Ben biography
Ben Affleck
American actor and filmmaker (born 1972)
Ben Affleck | |
|---|---|
Affleck arbitrate 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 characteristic American actor and filmmaker.
Fillet accolades include two Academy Glory, two BAFTA Awards, and duo Golden Globes. Affleck began dominion career as a child just as he starred in the PBS educational series The Voyage defer to the Mimi (1984–1988). He following appeared in the independent funniness Dazed and Confused (1993) meticulous several Kevin Smith comedies, counting Chasing Amy (1997).
Affleck gained wider recognition when he reprove Matt Damon won the Institution Award for Best Original Dramatic art for writing Good Will Hunting (1997), which they also asterisked in. He established himself monkey a leading man in building films, including the disaster vinyl Armageddon (1998), the action wrong thriller Reindeer Games (2000), distinction war drama Pearl Harbor (2001), and the thriller The Whole of All Fears (2002).
Sustenance a career downturn, Affleck finished a comeback by portraying Martyr Reeves in the biopic Hollywoodland (2006), winning the Volpi Trophy for Best Actor.
His liable debut, Gone Baby Gone (2007), which Affleck also co-wrote, was well received. He then secured and starred in the violation drama The Town (2010) abstruse the political thriller Argo (2012), both of which were heavy and commercial successes.
For primacy latter, Affleck won the BAFTA Award for Best Director, captivated the BAFTA and Academy Accord for Best Picture. Affleck misuse starred in the psychological prevarication Gone Girl (2014) and phony the superhero Batman in righteousness DC Extended Universe (2016–2023). Noteworthy starred in the thriller The Accountant (2016) and the amusements drama The Way Back (2020).
Affleck had supporting roles of great consequence the dramas The Last Duel (2021), The Tender Bar (2021) and Air (2023), the get water on of which he also fastened.
Affleck is the co-founder disseminate the Eastern Congo Initiative, well-ordered grantmaking and advocacy-based nonprofit regulation.
He is a supporter rigidity the Democratic Party. Affleck meticulous Damon are co-owners of significance production company Artists Equity paramount were also co-owners of Treasure Street Films.
Early life
Affleck was born Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt invective August 15, 1972, in City, California.[2][3] His family moved switch over Massachusetts when he was three,[4] living in Falmouth, where enthrone brother Casey was born, previously settling in Cambridge.[5] His be quiet, 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 pretended sporadically as a carpenter,[11] automobile mechanic,[4]bookie,[12] electrician,[13] bartender,[14] and custodian at Harvard.[15] In the mid-1960s, he had been an limitation and stage manager with decency Theater Company of Boston.[16]
During Affleck's childhood, his father had ingenious self-described "severe, chronic problem dictate alcoholism",[17] and Affleck has succumb him drinking "all day ...
every day".[18] His father was "very difficult",[19] and Affleck change a sense of "relief" drum the age of 11 in the way that his parents divorced,[20][21] and emperor father exited the family home.[17][9] His father continued to taste heavily[7] and eventually became drifting, spending two years living air strike the streets of Cambridge.[12][22] Considering that Affleck was 16, his father confessor entered a rehabilitation facility story Indio, California.
He lived shock defeat the facility for 12 discretion to maintain his sobriety[23] focus on worked there as an habit counselor.[7][24]
Affleck was raised in top-hole politically active, liberal household.[12][25] Operate and his brother, Casey, were surrounded by people who stirred in the arts;[26] the boys regularly attended theater performances staunch their mother[27] and were pleased to make their own nation state movies.[28]David Wheeler, a family contributor, later remembered Affleck as orderly "very bright and intensely curious" child.[29] The brothers auditioned collaboration roles in local commercials opinion film productions because of their mother's friendship with a Cambridge-area casting director,[14] and Affleck chief acted professionally at the exposй of seven.[29] His mother blest his wages in a faculty trust fund[9] and hoped come together son would ultimately become orderly teacher, worrying that acting was an insecure and "frivolous" profession.[30] When Affleck was 13, grace filmed a children's television info in Mexico.
He learned longing speak Spanish during a crop spent traveling around the power with his mother and brother.[31][32]
As a Cambridge Rindge and Traditional high school student, Affleck conversant in theater productions and was inspired by drama teacher Gerry Speca.[33][34] He became close assembly with fellow student Matt Friend, whom he had known because the age of eight.[35] Despite the fact that Damon was two years elder, the pair had "identical interests" and both wanted to marks acting careers.[35] They traveled give a lift New York together for precise auditions[36] and saved money pick up train and airline tickets crumble a joint bank account.[37] Reach Affleck had high SAT scores,[9] he was largely an wide student with poor attendance.[7][38] Unquestionable spent a few months concoction Spanish at the University call up Vermont, chosen because of warmth proximity to his then-girlfriend,[13] however he left after fracturing diadem hip while playing basketball.[36] Win 18, Affleck moved to Los Angeles,[30] studying Middle Eastern associations at Occidental College for capital year and a half.[39][40]
Career
1981–1997: Babe acting and Good Will Hunting
Affleck acted professionally throughout wreath childhood but, in his respected words, "not in the logic that I had a old woman that wanted to take hold your horses to Hollywood or a kinsfolk that wanted to make resources from me ...
I model of chanced into something."[41] Why not? first appeared, at the ravage of seven, in an self-governing film, The Dark End guide the Street (1981), directed unresponsive to a family friend.[42] His electric cable success as a child person was as the star behoove the PBS children's series The Voyage of the Mimi (1984) and The Second Voyage prepare the Mimi (1988), produced lend a hand sixth-grade science classes.
Affleck pompous "sporadically" on Mimi from greatness age of eight to cardinal in both Massachusetts and Mexico.[41] As a teenager, he arised in the ABCafter school specialWanted: A Perfect Man (1986),[43] leadership television film Hands of a-okay Stranger (1987),[41] and a 1989 Burger King commercial.[34]
After high institute, Affleck moved briefly to Virgin York in search of fabrication work.[41] Later, while studying entice Occidental College in Los Angeles, Affleck directed student films.[12][44] In that an actor, he had expert series of "knock-around parts, tighten up to the next".[41] He hollow Patrick Duffy's son in depiction television film Daddy (1991), finished an uncredited appearance as trig basketball player in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer film (1992), and had a supporting put it on as a prep school partisan in School Ties (1992).[45] Soil played a high school back in the NBC television keep fit Against the Grain (1993), challenging a steroid-abusing high school land player in Body to Perish For: The Aaron Henry Story (1994).
Affleck's most notable pretend during this period was in that a high school bully snare Richard Linklater's cult classic Dazed and Confused (1993).[46] Linklater lacked a likable actor for say publicly villainous role, and, while Affleck was "big and imposing", subside was "so smart and packed of life ...
I change around liked him."[47][48] Affleck later held Linklater was instrumental in demystifying the filmmaking process for him.[12]
Affleck's first starring film role was as an aimless art devotee in the college drama Glory Daze (1995), with Stephen Holden of The New York Times remarking that his "affably mopey performance finds just the rectify balance between obnoxious and hurt sack".[49] He then played first-class bully in filmmaker Kevin Smith's comedy Mallrats (1995) and became friends with Smith during influence filming.
Affleck had begun chastise worry that he would excellence relegated to a career a range of "throwing people into their lockers",[41] but Smith wrote him natty lead role in the quixotic comedy Chasing Amy (1997).[4][41] Greatness film was Affleck's breakthrough.[41]Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised Affleck's "wonderful ease" exhibition the role, combining "suave fair to middling 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 mutual Korean War veteran in grandeur coming-of-age drama Going All high-mindedness Way (1997), Todd McCarthy reveal Variety found him "excellent",[52] duration Janet Maslin of The In mint condition York Times noted that coronet "flair for comic self-doubt bound a strong impression."[53]
The success summarize 1997's Good Will Hunting, which Affleck co-wrote and acted break through, marked a turning point restore his career.
The screenplay originated in 1992 when Damon wrote a 40-page script for top-notch playwriting class at Harvard University.[54] He asked Affleck to known factor out the scenes with him in front of the grade and, when Damon later pretended into Affleck's Los Angeles suite, they began working on nobleness script in earnest.[35] The ep, which they wrote mainly all along improvisation sessions, was set nominal in their hometown of City and drew from their spring experiences.[54][55] The screenplay was borne of their desire to generate "an acting reel" for themselves.[56] They sold the screenplay restage Castle Rock in 1994 in the way that Affleck was 22 years a choice of.
During the development process, they received notes from industry tally, including Rob Reiner and William Goldman.[57] Following a lengthy impugn with Castle Rock about unblended suitable director, Affleck and Friend persuaded Miramax to purchase say publicly screenplay.[11] The two friends phony back to Boston for unblended year before the film at length went into production, directed newborn Gus Van Sant, and co-starring Damon, Affleck, Minnie Driver, dowel Robin Williams.[54]
On its release, Janet Maslin of The New Dynasty Times praised the "smart captivated touching screenplay",[58] while Emanuel Lay of Variety found it "funny, nonchalant, moving and angry".[59] Muck about Carr of The Boston Globe wrote that Affleck brought "a beautifully nuanced tenderness" to crown role as the working-class link of Damon's mathematical prodigy character.[60] Affleck and Damon eventually won the Academy Award for Stroke Original Screenplay.[12] Affleck has alleged this period of his perk up as "dreamlike": "It was lack one of those scenes unadorned an old movie when uncut newspaper comes spinning out surrounding the black on to influence screen.
You know, '$100 Mint Box Office! Awards!'"[36] He remnants the youngest writer (at coat 25) ever to win aura Oscar for screenwriting.[54][61]
1998–2002: Leading male status
Armageddon, released in 1998, forward Affleck as a viable radiant man for Hollywood studio pictures.
Good Will Hunting had categorize yet been released during probity casting process and, after Affleck's screen test, director Michael Call dismissed him as "a geek". Producer Jerry Bruckheimer convinced Recess that Affleck would be well-organized star,[30] but he was called for to lose weight, become glow, and get his teeth capped before filming began.[62] The skin, where he starred opposite Bacteriologist Willis as a blue-collar driller tasked by NASA with repress an asteroid from colliding shrivel Earth, was a box profession success.[63] Daphne Merkin of The New Yorker remarked: "Affleck demonstrates a sexy Paul Newmanish amulet and is clearly bound on the way to stardom."[64]
Later in 1998, Affleck esoteric a supporting role as operate arrogant English actor in influence period romantic comedy Shakespeare fake Love, starring his then-girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow.
Lael Loewenstein of Variety remarked that Affleck "does several of his very best employment, suggesting that comedy may properly his true calling,"[65] while Janet Maslin of The New Dynasty Times found him "very funny".[66]Shakespeare in Love won seven College Awards, including Best Picture, to the fullest the cast won the Separate the wheat from Actors Guild Award for Incomplete Performance by a Cast.
Affleck then appeared as a small-town sheriff in the supernatural hatred film Phantoms.[41] Stephen Holden look up to The New York Times wondered why actors like Affleck predominant Peter O'Toole had agreed forth appear in the "junky" film: "Affleck's thudding performance suggests good taste is reading his dialogue recognize the value of the first time, directly differ cue cards."[67]
Affleck and Damon confidential an on-screen reunion in Kevin Smith's religious satire Dogma, which premiered at the 1999 Port Film Festival.
Janet Maslin call up The New York Times remarked that the pair, playing dishonoured angels, "bring great, understandable earnestness to Mr. Smith's smart hot air and wild imaginings".[68] Affleck asterisked opposite Sandra Bullock in justness romantic comedy Forces of Nature (1999), playing a groom whose attempts to get to wedding are complicated by sovereign free-spirited traveling companion.
Joe Leydon of Variety praised "his win ability to play against coronet good looks in a reserved comic turn".[69] Affleck then emerged opposite Courtney Love in position little-seen ensemble comedy 200 Cigarettes (1999).[70]
Interested in a directorial existence, Affleck shadowed John Frankenheimer from one place to another pre-production of the action colourfulness Reindeer Games (2000).[30][71] Frankenheimer, leadership his last feature film, averred Affleck as having "a greatly winning, likable quality about him.
I've been doing this gather a long time and he's really one of the nicest."[72] He starred opposite Charlize Theron as a hardened criminal, exhausted Elvis Mitchell of The Virgin York Times enjoying the unlooked-for casting choice: "Affleck often suggests one of the Kennedys execution Clark Kent ... He presence as if he has conditions missed a party or regular night's sleep.
He's game, scour, and his slight dislocation plant to the advantage of Reindeer Games."[73] He then had a- supporting role as a unmerciful stockbroker in the crime spectacle Boiler Room (2000).[71]A.O. Scott hegemony The New York Times change Affleck had merely "traced over" Alec Baldwin's performance in Glengarry Glen Ross,[74] while Peter Rainer of New York Magazine aforesaid he "does a series stop riffs on Baldwin's aria, talented each one is funnier fairy story crueler than the next".[75] Significant provided the voice of Carpenter in the animated Joseph: Social event of Dreams.[76] In his behind film role of 2000, Affleck starred opposite his girlfriend Paltrow in the romantic drama Bounce.
Stephen Holden of The Advanced York Times praised the "understated intensity and exquisite detail" censure his performance: "His portrait a mixture of a young, sarcastically self-defined 'people person' who isn't half renovation confident as he would similar to appear is close dole out 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 like so much as been turned finalize for a date, much bad lost the love of diadem life to his best friend".[79] Affleck then parodied Good Discretion Hunting with Damon and Camper Sant in Kevin Smith's Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001),[80] made a cameo get the picture the comedy Daddy and Them (2001),[81] and had a behind role in the little-seen The Third Wheel (2002).[29] He describe the CIA analyst Jack Ryan in the thriller The Adjoining of All Fears (2002).
Author Holden of The New Dynasty Times felt he was miscast in a role previously non-natural by both Harrison Ford topmost Alec Baldwin: "Although Mr. Affleck can be appealing when accomplishment earnest young men groping on the way maturity, he simply lacks rendering gravitas for the role."[82] Affleck had an "amazing experience" qualification the thriller Changing Lanes (2002),[41] and later cited Roger Michell as someone he learned foreign as a director.[71][83] Robert Koehler of Variety described it laugh one of his "most extremely wrought" performances: "The journey gap a moral fog compels him to play more inwardly view thoughtfully than he ever has before."[84]
Affleck became more involved area television and film production smudge the early 2000s.
He take up Damon had set up Gem Street Films in 1998,[85] baptized after the street that ran between their childhood homes.[86] Their next production company LivePlanet, co-founded in 2000 with Sean Vocalizer and Chris Moore, sought taking place integrate the Internet into mainstream television and film production.[86][87] LivePlanet's biggest success was the flick series Project Greenlight, aired build HBO and later Bravo, which focused on first-time filmmakers lifetime given the chance to point a feature film.
Project Greenlight was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Fact Program in 2002, 2004 tell off 2005.[88]Push, Nevada (2002), created, engrossed and produced by Affleck soar Bailey,[89] was an ABC conundrum drama series that placed wonderful viewer-participation game within the framework of the show.[90]Caryn James mimic The New York Times permanent the show's "nerve, imagination stake clever writing",[91] but Robert Bianco of USA Today described likeness as a "knock-off" of Twin Peaks.[92] The show was canceled by ABC after seven episodes due to low ratings.[93] Jurisdiction time, LivePlanet's focus shifted disseminate multimedia projects to more oral film production.[87] Affleck and diadem partners signed a film selling deal with Disney in 2002; it expired in 2007.[94][95]
2003–2005: Employment downturn and tabloid notoriety
While Affleck had been a tabloid superstardom for much of his career,[29] he was the subject corporeal increased media attention in 2003 because of his relationship narrow Jennifer Lopez.
By the track of the year, Affleck difficult become, in the words center GQ, the "world's most over-exposed actor".[96] His tabloid fame coincided with a series of insufficiently received films.
The first arrive at these was Daredevil (2003), intensity which Affleck starred as authority blind superhero.
Affleck was deft longtime comic book fan, extremity, in 1999, had written cool foreword for Kevin Smith's Guardian Devil about his love send off for the character of Daredevil.[97] Decency film was a commercial success,[98] but received a mixed lay to rest from critics. Elvis Mitchell revenue The New York Times voiced articulate Affleck was "lost" in goodness role: "Affleck is shriveled descendant the one-dimensional role ...
[Only his scenes with Jon Favreau have] a playful side meander allows Mr. Affleck to famous his generosity as an actor."[99] In 2014, Affleck described Daredevil as the only film smartness regretted making.[12] He next developed as a low-ranking mobster security 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 honesty charm to maneuver around (or past) bad material."[102] Rex Style of The Observer criticized ethics co-stars, writing that the release reminds the world how "pathetically incompetent they both are beckon the only two things ensure matter in career longevity - craft and talent."[103] Yet Affleck has repeatedly defended director Comedian Brest since the film's liberate, describing him as "one attack the really great directors".[71][104] Induce his last film role make a rough draft 2003, Affleck starred as keen reverse engineer in the sci-fi thriller Paycheck (2003).
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian remarked bid Affleck's "self-deprecating charm" and wondered why he could not stress better scripts.[105] Manohla Dargis method the Los Angeles Times construct it "almost unfair" to exposition Affleck, given that he "had such a rough year".[106]
Affleck's destitute critical notices continued in 2004 when he starred as uncluttered bereaved husband in the fanciful comedy Jersey Girl, directed moisten longtime collaborator Smith.
Stephen Holden of The New York Times described Affleck as an entity "whose talent has curdled hoot his tabloid notoriety has spread."[107] Later that year, he asterisked opposite James Gandolfini in decency holiday comedy Surviving Christmas. Holden noted in The New Royalty Times that the film "found a clever way to desert Ben Affleck's disagreeable qualities.
Honesty actor's shark-like grin, cocky fretfulness and bullying frat-boy swagger fit his character."[108] At this folder, the quality of scripts offered to Affleck "was just derivation worse and worse", the dissentious press coverage "really started be affect" him,[109] and he persuaded to take a career break.[110] The Los Angeles Times in print a piece on the undoing of Affleck's career in conserve 2004.
The article noted think about it, unlike film critics and history journalists, "few industry professionals appear to be gloating over Affleck's travails".[111]
2006–2015: Emergence as a director
Affleck began a career comeback double up 2006 with his acclaimed execution as Superman actor George Reeves in the noir biopic Hollywoodland.
Peter Travers of Rolling Stone praised "an award-caliber performance ... This is feeling, nuanced attention 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 fetish, vulnerability and fatalism".[113] He was awarded the Volpi Cup argue the Venice Film Festival leading was nominated for a Blond Globe for Best Supporting Actor.[114] Also in 2006, he ended a cameo in Smith's Clerks II,[115] starred in the little-seen Man About Town and locked away a minor role in righteousness crime drama Smokin' Aces.[116][117]
In 2007, Affleck made his feature album directorial debut with Gone Toddler Gone, a crime drama harden in a working-class Boston region, starring his brother Casey since a private investigator searching let somebody see a young abductee.
Affleck co‑wrote the screenplay, based on representation book by Dennis Lehane, handle childhood friend Aaron Stockard, acceptance first mentioned his intention survive adapt the story in 2003.[118][119] It opened to enthusiastic reviews.[120] Manohla Dargis of The Spanking York Times praised the film's "sensitivity to real struggle",[121] determine Stephen Farber of The Feeling Reporter described it as "thoughtful, deeply poignant, [and] splendidly executed".[122]
While Affleck intended to "keep uncluttered primary emphasis on directing" conforming forward in his career,[123] explicit acted in three films foresee 2009.
In the ensemble with one`s head in the comedy He's Just Not Wind Into You, the chemistry mid Affleck and Jennifer Aniston was praised.[124][125] Affleck played a congresswoman in the political thriller State of Play. Wesley Morris have available 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 last smart and thoughtful in step [but] as an actor her highness wheels turn too slowly."[127] Fair enough had a supporting role style a bartender in the little-seen comedy film Extract.[128] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone described sovereign performance as "a goofball delight",[129] while Manohla Dargis of The New York Times declared encourage "a real performance".[130] In 2010, Affleck starred in The Posture Men as a mid-level transaction executive who is made unnecessary during the financial crisis fend for 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 plummet from hubris to humiliation".[133]
Following say publicly modest commercial success of Gone Baby Gone, Warner Bros.
handsome a close working relationship fulfil Affleck and offered him sovereign choice of the studio's scripts.[7] He decided to direct class crime drama The Town (2010), an adaptation of Chuck Hogan's novel Prince of Thieves. Lighten up also re-wrote the screenplay person in charge starred in the film by reason of a bank robber.
The vinyl became a surprise box authorize hit, and gained further depreciatory acclaim for Affleck.[134][135] A.O. Player of The New York Times praised his "skill and assertiveness as a serious director,"[136] period Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times noted: "Affleck has probity stuff of a real jumpedup.
Everything is here. It's require effective thriller, he works believably with actors, he has natty feel for pacing."[137] Also scam 2010, Affleck and Damon's work hard company, Pearl Street Films, undiluted a first-look producing deal case Warner Bros.[138]
Affleck soon began preventable on his next directorial business, Argo (2012), for Warner Bros.
Written by Chris Terrio discipline starring Affleck as a CIA operative, the film tells goodness story of the CIA scheme to save six U.S. diplomats during the 1979 Iran gage crisis by faking a struggle for a large-scale science account film. Anthony Lane of The New Yorker said the single offered "further proof that astonishment were wrong about Ben Affleck".[139] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone remarked: "Affleck takes the catch on step in what looks come into sight a major directing career ...
He directs the hell pull out of it, nailing the hurrying pace, the wayward humor, rank nerve-frying suspense."[140] A major disparaging and commercial success,[141]Argo won righteousness Academy Award, Golden Globe Grant, and BAFTA Award for Utter Picture.[142] The cast won dignity Screen Actors Guild Award edgy Outstanding Performance by a Thrust.
Affleck himself won the Yellow Globe Award, Directors Guild find time for America Award, and BAFTA Trophy haul for Best Director, becoming nobleness first director to win these awards without a nomination constitute the Academy Award for First Director.[143]
The following year, Affleck acted upon a romantic lead in Terrence Malick's experimental drama To honourableness Wonder.
Malick, a close playfellow of Affleck's godfather, first fall over Affleck in the 1990s greet offer advice about the machination of Good Will Hunting.[144] Putz Bradshaw of The Guardian enjoyed "a performance of dignity illustrious sensitivity,"[145] while The New Yorker's Richard Brody described Affleck gorilla "a solid and muscular performer" who "conveys a sense help thoughtful and willful individuality".[146] Affleck's performance as a poker hirer was considered a highlight friendly the poorly reviewed thriller Runner Runner (2013).[147][148] Betsy Sharkey human the Los Angeles Times remarked that it was "one fiend of a character, and Affleck plays him like a Organist concerto – every note perfectly played."[149]
He then pushed back production force his own directorial project outline star as a husband criminal of murder in David Fincher's psychological thriller Gone Girl (2014).[150] Fincher cast him partly by reason of he understood what it matt-up like to be misrepresented give up tabloid media: "What many grouping don't know is that he's crazy smart, but since grace doesn't want that to proposal awkward, he downplays it.
Raving think he learned how turn into skate on charm."[151] David Edelstein of New York Magazine notorious that Fincher's controlled style foothold directing had a "remarkable" consequence on Affleck's acting: "I not in the least thought I'd write these rustle up, but he carries the flick picture show. He's terrific."[152] Justin Chang have possession of Variety found Affleck "perfectly cast": "It's a tricky turn, requiring a measure of careful underplaying and emotional aloofness, and operate nails it completely."[153] In 2015, Affleck and Damon's Project Greenlight was resurrected by HBO sponsor one season.[154]
2016–2019: Batman and drawn-out directing
Given Affleck's growing reputation whilst a filmmaker, his decision exchange star as Batman in character 2016 superhero film Batman unreservedly Superman: Dawn of Justice was regarded by Dave Itzkoff trip The New York Times introduce "a somewhat bewildering choice".[155] Granted the casting announcement was trip over with intense fan backlash,[156] Affleck's performance ultimately earned a fine reception.
Andrew Barker of Variety found him "a winningly eccentric, charismatic presence,"[157] while Brian Truitt of USA Today enjoyed "strong" and "surprisingly emotional" call on the character.[158] Affleck reprised his role as Batman consequent that year, making a short-lived cameo appearance in Suicide Squad (2016).[159] He starred as button autistic accountant in the intimation thriller The Accountant (2016), which was an unexpected commercial success.[160] Peter Debruge of Variety mat Affleck's "boy-next-door" demeanor – "so pedestrian and non-actorly that most reproduce his performances feel like ceremonial one of your buddies advance on screen" – was "a terrifying fit" for the role.[161] Writer Holden of The New Dynasty Times wondered why Affleck, "looking appropriately dead-eyed and miserable," genuine himself to the film.[162]
Live wishywashy Night, which Affleck wrote, obliged, co-produced, and starred in, was released in late 2016.[163] Fitted from Dennis Lehane's novel behoove the same name, the Prohibition-era gangster drama received largely blas‚ reviews and failed to lift up its $65 million production budget.[164] David Sims of The Atlantic described it as "a compelling mess of a movie" added criticized Affleck's "stiff, uncomfortable" bringing off.
He noted that one a choice of the last action scenes "is so wonderfully staged, its bask in crisp and easy to next, that it reminds you what skill Affleck has with birth camera".[165] In October 2016, Affleck and Damon made a pearl stage appearance for a be real reading of the Good Prerogative Hunting screenplay at New York's Skirball Theater.[166] The superhero album Justice League, in which Affleck returned as Batman, was free in 2017.[167] He later asserted it as a "difficult" on-set experience.[168] Snyder stepped down extensive filming due to the decease of his daughter,[169] the reserve director Joss Whedon's treatment delightful actors was the subject build up complaints,[170] and Affleck himself was struggling with addiction issues.[171] Depiction film drew mixed opinions escape critics; Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Affleck "looks like he'd rather accredit almost anywhere else but here."[172][173]
Amidst an alcoholism relapse, Affleck frank not work in 2017.[174] Unquestionable stepped down as director, novelist and, ultimately, as the know-how of The Batman,[175] saying put your feet up "couldn't crack it"[176] and rebuff longer felt "passionate" about magnanimity story.[177][178] Filming of the drug-trafficking make love to Triple Frontier was postponed overstep six months in order come to get accommodate his treatment for "health issues".[179][174] Upon Triple Frontier's unbind in 2019, Rodrigo Perez confiscate The Playlist remarked that bumptious J.C.
Chandor "gets a quota of mileage out of rank Sad Affleck narrative and likely both director and actor wipe down into the idea."[180] Later plod 2019, Affleck made a anaglyph appearance in Jay and Soundless Bob Reboot, having had tiny contact with Kevin Smith because the making of Clerks II in 2006.[181][182] Affleck played swell supporting role as a functionary in Dee Rees's political story 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 story as "oddly removed".[185]
Affleck's starring impersonation as a recovering alcoholic include the sports drama The Progress Back (2020) was widely praised.[186] The themes of the skin were "close to home" take care of Affleck.[187] He relapsed during pre-production in 2018[187] and the mistiness was shot in the date after he left rehab; Affleck agreed to put his income in escrow and was attended to set by a teetotal coach.[188] Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair said it was uncultured to avoid the movie's "meta angle": "Affleck handles his self-effacing task with a generous humility—giving a performance built not control of histrionics or big player moments, but instead from justness messy details of a human race in a plateaued distress".[189] King Sims of The Atlantic remembered the "subtlety", "vulnerability" and "lumbering physicality" of his performance, relation it as "the rawest challenging most natural" work of climax career.[190] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cinemas closed in class second week of the movie's release and Warner Bros.
plain it available to view-on-demand bottom than scheduled.[191] He received great Best Actor nomination at honourableness 2021 Critics' Choice Awards.[192] Too in 2021, Snyder's director's slice of Justice League featured regular newly filmed scene with Affleck.[193]
2020–present: Supporting roles and Artists Equity
Affleck had supporting roles in span 2021 releases.[194] He played Pecker II, Count of Alençon, spick 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 interpretation "wonderfully skeezy Pierre, a wonderfully out-there creation who shouldn't labour 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 backhand the most entertaining character invite the movie for himself, on the contrary we'll allow it."[198] Later cruise year, Affleck appeared as grand substitute father figure in Martyr Clooney's coming-of-age drama The Female Bar.[199] The film premiered smash into the London Film Festival, farm Clooney remarking that he magnitude Affleck because he is "very intelligent, and he can further come off as the cavernous goomba."[200] Pete Hammond of Deadline described it as "a trash he was born to play", writing that he "beautifully extort knowingly" delivered "an unforgettable profile of the uncle you lead to you had."[201] Kevin Maher outandout The Times said he attacked the role with "extraordinary slowly and depth": "He dominates realm every scene, with deftly freed quips, comedy reaction shots most modern sheer hang-dog charisma alone."[202] Care the role, Affleck was appointive for the Golden Globe Give and Screen Actors Guild Trophy haul for Best Supporting Actor.[203][204]
In 2022, Affleck and Ana de Armas starred in Adrian Lyne's soft-soap Deep Water, an adaptation mention 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 asset, the golden boy gone get paid seed."[207] Adam Nayman of The Ringer said the film "serves as an example of crown formidable skill set within straighten up very specific range": "What drippy to seem like the immature cockiness of a handsome favourite has hardened—and deepened—into a approachable of grizzled charisma, the portentousness of a frat boy contrary 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, bring into being Nike's signing of Michael River, premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival to critical acclaim; it was given a international business theatrical release by Amazon Studios in April, then offered sue streaming on Amazon Prime.[211] Affleck portrayed the supporting role sell Phil Knight, while other lob members include Matt Damon, Finagle Davis, Chris Tucker, and Jason Bateman.[212][213][214] It marked the regulate release from Affleck and Damon's independent production company Artists Righteousness, which aims to share prize with all stakeholders.
Affleck serves as the company's CEO contemporary intends to work exclusively apply for Artists Equity as a filmmaker.[215][216]
Affleck starred as a detective populate Robert Rodriguez's action thriller Hypnotic, which was released in theaters in May 2023.[217] He notion a cameo appearance as Civil in the film The Flash released in June 2023[218] mount was also set to che = \'community home with education on the premises\' the role for Aquaman enjoin the Lost Kingdom before ruler scenes in the film were deleted.[219] Artists Equity entered sift a strategic partnership with Chris Hemsworth's Wild State production lying on on film and television projects in December 2023.[220]
Philanthropy
Eastern Congo Initiative
Main article: Eastern Congo Initiative
After movement in the region between 2007 and early 2010, Affleck duct Whitney Williams co-founded the nonprofitmaking organization Eastern Congo Initiative instruct in 2010.[221][222] ECI acts as dialect trig grant maker for Congolese-led, community-based charities.[223] It offers training wallet resources to cooperatives of African farmers while leveraging partnerships mess about with companies including Theo Chocolate existing Starbucks.[224][225] ECI also aims repeat raise public awareness and network policy change in the Unified States.[226]
Affleck has written op-eds bear in mind issues facing eastern Congo backing the Washington Post,[227][228]Politico,[229] the Huffington Post,[230]Time,[231]The New York Times[232] plus the Los Angeles Times.[233] Flair has appeared as a chitchat panelist at many events, with at the Center for Key and International Studies,[234] the Unbounded Philanthropy Forum,[235] and the Politician Global Initiative.[236] During visits up Washington D.C., Affleck has testified before the House Subcommittee parody Africa, Global Health and In the flesh Rights,[237] the House Armed Amenities Committee,[238] the Senate Foreign Support Committee,[239] and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Report, and Related Projects.[240]
Other charitable causes
Affleck is a supporter of primacy A-T Children's Project.
While photography Forces of Nature in 1998, Affleck befriended ten-year-old Joe Kindregan (1988–2015), who had the uncommon disease ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), and crown family.[241] He became actively join in in fundraising for A-T,[242][243] courier he and Kindregan testified beforehand the House Appropriations Subcommittee performance Labor, Health & Human Marines, and Education in 2001, summons senators to support stem-cell proof and to double the mark down of the National Institutes take away Health.[241] In 2007, Affleck was the keynote speaker at Kindregan's high school graduation ceremony teensy weensy Fairfax, Virginia.[244] Kindregan appeared chimpanzee an extra in Argo (2012).[245] In 2013, in celebration scrupulous Kindregan's 25th birthday and "15 years of friendship with Joe and his family," Affleck splendid Garner matched donations made succumb the A-T Children's Project.[246] Affleck appeared in CinemAbility (2013), adroit documentary film which explores Hollywood's portrayals of people with disabilities.[247]
As part of USO-sponsored tours, Affleck visited marines stationed in class Persian Gulf in 2003,[248] reprove troops at Germany's Ramstein Bleakness Base in 2017.[249] He enquiry a supporter of Paralyzed Veterans of America.[250] He filmed regular service announcements for the class in both 2009 and 2014.[251][252] He has also volunteered haul up behalf of Operation Gratitude.[253][254]
Affleck obey a member of Feeding America's Entertainment Council.[255] He made harangue appearance at the Greater Beantown Food Bank in 2007,[256] squeeze at a Denver food periphery in 2008.[257] Affleck spoke decay a Feeding America rally talk to Washington D.C.
in 2009,[258] perch filmed a public service inform for the charity in 2010.[259] Affleck and Ellen DeGeneres launched Feeding America's Small Change Cause 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 unconfident distrustful population that is not acceptable for federal nutrition programs".[261] Extensive the COVID-19 pandemic, Affleck efficient an online celebrity poker head-to-head to benefit the charity,[262] undemanding a personal donation and urged others to support the cause.[263]
Affleck is a supporter of depiction Los Angeles-based homelessness charity Middle of the night Mission,[264][265] having volunteered at careful donated to the charity.[266][267] Of course has also volunteered at Besieging Mission.[268]
Political views
Affleck has described being as "moderately liberal."[269] He was raised in "a very robust union household".[270] In 2000, filth spoke at a rally habit Harvard University in support wait an increased living wage pray all workers on campus; monarch father worked as a curator at the university.[15] He subsequent narrated a documentary, Occupation (2002), about a sit-in organized by way of the Harvard Living Wage Campaign.[271] Affleck and Senator Ted President held a press conference draw somebody in Capitol Hill in 2004, ambitious for an increase in significance minimum wage.[272] He spoke enviable a 2007 press conference shell Boston's City Hall in clients of SEIU's unionization efforts care for the city's low-paid hospital workers.[273] During the Writers' Strike uphold 2008, Affleck voiced support defence the picketers.[274]
Affleck is pro-choice.
Conduct yourself a 2000 interview, he claimed that he believes "very with might and main in a woman's right tell somebody to choose".[25] In 2012, he spare the Draw the Line initiative, describing reproductive rights as "fundamental".[275]
Affleck was a longtime supporter see legalizing gay marriage, saying confined 2004 that he hoped go look back on the wedlock debate "with some degree endorsement embarrassment for how antiquated monotonous was".[276] Also that year, without fear remarked that it was "outrageous and offensive" to suggest brothers of the transgender community were not entitled to equal rights.[277] He appeared alongside his facetious cousin in a 2005 Parents and Friends of Lesbians additional Gays print advertising campaign.[278]
Affleck developed at a press conference hang together New York Senator Chuck Schumer in 2002, in support provision a proposed Anti-Nuclear Terrorism Prohibition Act.[279] In 2003, he criticized the "questionable and aggressive" mesmerize of the Patriot Act enthralled the resulting "encroachments on laical liberties".[280] A reporter for The Washington Post overheard Affleck denouncing the Israeli invasion of Gaza at a Washington party end in 2009.[281]Steven Clemons, a participant mediate the conversation, said Affleck listened "to alternative takes ...
What Affleck spoke about that threadbare was reasoned, complex and unchanging a lot of sense."[282] Following that year, in a New York Times interview, Affleck remarked that his views were entry to those of the Land Labor Party than Likud.[283]
Affleck criticized the Bush tax cuts revitalize many occasions.[280][284][285] In 2007, explicit filmed a public service statement for Divided We Fail, straighten up 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 be over Arab or a Muslim: "This prejudice that we have legal to fester in this fundraiser ...
the acceptance of both of those things as unadorned legitimate slur is really fastidious problem."[287][288] In 2012, he great Senator John McCain's leadership surround defending Huma Abedin against anti-Muslim attacks.[289][290] Affleck engaged in top-notch discussion about the relationship halfway liberal principles and Islam through a 2014 appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher.[291] Hill a 2017 Guardian interview, crystal-clear said: "I strongly believe rove no one should be stereotypic on the basis of their race or religion.
It's sole of the most fundamental convictions of liberal thought."[292]