. For the actual plot, I'd suggest mining Miller's plot about Kingpin working to get Randolph Cherryh, his political puppet, elected as mayor of New York. No plans for world-domination, just gritty crime and corruption. So, basically, yeah, I agree with you on the first movie, with the exception of making the origin a big part of it. Likewise, for the follow-up flicks. ********* This is gettin' me pumped to dig up old Daredevils. Why the hell has Marvel never gone to the effort of compiling Miller's DD work in some BIG volumes? I mean *all* of it. It was only one of the comics that redefined superheroes in the 80's, for Pete's sake!
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1) Affleck will have a longer, more successful career in Hollywood than Damon. Let's face it, in 1987 who had better career prospects- Charlie Sheen coming off Wall Street & Platoon, or Tom Hanks coming off Dragnet & the Money Pit? Fate is fickle friends, and she doesn't give a shit about your thoughts on who's more 'talented'. Ben is shooting- and achieving- for a Harrison Ford-ish kind of career, mixing occasional more risky choices with big-budget crowd pleasers, while Matt is going to end up playing Monty Clift to Edward Norton's James Dean if he keeps going like this. And for the record, there is just as much commonality between Matt's performance in GWH and Matt's in Ripley as there is between Ben's in GWH and Ben's in Dogma. Maybe more. In fact, let me go way out on a limb and say 2) Ben will win another Oscar before Matt will. 3) Those of you mewling like kittens will feel really stupid when it turns out Steverino didn't spoil the ending for Scream 3 at all. (Or I will when it turns out he did. One or t'other.)
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I'd put Affleck's performances in Shakespeare in Love, Dogma, Chasing Amy, Boiler Room (which is awesome and Affleck is genius) up against any actor his age. He doesn't feel the need to be showy or play retards to show that he can act. As for Damon, I think he's good (Good Will Hunting was his best) but you don't see him taking the cool cameos in small movies like Affleck does for no money--leading one to wonder who cares about acting more. I hear he also did a cameo in "Daddy and Them."
If you understand acting you know that you don't have to play a psychotic to show your talent--you have to be believeable.
This site has too many fuckign teenage idiots posting. -
I happened to have seen about 35 minutes of rough footage of RG and think it is going to be great . Chill out. What is it with people like you? Should Affleck continue to make little artsy movies that no one sees. Would that make you happy? Hey, look people liked Armaggeddon, it was big dumb escapist fun, so what?
As for Dogma, it was crap and making it longer only would have made it longer crap. -
ok, are ya ready? I want you to get out a piece of paper and put your name at the top. Have you done that? Ok. Now I want you to write down the best movie, actor/actress, director, and producer in the whole wide world and give examples of there best work (now remember NO CHEATING-you can't peek onto your neighbors paper.) Are you done? Good. Now lets account for our votes.
What's this? I see so many different names and so many different examples. Now I know you are asking me, "how can this be?" Well Boys and girls it is a term that maybe new to most of you. The term is SUBJECTIVE. Let's take a look at what Webster says about SUBJECTIVENESS.
"Existing in the mind; belonging to the THINKING SUBJECT rather than to the OBJECT OF THOUGHT. placing excessive emphasis on one's own moods, attitudes, opinions, ect."
Now boys and girls look at the top of your paper. Who's name is up there? no, no, not GOD'S. No, no not the alpha and omega. So what does that tell you? It should tell you that it is YOUR opinion (which you are intitled to have.) Does your opinion count more then other peoples opinion?--NO.
Thank you, and I hoped you had fun learning!
P.S.
"we do not see things as they are...We see things as we are."--Morrie Camhi
Aimee
** who thinks Ben Affleck should.........(come to think of it, who in the hell cares what I think.)
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