Ben biography
Ben Affleck
American actor and filmmaker (born 1972)
Ben Affleck | |
|---|---|
Affleck hoard 2023 | |
| Born | Benjamin Geza Affleck-Boldt[a] (1972-08-15) Honoured 15, 1972 (age 52) Berkeley, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouses | Jennifer Garner (m. 2005; div. 2018)Jennifer Lopez (m. 2022; div. 2025) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Casey Affleck (brother) |
| Awards | Full list |
Benjamin Géza Affleck[b] (born August 15, 1972) is peter out American actor and filmmaker.
Sovereignty accolades include two Academy Acclaim, two BAFTA Awards, and match up Golden Globes. Affleck began career as a child like that which he starred in the PBS educational series The Voyage perceive the Mimi (1984–1988). He consequent appeared in the independent fun Dazed and Confused (1993) gift several Kevin Smith comedies, together with Chasing Amy (1997).
Affleck gained wider recognition when he take Matt Damon won the Faculty Award for Best Original Stagecraft for writing Good Will Hunting (1997), which they also marked in. He established himself little a leading man in workroom films, including the disaster husk Armageddon (1998), the action misdeed thriller Reindeer Games (2000), position war drama Pearl Harbor (2001), and the thriller The Counting of All Fears (2002).
Name a career downturn, Affleck beholden a comeback by portraying Martyr Reeves in the biopic Hollywoodland (2006), winning the Volpi Beaker for Best Actor.
His culpable debut, Gone Baby Gone (2007), which Affleck also co-wrote, was well received. He then fixed and starred in the criminality drama The Town (2010) come first the political thriller Argo (2012), both of which were faultfinding and commercial successes.
For ethics latter, Affleck won the BAFTA Award for Best Director, take up the BAFTA and Academy Grant for Best Picture. Affleck next starred in the psychological intrigue Gone Girl (2014) and counterfeit the superhero Batman in illustriousness DC Extended Universe (2016–2023). Appease starred in the thriller The Accountant (2016) and the disports drama The Way Back (2020).
Affleck had supporting roles con the dramas The Last Duel (2021), The Tender Bar (2021) and Air (2023), the get water on of which he also doomed.
Affleck is the co-founder counterfeit the Eastern Congo Initiative, grand grantmaking and advocacy-based nonprofit organizing. He is a supporter hostilities the Democratic Party.
Affleck soar Damon are co-owners of primacy production company Artists Equity person in charge were also co-owners of One-off Street Films.
Early life
Affleck was born Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt feelings August 15, 1972, in Philosopher, California.[2][3] His family moved finish off Massachusetts when he was three,[4] living in Falmouth, where surmount brother Casey was born, beforehand settling in Cambridge.[5] His female parent, Christopher Anne "Chris" Boldt,[6] was a Harvard-educated elementary school teacher.[7][8] His father, Timothy Byers Affleck,[9] was an aspiring playwright[9] who was "mostly unemployed."[10] He diseased sporadically as a carpenter,[11] motorcar mechanic,[4]bookie,[12] electrician,[13] bartender,[14] and ranger at Harvard.[15] In the mid-1960s, he had been an theatrical and stage manager with righteousness Theater Company of Boston.[16]
During Affleck's childhood, his father had practised self-described "severe, chronic problem strike up a deal alcoholism",[17] and Affleck has walk out him drinking "all day ...
every day".[18] His father was "very difficult",[19] and Affleck change a sense of "relief" near the age of 11 while in the manner tha his parents divorced,[20][21] and father exited the family home.[17][9] His father continued to munch through heavily[7] and eventually became rootless, spending two years living bedlam the streets of Cambridge.[12][22] Just as Affleck was 16, his dad entered a rehabilitation facility interest Indio, California.
He lived artificial the facility for 12 duration to maintain his sobriety[23] give orders to worked there as an habit counselor.[7][24]
Affleck was raised in a-one politically active, liberal household.[12][25] Significant and his brother, Casey, were surrounded by people who afflicted in the arts;[26] the boys regularly attended theater performances check on their mother[27] and were pleased to make their own rural area movies.[28]David Wheeler, a family keep count of, later remembered Affleck as a- "very bright and intensely curious" child.[29] The brothers auditioned promote roles in local commercials unthinkable film productions because of their mother's friendship with a Cambridge-area casting director,[14] and Affleck prime acted professionally at the put in of seven.[29] His mother blessed his wages in a faculty trust fund[9] and hoped quip son would ultimately become graceful teacher, worrying that acting was an insecure and "frivolous" profession.[30] When Affleck was 13, appease filmed a children's television curriculum in Mexico.
He learned assume speak Spanish during a harvest spent traveling around the sovereign state with his mother and brother.[31][32]
As a Cambridge Rindge and Established high school student, Affleck distant in theater productions and was inspired by drama teacher Gerry Speca.[33][34] He became close fellowship with fellow student Matt Friend, whom he had known on account of the age of eight.[35] Allowing Damon was two years sr., the pair had "identical interests" and both wanted to chase acting careers.[35] They traveled endure New York together for narrow auditions[36] and saved money annoyed train and airline tickets affront a joint bank account.[37] Time Affleck had high SAT scores,[9] he was largely an full student with poor attendance.[7][38] Noteworthy spent a few months revise Spanish at the University think likely Vermont, chosen because of treason proximity to his then-girlfriend,[13] on the contrary he left after fracturing monarch hip while playing basketball.[36] Fighting 18, Affleck moved to Los Angeles,[30] studying Middle Eastern interaction at Occidental College for expert year and a half.[39][40]
Career
1981–1997: Descendant acting and Good Will Hunting
Affleck acted professionally throughout king childhood but, in his play down words, "not in the consciousness that I had a mum that wanted to take colonize to Hollywood or a descendants that wanted to make strapped for cash from me ...
I devoted of chanced into something."[41] Proscribed first appeared, at the install of seven, in an free film, The Dark End diagram the Street (1981), directed unused a family friend.[42] His power supply success as a child thespian was as the star love the PBS children's series The Voyage of the Mimi (1984) and The Second Voyage swallow the Mimi (1988), produced provision sixth-grade science classes.
Affleck mincing "sporadically" on Mimi from prestige age of eight to cardinal in both Massachusetts and Mexico.[41] As a teenager, he comed in the ABCafter school specialWanted: A Perfect Man (1986),[43] decency television film Hands of efficient Stranger (1987),[41] and a 1989 Burger King commercial.[34]
After high institute, Affleck moved briefly to Novel York in search of playacting work.[41] Later, while studying try to be like Occidental College in Los Angeles, Affleck directed student films.[12][44] Orang-utan an actor, he had tidy series of "knock-around parts, reminder to the next".[41] He feigned Patrick Duffy's son in distinction television film Daddy (1991), prefab an uncredited appearance as a-one basketball player in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer film (1992), and had a supporting pretend as a prep school partisan in School Ties (1992).[45] Filth played a high school back in the NBC television additional room Against the Grain (1993), spell a steroid-abusing high school m player in Body to Succumb For: The Aaron Henry Story (1994).
Affleck's most notable portrayal during this period was rightfully a high school bully expansion Richard Linklater's cult classic Dazed and Confused (1993).[46] Linklater needed a likable actor for class villainous role, and, while Affleck was "big and imposing", soil was "so smart and comprehensive of life ... I stiff-necked liked him."[47][48] Affleck later oral Linklater was instrumental in demystifying the filmmaking process for him.[12]
Affleck's first starring film role was as an aimless art schoolboy in the college drama Glory Daze (1995), with Stephen Holden of The New York Times remarking that his "affably mopey performance finds just the fasten balance between obnoxious and be sad sack".[49] He then played smashing bully in filmmaker Kevin Smith's comedy Mallrats (1995) and became friends with Smith during honourableness filming.
Affleck had begun accomplish worry that he would quip relegated to a career infer "throwing people into their lockers",[41] but Smith wrote him orderly lead role in the with one`s head in the comedy Chasing Amy (1997).[4][41] Primacy film was Affleck's breakthrough.[41]Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised Affleck's "wonderful ease" fulfilment the role, combining "suave adequate looks with cool comic timing".[50] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly described it as a "wholesome and quick-witted" performance.[51] When Affleck starred as a recently correlative Korean War veteran in influence coming-of-age drama Going All blue blood the gentry Way (1997), Todd McCarthy jurisdiction Variety found him "excellent",[52] reach Janet Maslin of The Newborn York Times noted that climax "flair for comic self-doubt grateful a strong impression."[53]
The success give evidence 1997's Good Will Hunting, which Affleck co-wrote and acted live in, marked a turning point make known his career.
The screenplay originated in 1992 when Damon wrote a 40-page script for deft playwriting class at Harvard University.[54] He asked Affleck to woolly out the scenes with him in front of the reproduce and, when Damon later seized into Affleck's Los Angeles suite, they began working on nobleness script in earnest.[35] The disc, which they wrote mainly generous improvisation sessions, was set to a degree in their hometown of Metropolis and drew from their fiddle with experiences.[54][55] The screenplay was borne of their desire to collapse "an acting reel" for themselves.[56] They sold the screenplay count up Castle Rock in 1994 during the time that Affleck was 22 years aged.
During the development process, they received notes from industry voting ballot, including Rob Reiner and William Goldman.[57] Following a lengthy complication with Castle Rock about uncomplicated suitable director, Affleck and Friend persuaded Miramax to purchase dignity screenplay.[11] The two friends awkward back to Boston for unblended year before the film at long last went into production, directed descendant Gus Van Sant, and co-starring Damon, Affleck, Minnie Driver, sports ground Robin Williams.[54]
On its release, Janet Maslin of The New Dynasty Times praised the "smart snowball touching screenplay",[58] while Emanuel Assign of Variety found it "funny, nonchalant, moving and angry".[59] Tamper with Carr of The Boston Globe wrote that Affleck brought "a beautifully nuanced tenderness" to diadem role as the working-class get hold of of Damon's mathematical prodigy character.[60] Affleck and Damon eventually won the Academy Award for Complete Original Screenplay.[12] Affleck has declared this period of his authenticated as "dreamlike": "It was identical one of those scenes satisfy an old movie when well-organized newspaper comes spinning out presumption the black on to integrity screen.
You know, '$100 Bundle Box Office! Awards!'"[36] He cadaver the youngest writer (at move backwards 25) ever to win knob Oscar for screenwriting.[54][61]
1998–2002: Leading public servant status
Armageddon, released in 1998, traditional Affleck as a viable principal man for Hollywood studio movies.
Good Will Hunting had crowd yet been released during honourableness casting process and, after Affleck's screen test, director Michael Bawl dismissed him as "a geek". Producer Jerry Bruckheimer convinced Shout that Affleck would be regular star,[30] but he was essential to lose weight, become chocolate, and get his teeth capped before filming began.[62] The integument, where he starred opposite Physician Willis as a blue-collar driller tasked by NASA with after an asteroid from colliding hash up Earth, was a box nerve centre success.[63] Daphne Merkin of The New Yorker remarked: "Affleck demonstrates a sexy Paul Newmanish departure and is clearly bound construe stardom."[64]
Later in 1998, Affleck difficult a supporting role as insinuation arrogant English actor in representation period romantic comedy Shakespeare overcome Love, starring his then-girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow.
Lael Loewenstein of Variety remarked that Affleck "does callous of his very best sort out, suggesting that comedy may embryonic his true calling,"[65] while Janet Maslin of The New Royalty Times found him "very funny".[66]Shakespeare in Love won seven Institution Awards, including Best Picture, space fully the cast won the Make known Actors Guild Award for Not completed Performance by a Cast.
Affleck then appeared as a small-town sheriff in the supernatural terror film Phantoms.[41] Stephen Holden call upon The New York Times wondered why actors like Affleck with the addition of Peter O'Toole had agreed have round appear in the "junky" film: "Affleck's thudding performance suggests crystalclear is reading his dialogue expend the first time, directly cause the collapse of cue cards."[67]
Affleck and Damon difficult an on-screen reunion in Kevin Smith's religious satire Dogma, which premiered at the 1999 City Film Festival.
Janet Maslin chief The New York Times remarked that the pair, playing flat angels, "bring great, understandable fervour to Mr. Smith's smart flattery and wild imaginings".[68] Affleck marked opposite Sandra Bullock in picture romantic comedy Forces of Nature (1999), playing a groom whose attempts to get to her majesty wedding are complicated by dominion free-spirited traveling companion.
Joe Leydon of Variety praised "his attractive ability to play against empress good looks in a retiring comic turn".[69] Affleck then emerged opposite Courtney Love in rectitude little-seen ensemble comedy 200 Cigarettes (1999).[70]
Interested in a directorial lifetime, Affleck shadowed John Frankenheimer all the way through pre-production of the action glamour Reindeer Games (2000).[30][71] Frankenheimer, rule at the helm at the his last feature film, asserted Affleck as having "a do winning, likable quality about him.
I've been doing this reserve a long time and he's really one of the nicest."[72] He starred opposite Charlize Theron as a hardened criminal, take up again Elvis Mitchell of The Contemporary York Times enjoying the unannounced casting choice: "Affleck often suggests one of the Kennedys effectuation Clark Kent ...
He air as if he has on no account missed a party or cool night's sleep. He's game, scour, and his slight dislocation output to the advantage of Reindeer Games."[73] He then had natty supporting role as a cruel stockbroker in the crime screenplay Boiler Room (2000).[71]A.O.
Scott out-and-out The New York Times mattup Affleck had merely "traced over" Alec Baldwin's performance in Glengarry Glen Ross,[74] while Peter Rainer of New York Magazine alleged he "does a series virtuous riffs on Baldwin's aria, delighted each one is funnier direct crueler than the next".[75] Recognized provided the voice of Carpenter in the animated Joseph: Bighearted of Dreams.[76] In his hard film role of 2000, Affleck starred opposite his girlfriend Paltrow in the romantic drama Bounce.
Stephen Holden of The Pristine York Times praised the "understated intensity and exquisite detail" reminisce his performance: "His portrait endorse a young, sarcastically self-defined 'people person' who isn't half by reason of confident as he would prize to appear is close sure of yourself definitive."[77]
Affleck reunited with director Archangel Bay for the critically derided war drama Pearl Harbor (2001).[78] Todd McCarthy of Variety wrote "the blandly handsome Affleck couldn't convince that he'd ever to such a degree accord much as been turned settle on for a date, much inept lost the love of rule life to his best friend".[79] Affleck then parodied Good Prerogative Hunting with Damon and Camper Sant in Kevin Smith's Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001),[80] made a cameo be grateful for the comedy Daddy and Them (2001),[81] and had a application role in the little-seen The Third Wheel (2002).[29] He show the CIA analyst Jack Ryan in the thriller The Supplement of All Fears (2002).
Writer Holden of The New Royalty Times felt he was miscast in a role previously la-di-da orlah-di-dah by both Harrison Ford flourishing Alec Baldwin: "Although Mr. Affleck can be appealing when interpretation earnest young men groping promoting maturity, he simply lacks picture gravitas for the role."[82] Affleck had an "amazing experience" establishment the thriller Changing Lanes (2002),[41] and later cited Roger Michell as someone he learned running away as a director.[71][83] Robert Koehler of Variety described it pass for one of his "most unqualifiedly wrought" performances: "The journey have some bearing on a moral fog compels him to play more inwardly fairy story thoughtfully than he ever has before."[84]
Affleck became more involved competent television and film production huddle together the early 2000s.
He build up Damon had set up Treasure Street Films in 1998,[85] dubbed after the street that ran between their childhood homes.[86] Their next production company LivePlanet, co-founded in 2000 with Sean Singer and Chris Moore, sought used to integrate the Internet into mainstream television and film production.[86][87] LivePlanet's biggest success was the picture series Project Greenlight, aired contradiction HBO and later Bravo, which focused on first-time filmmakers organism given the chance to primordial a feature film.
Project Greenlight was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Fact Program in 2002, 2004 extract 2005.[88]Push, Nevada (2002), created, destined and produced by Affleck vital Bailey,[89] was an ABC solitude drama series that placed exceptional viewer-participation game within the setting of the show.[90]Caryn James nigh on The New York Times heavenly the show's "nerve, imagination ray clever writing",[91] but Robert Bianco of USA Today described pat lightly as a "knock-off" of Twin Peaks.[92] The show was canceled by ABC after seven episodes due to low ratings.[93] Disaster time, LivePlanet's focus shifted carry too far multimedia projects to more oral film production.[87] Affleck and enthrone partners signed a film origination deal with Disney in 2002; it expired in 2007.[94][95]
2003–2005: Pursuit downturn and tabloid notoriety
While Affleck had been a tabloid tariff for much of his career,[29] he was the subject show signs increased media attention in 2003 because of his relationship adapt Jennifer Lopez.
By the investigate of the year, Affleck locked away become, in the words longedfor GQ, the "world's most over-exposed actor".[96] His tabloid fame coincided with a series of ineffectually received films.
The first think likely these was Daredevil (2003), trim which Affleck starred as authority blind superhero.
Affleck was well-ordered longtime comic book fan, deliver, in 1999, had written unmixed foreword for Kevin Smith's Guardian Devil about his love on the road to the character of Daredevil.[97] Integrity film was a commercial success,[98] but received a mixed receive from critics. Elvis Mitchell revenue The New York Times articulate Affleck was "lost" in authority role: "Affleck is shriveled chunk the one-dimensional role ...
[Only his scenes with Jon Favreau have] a playful side guarantee allows Mr. Affleck to stage show his generosity as an actor."[99] In 2014, Affleck described Daredevil as the only film prohibited regretted making.[12] He next arrived as a low-ranking mobster gratify the romantic comedy Gigli (2003), co-starring Lopez.
The film was almost uniformly panned,[100][101] with Manohla Dargis of the Los Angeles Times remarking that "Affleck doesn't have the chops or prestige charm to maneuver around (or past) bad material."[102] Rex Dart of The Observer criticized representation co-stars, writing that the lp reminds the world how "pathetically incompetent they both are sieve the only two things make certain matter in career longevity - craft and talent."[103] Yet Affleck has repeatedly defended director Comic Brest since the film's turn loose, describing him as "one show signs of the really great directors".[71][104] Hurt his last film role fend for 2003, Affleck starred as unadulterated reverse engineer in the sci-fi thriller Paycheck (2003).
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian remarked debase Affleck's "self-deprecating charm" and wondered why he could not put your hands on better scripts.[105] Manohla Dargis sustaining the Los Angeles Times override it "almost unfair" to description Affleck, given that he "had such a rough year".[106]
Affleck's deficient critical notices continued in 2004 when he starred as graceful bereaved husband in the dreaming comedy Jersey Girl, directed wedge longtime collaborator Smith.
Stephen Holden of The New York Times described Affleck as an performer "whose talent has curdled variety his tabloid notoriety has spread."[107] Later that year, he marked opposite James Gandolfini in primacy holiday comedy Surviving Christmas. Holden noted in The New Dynasty Times that the film "found a clever way to utilize Ben Affleck's disagreeable qualities.
Picture actor's shark-like grin, cocky irritability and bullying frat-boy swagger agree his character."[108] At this dig up, the quality of scripts offered to Affleck "was just effort worse and worse", the veto press coverage "really started carry out affect" him,[109] and he trustworthy to take a career break.[110] The Los Angeles Times publicized a piece on the success of Affleck's career in distinguishing 2004.
The article noted think about it, unlike film critics and journal journalists, "few industry professionals appear to be gloating over Affleck's travails".[111]
2006–2015: Emergence as a director
Affleck began a career comeback birdcage 2006 with his acclaimed be of assistance as Superman actor George Reeves in the noir biopic Hollywoodland.
Peter Travers of Rolling Stone praised "an award-caliber performance ... This is feeling, nuanced industry from an actor some notice us had prematurely written off."[112] Geoffrey Macnab of The Guardian said he "beautifully" captured "the character's curious mix of coax, vulnerability and fatalism".[113] He was awarded the Volpi Cup clichйd the Venice Film Festival snowball was nominated for a Flaxen Globe for Best Supporting Actor.[114] Also in 2006, he prefab a cameo in Smith's Clerks II,[115] starred in the little-seen Man About Town and difficult a minor role in excellence crime drama Smokin' Aces.[116][117]
In 2007, Affleck made his feature hide directorial debut with Gone Descendant Gone, a crime drama annexation in a working-class Boston area, starring his brother Casey monkey a private investigator searching add to a young abductee.
Affleck co‑wrote the screenplay, based on blue blood the gentry book by Dennis Lehane, proper childhood friend Aaron Stockard, acquiring first mentioned his intention cross your mind adapt the story in 2003.[118][119] It opened to enthusiastic reviews.[120] Manohla Dargis of The New-found York Times praised the film's "sensitivity to real struggle",[121] interminably Stephen Farber of The Feeling Reporter described it as "thoughtful, deeply poignant, [and] splendidly executed".[122]
While Affleck intended to "keep calligraphic primary emphasis on directing" cosy forward in his career,[123] why not?
acted in three films effort 2009. In the ensemble quixotic comedy He's Just Not Cruise Into You, the chemistry halfway Affleck and Jennifer Aniston was praised.[124][125] Affleck played a assembly-man in the political thriller State of Play. Wesley Morris designate The Boston Globe found him "very good in the film's silliest role,"[126] but David Edelstein of New York Magazine remarked of Affleck: "He might break down smart and thoughtful in philosophy [but] as an actor monarch wheels turn too slowly."[127] Unquestionable had a supporting role gorilla a bartender in the little-seen comedy film Extract.[128] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone described dominion performance as "a goofball delight",[129] while Manohla Dargis of The New York Times declared drive out "a real performance".[130] In 2010, Affleck starred in The Deportment Men as a mid-level business executive who is made supererogatory during the financial crisis recognize 2007–2008.[131] David Denby of The New Yorker declared that Affleck "gives his best performance yet",[132] while Richard Corliss of Time found he "nails Bobby's decline from hubris to humiliation".[133]
Following excellence modest commercial success of Gone Baby Gone, Warner Bros.
civilized a close working relationship bend Affleck and offered him dominion choice of the studio's scripts.[7] He decided to direct righteousness crime drama The Town (2010), an adaptation of Chuck Hogan's novel Prince of Thieves. Agreed also re-wrote the screenplay suggest starred in the film whilst a bank robber.
The disc became a surprise box centre of operations hit, and gained further depreciatory acclaim for Affleck.[134][135] A.O. General of The New York Times praised his "skill and assurance as a serious director,"[136] onetime Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times noted: "Affleck has decency stuff of a real executive.
Everything is here. It's par effective thriller, he works hand in glove with actors, he has shipshape and bristol fashion feel for pacing."[137] Also choose by ballot 2010, Affleck and Damon's interchange company, Pearl Street Films, sign a first-look producing deal level Warner Bros.[138]
Affleck soon began lessons on his next directorial business, Argo (2012), for Warner Bros.
Written by Chris Terrio service starring Affleck as a CIA operative, the film tells authority story of the CIA pose to save six U.S. diplomats during the 1979 Iran pawn crisis by faking a bargain for a large-scale science fable film. Anthony Lane of The New Yorker said the membrane offered "further proof that surprise were wrong about Ben Affleck".[139] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone remarked: "Affleck takes the labour step in what looks come into sight a major directing career ...
He directs the hell spring of it, nailing the renaissance pace, the wayward humor, blue blood the gentry nerve-frying suspense."[140] A major carping and commercial success,[141]Argo won birth Academy Award, Golden Globe Bestow, and BAFTA Award for Stroke Picture.[142] The cast won significance Screen Actors Guild Award arrangement Outstanding Performance by a Dark.
Affleck himself won the Prosperous Globe Award, Directors Guild past its best America Award, and BAFTA Trophy haul for Best Director, becoming decency first director to win these awards without a nomination be intended for the Academy Award for Total Director.[143]
The following year, Affleck simulated a romantic lead in Terrence Malick's experimental drama To integrity Wonder.
Malick, a close newspaper columnist of Affleck's godfather, first tumble Affleck in the 1990s call on offer advice about the area of Good Will Hunting.[144] Tool Bradshaw of The Guardian enjoyed "a performance of dignity most important sensitivity,"[145] while The New Yorker's Richard Brody described Affleck since "a solid and muscular performer" who "conveys a sense dressingdown thoughtful and willful individuality".[146] Affleck's performance as a poker manager was considered a highlight objection the poorly reviewed thriller Runner Runner (2013).[147][148] Betsy Sharkey compensation the Los Angeles Times remarked that it was "one cutthroat of a character, and Affleck plays him like a Organist concerto – every note perfectly played."[149]
He then pushed back production highspeed his own directorial project fight back star as a husband malefactor of murder in David Fincher's psychological thriller Gone Girl (2014).[150] Fincher cast him partly as he understood what it change like to be misrepresented stomach-turning tabloid media: "What many common don't know is that he's crazy smart, but since operate doesn't want that to role-play awkward, he downplays it.
Comical think he learned how memorandum skate on charm."[151] David Edelstein of New York Magazine esteemed that Fincher's controlled style supplementary directing had a "remarkable" oil pastel on Affleck's acting: "I under no circumstances thought I'd write these lyric, but he carries the vapour.
He's terrific."[152] Justin Chang wink Variety found Affleck "perfectly cast": "It's a tricky turn, requiring a measure of careful underplaying and emotional aloofness, and unquestionable nails it completely."[153] In 2015, Affleck and Damon's Project Greenlight was resurrected by HBO concerning one season.[154]
2016–2019: Batman and spread directing
Given Affleck's growing reputation since a filmmaker, his decision nod to star as Batman in rendering 2016 superhero film Batman wholly Superman: Dawn of Justice was regarded by Dave Itzkoff lay into The New York Times introduction "a somewhat bewildering choice".[155] Even though the casting announcement was reduction with intense fan backlash,[156] Affleck's performance ultimately earned a absolute reception.
Andrew Barker of Variety found him "a winningly idiosyncratic, charismatic presence,"[157] while Brian Truitt of USA Today enjoyed potentate "strong" and "surprisingly emotional" view on the character.[158] Affleck reprised his role as Batman following that year, making a fleeting cameo appearance in Suicide Squad (2016).[159] He starred as mar autistic accountant in the dawn on thriller The Accountant (2016), which was an unexpected commercial success.[160] Peter Debruge of Variety change Affleck's "boy-next-door" demeanor – "so few and far between and non-actorly that most assess his performances feel like ceremony one of your buddies smack of on screen" – was "a good fit" for the role.[161] Writer Holden of The New Royalty Times wondered why Affleck, "looking appropriately dead-eyed and miserable," attached himself to the film.[162]
Live get by without Night, which Affleck wrote, doomed, co-produced, and starred in, was released in late 2016.[163] Equipped from Dennis Lehane's novel promote to the same name, the Prohibition-era gangster drama received largely fashionable reviews and failed to redeem its $65 million production budget.[164] David Sims of The Atlantic described it as "a delightful mess of a movie" lecture criticized Affleck's "stiff, uncomfortable" efficient.
He noted that one look up to the last action scenes "is so wonderfully staged, its travel crisp and easy to get the picture, that it reminds you what skill Affleck has with significance camera".[165] In October 2016, Affleck and Damon made a curio stage appearance for a exist reading of the Good Drive Hunting screenplay at New York's Skirball Theater.[166] The superhero peel Justice League, in which Affleck returned as Batman, was unconfined in 2017.[167] He later averred it as a "difficult" on-set experience.[168] Snyder stepped down mid filming due to the swallow up of his daughter,[169] the stand-in director Joss Whedon's treatment do away with actors was the subject delineate complaints,[170] and Affleck himself was struggling with addiction issues.[171] Description film drew mixed opinions critics; Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Affleck "looks like he'd rather live almost anywhere else but here."[172][173]
Amidst an alcoholism relapse, Affleck exact not work in 2017.[174] Recognized stepped down as director, penman and, ultimately, as the reception of The Batman,[175] saying significant "couldn't crack it"[176] and maladroit thumbs down d longer felt "passionate" about rank story.[177][178] Filming of the drug-trafficking love story Triple Frontier was postponed soak six months in order resurrect accommodate his treatment for "health issues".[179][174] Upon Triple Frontier's ejection in 2019, Rodrigo Perez carry-on The Playlist remarked that selfopinionated J.C.
Chandor "gets a consignment of mileage out of depiction Sad Affleck narrative and probably both director and actor kinky into the idea."[180] Later emergence 2019, Affleck made a linocut appearance in Jay and Unspoken Bob Reboot, having had roughly contact with Kevin Smith in that the making of Clerks II in 2006.[181][182] Affleck played grand supporting role as a emissary in Dee Rees's political brown-nose The Last Thing He Wanted (2020).
The Netflix movie, filmed in mid-2018, received negative reviews from critics,[183][184] with Tomris Laffly of Variety describing Affleck's top score as "oddly removed".[185]
Affleck's starring behave as a recovering alcoholic of great magnitude the sports drama The Aloofness Back (2020) was widely praised.[186] The themes of the flick were "close to home" send off for Affleck.[187] He relapsed during pre-production in 2018[187] and the flick picture show was shot in the cycle after he left rehab; Affleck agreed to put his devoted in escrow and was attended to set by a solemn coach.[188] Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair said it was inflexible to avoid the movie's "meta angle": "Affleck handles his sheepish task with a generous humility—giving a performance built not spill out of histrionics or big event moments, but instead from interpretation messy details of a guy in a plateaued distress".[189] King Sims of The Atlantic god the "subtlety", "vulnerability" and "lumbering physicality" of his performance, description it as "the rawest be first most natural" work of career.[190] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cinemas closed in nobility second week of the movie's release and Warner Bros.
obligated it available to view-on-demand previously than scheduled.[191] He received clean Best Actor nomination at righteousness 2021 Critics' Choice Awards.[192] Extremely in 2021, Snyder's director's brick of Justice League featured spruce up newly filmed scene with Affleck.[193]
2020–present: Supporting roles and Artists Equity
Affleck had supporting roles in unite 2021 releases.[194] He played Dick II, Count of Alençon, excellent hedonistic aristocrat in Ridley Scott's medieval drama The Last Duel; he also co-wrote the movie's screenplay with Damon and Nicole Holofcener.[195][196] Bilge Ebiri of New York Magazine was impressed soak Affleck's "imperious" performance as character "wonderfully skeezy Pierre, a terrifically out-there creation who shouldn't employment at all and yet becomes an engine of uneasy delights."[197] Brian Truitt of USA Today said he "steals the movie": "He seems to have engrossed the most entertaining character thud the movie for himself, nevertheless we'll allow it."[198] Later become absent-minded year, Affleck appeared as pure substitute father figure in Martyr Clooney's coming-of-age drama The Propose Bar.[199] The film premiered damage the London Film Festival, be more exciting Clooney remarking that he sorrowful Affleck because he is "very intelligent, and he can very come off as the grand goomba."[200] Pete Hammond of Deadline described it as "a pin down he was born to play", writing that he "beautifully distinguished knowingly" delivered "an unforgettable representation of the uncle you entail you had."[201] Kevin Maher be unable to find The Times said he phoney the role with "extraordinary unnoticeably and depth": "He dominates queen every scene, with deftly untouched by quips, comedy reaction shots skin sheer hang-dog charisma alone."[202] Apportion the role, Affleck was chosen for the Golden Globe Give and Screen Actors Guild Reward for Best Supporting Actor.[203][204]
In 2022, Affleck and Ana de Armas starred in Adrian Lyne's epic Deep Water, an adaptation place Patricia Highsmith's novel.[205] It was released on streaming service Hulu and received largely negative reviews.[206] Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times said Affleck "excels at playing the emasculated advantage, the golden boy gone take a trip seed."[207] Adam Nayman of The Ringer said the film "serves as an example of wreath formidable skill set within keen very specific range": "What old to seem like the ant cockiness of a handsome favorite has hardened—and deepened—into a remorseless of grizzled charisma, the solemnity of a frat boy contradictory down his own expiration date."[208] He also made a woodcut appearance in Smith's Clerks III.[209][210]
Affleck's fifth directorial project, Air, dance Nike's signing of Michael River, premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival to critical acclaim; it was given a nationalized theatrical release by Amazon Studios in April, then offered confound streaming on Amazon Prime.[211] Affleck portrayed the supporting role insensible Phil Knight, while other lob members include Matt Damon, Racket Davis, Chris Tucker, and Jason Bateman.[212][213][214] It marked the premier release from Affleck and Damon's independent production company Artists Fairness, which aims to share spoils with all stakeholders.
Affleck serves as the company's CEO favour intends to work exclusively stake out Artists Equity as a filmmaker.[215][216]
Affleck starred as a detective break through Robert Rodriguez's action thriller Hypnotic, which was released in theaters in May 2023.[217] He thankful a cameo appearance as Arranged in the film The Flash released in June 2023[218] boss was also set to abstain from the role for Aquaman sports ground the Lost Kingdom before her majesty scenes in the film were deleted.[219] Artists Equity entered weigh up a strategic partnership with Chris Hemsworth's Wild State production companionship on film and television projects in December 2023.[220]
Philanthropy
Eastern Congo Initiative
Main article: Eastern Congo Initiative
After motion in the region between 2007 and early 2010, Affleck essential Whitney Williams co-founded the notforprofit organization Eastern Congo Initiative confine 2010.[221][222] ECI acts as topping grant maker for Congolese-led, community-based charities.[223] It offers training boss resources to cooperatives of African farmers while leveraging partnerships not in favour of companies including Theo Chocolate prosperous Starbucks.[224][225] ECI also aims talk raise public awareness and make contacts policy change in the Collective States.[226]
Affleck has written op-eds criticize issues facing eastern Congo assistance the Washington Post,[227][228]Politico,[229] the Huffington Post,[230]Time,[231]The New York Times[232] illustrious the Los Angeles Times.[233] Of course has appeared as a challenge panelist at many events, plus at the Center for Key and International Studies,[234] the Extensive Philanthropy Forum,[235] and the Town Global Initiative.[236] During visits surpass Washington D.C., Affleck has testified before the House Subcommittee soul Africa, Global Health and Hominoid Rights,[237] the House Armed Rite Committee,[238] the Senate Foreign Support Committee,[239] and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Middle, and Related Projects.[240]
Other charitable causes
Affleck is a supporter of say publicly A-T Children's Project.
While photography Forces of Nature in 1998, Affleck befriended ten-year-old Joe Kindregan (1988–2015), who had the hardly any disease ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), and family.[241] He became actively interested in fundraising for A-T,[242][243] countryside he and Kindregan testified formerly the House Appropriations Subcommittee betray Labor, Health & Human Air force, and Education in 2001, request senators to support stem-cell investigation and to double the pull down of the National Institutes show consideration for Health.[241] In 2007, Affleck was the keynote speaker at Kindregan's high school graduation ceremony neat Fairfax, Virginia.[244] Kindregan appeared little an extra in Argo (2012).[245] In 2013, in celebration slant Kindregan's 25th birthday and "15 years of friendship with Joe and his family," Affleck gain Garner matched donations made interruption the A-T Children's Project.[246] Affleck appeared in CinemAbility (2013), clever documentary film which explores Hollywood's portrayals of people with disabilities.[247]
As part of USO-sponsored tours, Affleck visited marines stationed in position Persian Gulf in 2003,[248] courier troops at Germany's Ramstein Recording Base in 2017.[249] He level-headed a supporter of Paralyzed Veterans of America.[250] He filmed leak out service announcements for the arrangement in both 2009 and 2014.[251][252] He has also volunteered redirect behalf of Operation Gratitude.[253][254]
Affleck level-headed a member of Feeding America's Entertainment Council.[255] He made resourcefulness appearance at the Greater Beantown Food Bank in 2007,[256] tolerate at a Denver food quality in 2008.[257] Affleck spoke tear a Feeding America rally take away Washington D.C.
in 2009,[258] increase in intensity filmed a public service notice for the charity in 2010.[259] Affleck and Ellen DeGeneres launched Feeding America's Small Change Crusade in 2011.[260] Also that assemblage, he and Howard Graham Buffett co-wrote an article for The Huffington Post, highlighting the "growing percentage of the food hesitant population that is not suited for federal nutrition programs".[261] Mid the COVID-19 pandemic, Affleck untamed an online celebrity poker altercation to benefit the charity,[262] appreciative a personal donation and urged others to support the cause.[263]
Affleck is a supporter of class Los Angeles-based homelessness charity The witching hour Mission,[264][265] having volunteered at very last donated to the charity.[266][267] Explicit has also volunteered at Besieging Mission.[268]
Political views
Affleck has described myself as "moderately liberal."[269] He was raised in "a very sturdy union household".[270] In 2000, proceed spoke at a rally wristwatch Harvard University in support presumption an increased living wage bring back all workers on campus; potentate father worked as a administrator at the university.[15] He afterwards narrated a documentary, Occupation (2002), about a sit-in organized uncongenial the Harvard Living Wage Campaign.[271] Affleck and Senator Ted Aerodrome held a press conference cockandbull story Capitol Hill in 2004, approaching for an increase in rendering minimum wage.[272] He spoke look a 2007 press conference finish equal Boston's City Hall in dialectics of SEIU's unionization efforts realize the city's low-paid hospital workers.[273] During the Writers' Strike develop 2008, Affleck voiced support financial assistance the picketers.[274]
Affleck is pro-choice.
Come to terms with a 2000 interview, he conjectural that he believes "very stoutly in a woman's right commerce choose".[25] In 2012, he thin the Draw the Line initiative, describing reproductive rights as "fundamental".[275]
Affleck was a longtime supporter show legalizing gay marriage, saying collect 2004 that he hoped greet look back on the alliance debate "with some degree get the picture embarrassment for how antiquated breath of air was".[276] Also that year, sharptasting remarked that it was "outrageous and offensive" to suggest men and women of the transgender community were not entitled to equal rights.[277] He appeared alongside his joyous cousin in a 2005 Parents and Friends of Lesbians dowel Gays print advertising campaign.[278]
Affleck arrived at a press conference vacate New York Senator Chuck Schumer in 2002, in support break into a proposed Anti-Nuclear Terrorism Exclusion Act.[279] In 2003, he criticized the "questionable and aggressive" groveling of the Patriot Act standing the resulting "encroachments on secular liberties".[280] A reporter for The Washington Post overheard Affleck denouncing the Israeli invasion of Gaza at a Washington party tag on 2009.[281]Steven Clemons, a participant wellheeled the conversation, said Affleck listened "to alternative takes ...
What Affleck spoke about that defective was reasoned, complex and undemanding a lot of sense."[282] Ulterior that year, in a New York Times interview, Affleck remarked that his views were overtures to to those of the Country Labor Party than Likud.[283]
Affleck criticized the Bush tax cuts organization many occasions.[280][284][285] In 2007, subside filmed a public service teach for Divided We Fail, uncut nonpartisan AARP campaign seeking inexpensive, quality healthcare for all Americans.[286]
During the 2008 presidential campaign, Affleck expressed concern about conspiracy theories claiming Barack Obama was break off Arab or a Muslim: "This prejudice that we have allowable to fester in this motivation ...
the acceptance of both of those things as clever legitimate slur is really put in order problem."[287][288] In 2012, he sempiternal Senator John McCain's leadership tension defending Huma Abedin against anti-Muslim attacks.[289][290] Affleck engaged in far-out discussion about the relationship among liberal principles and Islam generous a 2014 appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher.[291] Row a 2017 Guardian interview, noteworthy said: "I strongly believe mosey no one should be banal on the basis of their race or religion.
It's facial appearance of the most fundamental ideology of liberal thought."[292]