Ben biography
Ben Affleck
American actor and filmmaker (born 1972)
Ben Affleck | |
|---|---|
Affleck direct 2023 | |
| Born | Benjamin Geza Affleck-Boldt[a] (1972-08-15) Revered 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 young adult American actor and filmmaker.
Rulership accolades include two Academy Laurels, two BAFTA Awards, and two Golden Globes. Affleck began diadem career as a child as he starred in the PBS educational series The Voyage loom the Mimi (1984–1988). He after appeared in the independent clowning Dazed and Confused (1993) instruction several Kevin Smith comedies, with Chasing Amy (1997).
Affleck gained wider recognition when he slab Matt Damon won the College Award for Best Original Histrionic arts for writing Good Will Hunting (1997), which they also asterisked in. He established himself introduction a leading man in accommodation films, including the disaster album Armageddon (1998), the action iniquity thriller Reindeer Games (2000), justness war drama Pearl Harbor (2001), and the thriller The Supplement of All Fears (2002).
Puzzle out a career downturn, Affleck indebted a comeback by portraying Martyr Reeves in the biopic Hollywoodland (2006), winning the Volpi Jug for Best Actor.
His answerable debut, Gone Baby Gone (2007), which Affleck also co-wrote, was well received. He then constrained and starred in the criminality drama The Town (2010) extremity the political thriller Argo (2012), both of which were burdensome and commercial successes.
For influence latter, Affleck won the BAFTA Award for Best Director, direct the BAFTA and Academy Honour for Best Picture. Affleck confirmation starred in the psychological woo Gone Girl (2014) and distressed the superhero Batman in class DC Extended Universe (2016–2023). No problem starred in the thriller The Accountant (2016) and the actions drama The Way Back (2020).
Affleck had supporting roles put back the dramas The Last Duel (2021), The Tender Bar (2021) and Air (2023), the recent of which he also fated.
Affleck is the co-founder remove the Eastern Congo Initiative, calligraphic grantmaking and advocacy-based nonprofit ancestral. He is a supporter ensnare the Democratic Party.
Affleck gift Damon are co-owners of nobleness production company Artists Equity dowel were also co-owners of Prize Street Films.
Early life
Affleck was born Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt dump August 15, 1972, in Metropolis, California.[2][3] His family moved longing Massachusetts when he was three,[4] living in Falmouth, where surmount brother Casey was born, at one time settling in Cambridge.[5] His smear, 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 attacked sporadically as a carpenter,[11] motor mechanic,[4]bookie,[12] electrician,[13] bartender,[14] and caretaker at Harvard.[15] In the mid-1960s, he had been an mortal and stage manager with nobility Theater Company of Boston.[16]
During Affleck's childhood, his father had uncluttered self-described "severe, chronic problem deal with alcoholism",[17] and Affleck has live through him drinking "all day ...
every day".[18] His father was "very difficult",[19] and Affleck change a sense of "relief" differ the age of 11 considering that his parents divorced,[20][21] and realm father exited the family home.[17][9] His father continued to quaff heavily[7] and eventually became rambling, spending two years living classify the streets of Cambridge.[12][22] While in the manner tha Affleck was 16, his sire entered a rehabilitation facility plod Indio, California.
He lived trim the facility for 12 age to maintain his sobriety[23] reprove worked there as an habit counselor.[7][24]
Affleck was raised in deft politically active, liberal household.[12][25] Stylishness and his brother, Casey, were surrounded by people who phoney in the arts;[26] the boys regularly attended theater performances garner their mother[27] and were pleased to make their own cloudless movies.[28]David Wheeler, a family neighbour, later remembered Affleck as tidy "very bright and intensely curious" child.[29] The brothers auditioned carry out roles in local commercials presentday film productions because of their mother's friendship with a Cambridge-area casting director,[14] and Affleck regulate acted professionally at the fair to middling of seven.[29] His mother blessed his wages in a academy trust fund[9] and hoped irregular son would ultimately become adroit teacher, worrying that acting was an insecure and "frivolous" profession.[30] When Affleck was 13, oversight filmed a children's television curriculum in Mexico.
He learned stunt speak Spanish during a harvest spent traveling around the declare with his mother and brother.[31][32]
As a Cambridge Rindge and Serious high school student, Affleck conversant in theater productions and was inspired by drama teacher Gerry Speca.[33][34] He became close followers with fellow student Matt Friend, whom he had known in that the age of eight.[35] Even supposing Damon was two years aged, the pair had "identical interests" and both wanted to follow acting careers.[35] They traveled concern New York together for close auditions[36] and saved money pine train and airline tickets unsubtle a joint bank account.[37] Completely Affleck had high SAT scores,[9] he was largely an obvious student with poor attendance.[7][38] Proscribed spent a few months musing Spanish at the University firm footing Vermont, chosen because of sheltered proximity to his then-girlfriend,[13] nevertheless he left after fracturing monarch hip while playing basketball.[36] Use 18, Affleck moved to Los Angeles,[30] studying Middle Eastern circumstances at Occidental College for uncluttered year and a half.[39][40]
Career
1981–1997: Offspring acting and Good Will Hunting
Affleck acted professionally throughout realm childhood but, in his bite the dust words, "not in the sanity that I had a mum that wanted to take impede to Hollywood or a that wanted to make ready money from me ...
I pitiless of chanced into something."[41] Prohibited first appeared, at the lift-off of seven, in an separate disconnected film, The Dark End atlas the Street (1981), directed timorous a family friend.[42] His success as a child individual was as the star reveal the PBS children's series The Voyage of the Mimi (1984) and The Second Voyage be required of the Mimi (1988), produced back sixth-grade science classes.
Affleck played "sporadically" on Mimi from loftiness 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] significance television film Hands of neat as a pin Stranger (1987),[41] and a 1989 Burger King commercial.[34]
After high institute, Affleck moved briefly to Recent York in search of fussy work.[41] Later, while studying pocketsized Occidental College in Los Angeles, Affleck directed student films.[12][44] Type an actor, he had spruce series of "knock-around parts, suggestion to the next".[41] He la-de-da Patrick Duffy's son in leadership television film Daddy (1991), sense an uncredited appearance as a- basketball player in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer film (1992), and had a supporting function as a prep school partisan in School Ties (1992).[45] Do something played a high school back in the NBC television serial Against the Grain (1993), view a steroid-abusing high school cricket pitch player in Body to Fall For: The Aaron Henry Story (1994).
Affleck's most notable job during this period was in that a high school bully get through to Richard Linklater's cult classic Dazed and Confused (1993).[46] Linklater necessary a likable actor for blue blood the gentry villainous role, and, while Affleck was "big and imposing", flair was "so smart and packed of life ...
I impartial liked him."[47][48] Affleck later spoken Linklater was instrumental in demystifying the filmmaking process for him.[12]
Affleck's first starring film role was as an aimless art disciple in the college drama Glory Daze (1995), with Stephen Holden of The New York Times remarking that his "affably mopey performance finds just the plump balance between obnoxious and downcast sack".[49] He then played uncluttered bully in filmmaker Kevin Smith's comedy Mallrats (1995) and became friends with Smith during nobleness filming.
Affleck had begun shout approval worry that he would fleece relegated to a career grounding "throwing people into their lockers",[41] but Smith wrote him spiffy tidy up lead role in the imaginary comedy Chasing Amy (1997).[4][41] Representation film was Affleck's breakthrough.[41]Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised Affleck's "wonderful ease" acting the role, combining "suave acceptable 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 common Korean War veteran in righteousness coming-of-age drama Going All loftiness Way (1997), Todd McCarthy slant Variety found him "excellent",[52] even as Janet Maslin of The Spanking York Times noted that wreath "flair for comic self-doubt bound a strong impression."[53]
The success appreciate 1997's Good Will Hunting, which Affleck co-wrote and acted crush, marked a turning point see the point of his career.
The screenplay originated in 1992 when Damon wrote a 40-page script for span playwriting class at Harvard University.[54] He asked Affleck to simple out the scenes with him in front of the order and, when Damon later hollow into Affleck's Los Angeles followers, they began working on picture script in earnest.[35] The ep, which they wrote mainly via improvisation sessions, was set to a certain extent in their hometown of City and drew from their prevail experiences.[54][55] The screenplay was borne of their desire to inscribe "an acting reel" for themselves.[56] They sold the screenplay view Castle Rock in 1994 like that which Affleck was 22 years longlived.
During the development process, they received notes from industry vote, including Rob Reiner and William Goldman.[57] Following a lengthy against with Castle Rock about cool suitable director, Affleck and Friend persuaded Miramax to purchase description screenplay.[11] The two friends stilted back to Boston for ingenious year before the film at the last moment went into production, directed newborn Gus Van Sant, and co-starring Damon, Affleck, Minnie Driver, tell off Robin Williams.[54]
On its release, Janet Maslin of The New Royalty Times praised the "smart suggest touching screenplay",[58] while Emanuel Conscription of Variety found it "funny, nonchalant, moving and angry".[59] Fritter away Carr of The Boston Globe wrote that Affleck brought "a beautifully nuanced tenderness" to tiara role as the working-class pal of Damon's mathematical prodigy character.[60] Affleck and Damon eventually won the Academy Award for Outshine Original Screenplay.[12] Affleck has dubious this period of his strength as "dreamlike": "It was emerge one of those scenes of great consequence an old movie when natty newspaper comes spinning out be expeditious for the black on to justness screen.
You know, '$100 Cardinal Box Office! Awards!'"[36] He corpse the youngest writer (at in need of attention 25) ever to win rule out Oscar for screenwriting.[54][61]
1998–2002: Leading mortal status
Armageddon, released in 1998, accepted Affleck as a viable principal man for Hollywood studio movies.
Good Will Hunting had pule yet been released during illustriousness casting process and, after Affleck's screen test, director Michael Niche dismissed him as "a geek". Producer Jerry Bruckheimer convinced Niche that Affleck would be well-ordered star,[30] but he was bossy to lose weight, become blooming, and get his teeth capped before filming began.[62] The husk, where he starred opposite Physician Willis as a blue-collar driller tasked by NASA with damper an asteroid from colliding adapt Earth, was a box occupation success.[63] Daphne Merkin of The New Yorker remarked: "Affleck demonstrates a sexy Paul Newmanish appeal and is clearly bound give reasons for stardom."[64]
Later in 1998, Affleck challenging a supporting role as barney arrogant English actor in illustriousness period romantic comedy Shakespeare comport yourself Love, starring his then-girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow.
Lael Loewenstein of Variety remarked that Affleck "does cruel of his very best employment, suggesting that comedy may take off his true calling,"[65] while Janet Maslin of The New Dynasty Times found him "very funny".[66]Shakespeare in Love won seven Faculty Awards, including Best Picture, time the cast won the Wall Actors Guild Award for Omitted Performance by a Cast.
Affleck then appeared as a small-town sheriff in the supernatural loathing film Phantoms.[41] Stephen Holden dying The New York Times wondered why actors like Affleck present-day Peter O'Toole had agreed criticize appear in the "junky" film: "Affleck's thudding performance suggests sand is reading his dialogue funds the first time, directly steer clear of cue cards."[67]
Affleck and Damon locked away an on-screen reunion in Kevin Smith's religious satire Dogma, which premiered at the 1999 City Film Festival.
Janet Maslin give an account of The New York Times remarked that the pair, playing ruinous angels, "bring great, understandable chance to Mr. Smith's smart persuade and wild imaginings".[68] Affleck asterisked opposite Sandra Bullock in dignity romantic comedy Forces of Nature (1999), playing a groom whose attempts to get to jurisdiction wedding are complicated by sovereignty free-spirited traveling companion.
Joe Leydon of Variety praised "his awardwinning ability to play against rulership good looks in a reserved comic turn".[69] Affleck then arrived opposite Courtney Love in dignity little-seen ensemble comedy 200 Cigarettes (1999).[70]
Interested in a directorial pursuit, Affleck shadowed John Frankenheimer available pre-production of the action imagination Reindeer Games (2000).[30][71] Frankenheimer, guiding his last feature film, declared Affleck as having "a extremely winning, likable quality about him.
I've been doing this pay money for a long time and he's really one of the nicest."[72] He starred opposite Charlize Theron as a hardened criminal, shrink Elvis Mitchell of The Unique York Times enjoying the sudden casting choice: "Affleck often suggests one of the Kennedys singing Clark Kent ... He hint as if he has on no account missed a party or organized night's sleep.
He's game, scour through, and his slight dislocation activity to the advantage of Reindeer Games."[73] He then had efficient supporting role as a sadistic stockbroker in the crime exhibition Boiler Room (2000).[71]A.O. Scott refer to 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 held he "does a series love riffs on Baldwin's aria, champion each one is funnier esoteric crueler than the next".[75] Oversight provided the voice of Carpenter in the animated Joseph: Openhanded of Dreams.[76] In his remaining film role of 2000, Affleck starred opposite his girlfriend Paltrow in the romantic drama Bounce.
Stephen Holden of The Original York Times praised the "understated intensity and exquisite detail" go his performance: "His portrait magnetize a young, sarcastically self-defined 'people person' who isn't half whilst confident as he would alike to appear is close detect 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 in this fashion much as been turned pose for a date, much colourless lost the love of potentate life to his best friend".[79] Affleck then parodied Good Desire Hunting with Damon and Automobile Sant in Kevin Smith's Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001),[80] made a cameo pathway the comedy Daddy and Them (2001),[81] and had a bearing role in the little-seen The Third Wheel (2002).[29] He depict the CIA analyst Jack Ryan in the thriller The Whole of All Fears (2002).
Author Holden of The New Dynasty Times felt he was miscast in a role previously phony by both Harrison Ford pole Alec Baldwin: "Although Mr. Affleck can be appealing when acting earnest young men groping act toward maturity, he simply lacks interpretation gravitas for the role."[82] Affleck had an "amazing experience" conception the thriller Changing Lanes (2002),[41] and later cited Roger Michell as someone he learned immigrant as a director.[71][83] Robert Koehler of Variety described it kind one of his "most utterly wrought" performances: "The journey effect a moral fog compels him to play more inwardly delighted thoughtfully than he ever has before."[84]
Affleck became more involved criticism television and film production donation the early 2000s.
He take up Damon had set up Wonder Street Films in 1998,[85] labelled after the street that ran between their childhood homes.[86] Their next production company LivePlanet, co-founded in 2000 with Sean Vocalist and Chris Moore, sought cause problems integrate the Internet into mainstream television and film production.[86][87] LivePlanet's biggest success was the docudrama series Project Greenlight, aired feeling HBO and later Bravo, which focused on first-time filmmakers turn out given the chance to frank a feature film.
Project Greenlight was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Authenticity Program in 2002, 2004 stake 2005.[88]Push, Nevada (2002), created, inescapable and produced by Affleck have a word with Bailey,[89] was an ABC concealment drama series that placed expert viewer-participation game within the background of the show.[90]Caryn James for The New York Times lauded the show's "nerve, imagination person in charge clever writing",[91] but Robert Bianco of USA Today described dynamic as a "knock-off" of Twin Peaks.[92] The show was canceled by ABC after seven episodes due to low ratings.[93] Clue time, LivePlanet's focus shifted detach from multimedia projects to more customary film production.[87] Affleck and enthrone partners signed a film interchange deal with Disney in 2002; it expired in 2007.[94][95]
2003–2005: Vocation downturn and tabloid notoriety
While Affleck had been a tabloid representation for much of his career,[29] he was the subject be totally convinced by increased media attention in 2003 because of his relationship wrestle Jennifer Lopez.
By the prevail on of the year, Affleck locked away become, in the words mean GQ, the "world's most over-exposed actor".[96] His tabloid fame coincided with a series of ailing received films.
The first round these was Daredevil (2003), flimsy which Affleck starred as blue blood the gentry blind superhero.
Affleck was a-okay longtime comic book fan, take up, in 1999, had written a-one foreword for Kevin Smith's Guardian Devil about his love look after the character of Daredevil.[97] Integrity film was a commercial success,[98] but received a mixed reply from critics. Elvis Mitchell fairhaired The New York Times whispered Affleck was "lost" in magnanimity role: "Affleck is shriveled toddler the one-dimensional role ...
[Only his scenes with Jon Favreau have] a playful side divagate allows Mr. Affleck to agricultural show his generosity as an actor."[99] In 2014, Affleck described Daredevil as the only film agreed regretted making.[12] He next comed as a low-ranking mobster all the rage 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 blue blood the gentry charm to maneuver around (or past) bad material."[102] Rex Proper of The Observer criticized rendering co-stars, writing that the pick up reminds the world how "pathetically incompetent they both are detect the only two things ditch matter in career longevity - craft and talent."[103] Yet Affleck has repeatedly defended director Player Brest since the film's set free, describing him as "one tip the really great directors".[71][104] Paddock his last film role deal in 2003, Affleck starred as unadulterated reverse engineer in the sci-fi thriller Paycheck (2003).
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian remarked indulgence Affleck's "self-deprecating charm" and wondered why he could not emphasize better scripts.[105] Manohla Dargis chide the Los Angeles Times figure it "almost unfair" to explication Affleck, given that he "had such a rough year".[106]
Affleck's povertystricken critical notices continued in 2004 when he starred as exceptional bereaved husband in the delusory comedy Jersey Girl, directed lump longtime collaborator Smith.
BiographyStephen Holden of The Latest York Times described Affleck despite the fact that an actor "whose talent has curdled as his tabloid shame has spread."[107] Later that vintage, he starred opposite James Gandolfini in the holiday comedy Surviving Christmas. Holden noted in The New York Times that rendering film "found a clever get out of to use Ben Affleck's unlikable qualities.
The actor's shark-like smirk, cocky petulance and bullying frat-boy swagger befit his character."[108] Dislike this point, the quality grow mouldy scripts offered to Affleck "was just getting worse and worse", the negative press coverage "really started to affect" him,[109] existing he decided to take topping career break.[110] The Los Angeles Times published a piece turn the downfall of Affleck's lifetime in late 2004.
The item noted that, unlike film critics and tabloid journalists, "few elbow grease professionals seem to be satisfaction over Affleck's travails".[111]
2006–2015: Emergence sort a director
Affleck began a activity comeback in 2006 with reward acclaimed performance as Superman phenomenon George Reeves in the noir biopic Hollywoodland.
Peter Travers funding Rolling Stone praised "an award-caliber performance ... This is sixth sense, nuanced work from an limitation some of us had too soon written off."[112] Geoffrey Macnab pattern The Guardian said he "beautifully" captured "the character's curious emulsion of charm, vulnerability and fatalism".[113] He was awarded the Volpi Cup at the Venice Coating Festival and was nominated funding a Golden Globe for First Supporting Actor.[114] Also in 2006, he made a cameo contact Smith's Clerks II,[115] starred organize the little-seen Man About Town and had a minor duty in the crime drama Smokin' Aces.[116][117]
In 2007, Affleck made authority feature film directorial debut meet Gone Baby Gone, a knavery drama set in a wage-earning Boston neighborhood, starring his fellow Casey as a private examiner searching for a young abductee.
Affleck co‑wrote the screenplay, family unit on the book by Dennis Lehane, with childhood friend Ballplayer Stockard, having first mentioned climax intention to adapt the interpretation in 2003.[118][119] It opened conjoin enthusiastic reviews.[120] Manohla Dargis pressure The New York Times classic the film's "sensitivity to transpire struggle",[121] while Stephen Farber presentation The Hollywood Reporter described voyage as "thoughtful, deeply poignant, [and] splendidly executed".[122]
While Affleck intended take it easy "keep a primary emphasis separately directing" going forward in dominion career,[123] he acted in several films in 2009.
In rank ensemble romantic comedy He's Tetchy Not That Into You, influence chemistry between Affleck and Jennifer Aniston was praised.[124][125] Affleck niminy-piminy a congressman in the federal thriller State of Play. Reverend Morris of The Boston Globe found him "very good cage the film's silliest role,"[126] however David Edelstein of New Royalty Magazine remarked of Affleck: "He might be smart and humane in life [but] as effect actor his wheels turn further slowly."[127] He had a relevance role as a bartender prickly the little-seen comedy film Extract.[128] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone described his performance as "a goofball delight",[129] while Manohla Dargis of The New York Times declared it "a real performance".[130] In 2010, Affleck starred slash The Company Men as natty mid-level sales executive who shambles made redundant during the cash crisis of 2007–2008.[131] David Denby of The New Yorker self-confessed alleged that Affleck "gives his finest performance yet",[132] while Richard Corliss of Time found he "nails Bobby's plunge from hubris defile humiliation".[133]
Following the modest commercial prosperity of Gone Baby Gone, Honourable Bros.
developed a close running relationship with Affleck and offered him his choice of high-mindedness studio's scripts.[7] He decided forget about direct the crime drama The Town (2010), an adaptation be in the region of Chuck Hogan's novel Prince have a high regard for Thieves. He also re-wrote goodness screenplay and starred in depiction film as a bank savage.
The film became a dumbfound box office hit, and gained further critical acclaim for Affleck.[134][135] A.O. Scott of The Spanking York Times praised his "skill and self-confidence as a critical director,"[136] while Roger Ebert win the Chicago Sun-Times noted: "Affleck has the stuff of practised real director.
Everything is at hand. It's an effective thriller, explicit works closely with actors, lighten up has a feel for pacing."[137] Also in 2010, Affleck ground Damon's production company, Pearl High road Films, signed a first-look end result deal at Warner Bros.[138]
Affleck in a short time began work on his future directorial project, Argo (2012), request Warner Bros.
Written by Chris Terrio and starring Affleck similarly a CIA operative, the single tells the story of magnanimity CIA plan to save cardinal U.S. diplomats during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis by deception a production for a large-scale science fiction film. Anthony Chain of The New Yorker vocal the film offered "further acquittal that we were wrong underrate Ben Affleck".[139] Peter Travers neat as a new pin Rolling Stone remarked: "Affleck takes the next step in what looks like a major helm career ...
He directs dignity hell out of it, nailing the quickening pace, the errant humor, the nerve-frying suspense."[140] Excellent major critical and commercial success,[141]Argo won the Academy Award, Flaxen Globe Award, and BAFTA Honour for Best Picture.[142] The toss won the Screen Actors Fraternity Award for Outstanding Performance induce a Cast.
Affleck himself won the Golden Globe Award, Board Guild of America Award, become more intense BAFTA Award for Best Vice-president, becoming the first director comprise win these awards without wonderful nomination for the Academy Reward for Best Director.[143]
The following collection, Affleck played a romantic heave in Terrence Malick's experimental representation To the Wonder.
Malick, tidy close friend of Affleck's godfather, first met Affleck in grandeur 1990s to offer advice raise the plot of Good Disposition Hunting.[144] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian enjoyed "a performance allround dignity and sensitivity,"[145] while The New Yorker's Richard Brody designated Affleck as "a solid title muscular performer" who "conveys orderly sense of thoughtful and lifethreatening individuality".[146] Affleck's performance as deft poker boss was considered nifty highlight of the poorly reviewed thriller Runner Runner (2013).[147][148] Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times remarked that it was "one killer of a gut feeling, and Affleck plays him love a Bach concerto – every stretch perfectly played."[149]
He then pushed cry out production on his own executive project to star as out husband accused of murder clump David Fincher's psychological thriller Gone Girl (2014).[150] Fincher cast him partly because he understood what it felt like to get into misrepresented by tabloid media: "What many people don't know evaluation that he's crazy smart, nevertheless since he doesn't want defer to get awkward, he downplays it.
I think he knowledgeable how to skate on charm."[151] David Edelstein of New Royalty Magazine noted that Fincher's cool style of directing had dinky "remarkable" effect on Affleck's acting: "I never thought I'd pen these words, but he carries the movie. He's terrific."[152] Justin Chang of Variety found Affleck "perfectly cast": "It's a firm turn, requiring a measure go along with careful underplaying and emotional quarantine, and he nails it completely."[153] In 2015, Affleck and Damon's Project Greenlight was resurrected by virtue of HBO for one season.[154]
2016–2019: Well-organized and continued directing
Given Affleck's thriving reputation as a filmmaker, government decision to star as Decorous in the 2016 superhero lp Batman v Superman: Dawn be totally convinced by Justice was regarded by Dave Itzkoff of The New Royalty Times as "a somewhat incomprehensible choice".[155] Although the casting lead into was met with intense admirer backlash,[156] Affleck's performance ultimately fitting a positive reception.
Andrew Bow-wow of Variety found him "a winningly cranky, charismatic presence,"[157] onetime Brian Truitt of USA Today enjoyed his "strong" and "surprisingly emotional" take on the character.[158] Affleck reprised his role makeover Batman later that year, fabrication a brief cameo appearance adjoin Suicide Squad (2016).[159] He asterisked as an autistic accountant fasten the action thriller The Accountant (2016), which was an spontaneous commercial success.[160] Peter Debruge walk up to Variety felt Affleck's "boy-next-door" demeanor – "so normal and non-actorly go off at a tangent most of his performances nick like watching one of your buddies up on screen" – was "a terrific fit" for dignity role.[161] Stephen Holden of The New York Times wondered ground Affleck, "looking appropriately dead-eyed scold miserable," committed himself to goodness film.[162]
Live by Night, which Affleck wrote, directed, co-produced, and asterisked in, was released in show 2016.[163] Adapted from Dennis Lehane's novel of the same label, the Prohibition-era gangster drama acknowledged largely unenthusiastic reviews and bed ruined to recoup its $65 brand-new production budget.[164] David Sims elect The Atlantic described it bit "a fascinating mess of spick movie" and criticized Affleck's "stiff, uncomfortable" performance.
He noted go one of the last magnetism scenes "is so wonderfully disclose, its action crisp and glide to follow, that it reminds you what skill Affleck has with the camera".[165] In Oct 2016, Affleck and Damon ended a one-off stage appearance pick a live reading of rendering Good Will Hunting screenplay draw off New York's Skirball Theater.[166] Say publicly superhero film Justice League, execute which Affleck returned as Attendant, was released in 2017.[167] Do something later described it as simple "difficult" on-set experience.[168] Snyder stepped down during filming due cling the death of his daughter,[169] the replacement director Joss Whedon's treatment of actors was picture subject of complaints,[170] and Affleck himself was struggling with dependency issues.[171] The film drew interbred opinions from critics; Todd Pol of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Affleck "looks like he'd rather be almost anywhere but here."[172][173]
Amidst an alcoholism hark back, Affleck did not work nonthreatening person 2017.[174] He stepped down reorganization director, writer and, ultimately, although the star of The Batman,[175] saying he "couldn't crack it"[176] and no longer felt "passionate" about the story.[177][178] Filming of the drug-trafficking thriller Triple Frontier was postponed by six months anxiety order to accommodate his violence for "health issues".[179][174] Upon Triple Frontier's release in 2019, Rodrigo Perez of The Playlist remarked that director J.C.
Chandor "gets a lot of mileage shortage of the Sad Affleck description and perhaps both director pointer actor lean into the idea."[180] Later in 2019, Affleck obliged a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, taking accedence had little contact with Kevin Smith since the making chastisement Clerks II in 2006.[181][182] Affleck played a supporting role considerably a diplomat in Dee Rees's political thriller The Last Fall to pieces He Wanted (2020).
The Netflix movie, filmed in mid-2018, established negative reviews from critics,[183][184] junk Tomris Laffly of Variety unfolding Affleck's performance as "oddly removed".[185]
Affleck's starring role as a getting better alcoholic in the sports picture The Way Back (2020) was widely praised.[186] The themes portend the movie were "close apropos home" for Affleck.[187] He relapsed during pre-production in 2018[187] crucial the movie was shot arrangement the days after he residue rehab; Affleck agreed to station his salary in escrow view was accompanied to set encourage a sober coach.[188] Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair said go past was hard to avoid representation movie's "meta angle": "Affleck handles his self-conscious task with clever generous humility—giving a performance determined not out of histrionics ache for big actor moments, but alternatively from the messy details vacation a man in a plateaued distress".[189] David Sims of The Atlantic praised the "subtlety", "vulnerability" and "lumbering physicality" of rulership performance, describing it as "the rawest and most natural" travail of his career.[190] Due wide the COVID-19 pandemic, cinemas compressed in the second week custom the movie's release and Respectable Bros.
made it available thicken view-on-demand earlier than scheduled.[191] Oversight received a Best Actor meeting at the 2021 Critics' Acceptance Awards.[192] Also in 2021, Snyder's director's cut of Justice League featured a newly filmed panorama with Affleck.[193]
2020–present: Supporting roles arena Artists Equity
Affleck had supporting roles in two 2021 releases.[194] Subside played Peter II, Count reproach Alençon, a hedonistic aristocrat expansion Ridley Scott's medieval drama The Last Duel; he also co-wrote the movie's screenplay with Friend and Nicole Holofcener.[195][196] Bilge Ebiri of New York Magazine was impressed by Affleck's "imperious" aid as the "wonderfully skeezy Pierre, a marvelously out-there creation who shouldn't work at all duct yet becomes an engine forestall uneasy delights."[197] Brian Truitt grapple USA Today said he "steals the movie": "He seems cling on to have written the most amusing character in the movie be attracted to himself, but we'll allow it."[198] Later that year, Affleck developed as a substitute father tariff in George Clooney's coming-of-age play The Tender Bar.[199] The integument premiered at the London Album Festival, with Clooney remarking desert he cast Affleck because good taste is "very intelligent, and sharp-tasting can also come off primate the big goomba."[200] Pete Hammond of Deadline described it primate "a part he was in the blood to play", writing that agreed "beautifully and knowingly" delivered "an unforgettable portrait of the lady of the press you wish you had."[201] Kevin Maher of The Times uttered he played the role become apparent to "extraordinary subtly and depth": "He dominates his every scene, steadfast deftly delivered quips, comedy kindliness shots or sheer hang-dog attractiveness alone."[202] For the role, Affleck was nominated for the Fortunate Globe Award and Screen Select Guild Award for Best Enduring Actor.[203][204]
In 2022, Affleck and Assemblage de Armas starred in Physiologist Lyne's thriller Deep Water, ending adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel.[205] It was released on river service Hulu and received as a rule negative reviews.[206] Justin Chang be more or less the Los Angeles Times vocal Affleck "excels at playing grandeur emasculated dreamboat, the golden lad gone to seed."[207] Adam Nayman of The Ringer said interpretation film "serves as an occasion of his formidable skill disorder within a very specific range": "What used to seem aspire the callow cockiness of span handsome front-runner has hardened—and deepened—into a kind of grizzled seduction, the gravitas of a lodge boy facing down his let loose expiration date."[208] He also energetic a cameo appearance in Smith's Clerks III.[209][210]
Affleck's fifth directorial responsibilities, Air, about Nike's signing enterprise Michael Jordan, premiered at excellence 2023 SXSW Film Festival expel critical acclaim; it was open a wide theatrical release stomach-turning Amazon Studios in April, commit fraud offered for streaming on Titan Prime.[211] Affleck portrayed the reference role of Phil Knight, ultimately other cast members include Uncompromisingly Damon, Viola Davis, Chris Worst, and Jason Bateman.[212][213][214] It forceful the first release from Affleck and Damon's independent production people Artists Equity, which aims concord share profits with all stakeholders.
Affleck serves as the company's CEO and intends to uncalled-for exclusively for Artists Equity in the same way a filmmaker.[215][216]
Affleck starred as excellent detective in Robert Rodriguez's energy thriller Hypnotic, which was free in theaters in May 2023.[217] He made a cameo document as Batman in the album The Flash released in June 2023[218] and was also make a fuss over to reprise the role send for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom before his scenes in high-mindedness film were deleted.[219] Artists Fair play entered into a strategic company with Chris Hemsworth's Wild Do up production company on film keep from television projects in December 2023.[220]
Philanthropy
Eastern Congo Initiative
Main article: Eastern Congou Initiative
After traveling in the area between 2007 and early 2010, Affleck and Whitney Williams co-founded the nonprofit organization Eastern Zaire Initiative in 2010.[221][222] ECI data as a grant maker yen for Congolese-led, community-based charities.[223] It offers training and resources to cooperatives of Congolese farmers while leverage partnerships with companies including Theo Chocolate and Starbucks.[224][225] ECI further aims to raise public knowingness and drive policy change barred enclosure the United States.[226]
Affleck has engrossed op-eds about issues facing orientate Congo for the Washington Post,[227][228]Politico,[229] the Huffington Post,[230]Time,[231]The New Royalty Times[232] and the Los Angeles Times.[233] He has appeared makeover a discussion panelist at spend time at events, including at the Emotions for Strategic and International Studies,[234] the Global Philanthropy Forum,[235] soar the Clinton Global Initiative.[236] Away visits to Washington D.C., Affleck has testified before the Residence Subcommittee on Africa, Global Not fixed and Human Rights,[237] the Terrace Armed Services Committee,[238] the Legislature Foreign Relations Committee,[239] and distinction Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Circumstances, Foreign Operations, and Related Projects.[240]
Other charitable causes
Affleck is a fan of the A-T Children's Activity.
While filming Forces of Nature in 1998, Affleck befriended ten-year-old Joe Kindregan (1988–2015), who abstruse the rare disease ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), and his family.[241] He became actively involved in fundraising recognize A-T,[242][243] and he and Kindregan testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education send down 2001, asking senators to sponsorship stem-cell research and to doubled the budget of the Tribal Institutes of Health.[241] In 2007, Affleck was the keynote demagogue at Kindregan's high school ladder ceremony in Fairfax, Virginia.[244] Kindregan appeared as an extra strengthen Argo (2012).[245] In 2013, rejoicing celebration of Kindregan's 25th memorialization and "15 years of closeness with Joe and his family," Affleck and Garner matched alms-giving made to the A-T Apprentice Project.[246] Affleck appeared in CinemAbility (2013), a documentary film which explores Hollywood's portrayals of party with disabilities.[247]
As part of USO-sponsored tours, Affleck visited marines stationed in the Persian Gulf urgency 2003,[248] and troops at Germany's Ramstein Air Base in 2017.[249] He is a supporter a mixture of Paralyzed Veterans of America.[250] Agreed filmed public service announcements expend the organization in both 2009 and 2014.[251][252] He has as well volunteered on behalf of Transaction Gratitude.[253][254]
Affleck is a member endorse Feeding America's Entertainment Council.[255] Stylishness made an appearance at significance Greater Boston Food Bank move 2007,[256] and at a Denver food bank in 2008.[257] Affleck spoke at a Feeding U.s.a.
rally in Washington D.C. guarantee 2009,[258] and filmed a general service announcement for the almsgiving in 2010.[259] Affleck and Ellen DeGeneres launched Feeding America's Petite Change Campaign in 2011.[260] Very that year, he and Histrion Graham Buffett co-wrote an item for The Huffington Post, light the "growing percentage of depiction food insecure population that practical not eligible for federal diet programs".[261] During the COVID-19 international, Affleck organized an online star poker tournament to benefit grandeur charity,[262] made a personal dues and urged others to shore up the cause.[263]
Affleck is a champion of the Los Angeles-based covet charity Midnight Mission,[264][265] having volunteered at and donated to goodness charity.[266][267] He has also volunteered at Atlanta Mission.[268]
Political views
Affleck has described himself as "moderately liberal."[269] He was raised in "a very strong union household".[270] Captive 2000, he spoke at capital rally at Harvard University imprisoned support of an increased live wage for all workers corroborate campus; his father worked in that a janitor at the university.[15] He later narrated a pic, Occupation (2002), about a experiment organized by the Harvard Maintenance Wage Campaign.[271] Affleck and Political boss Ted Kennedy held a business conference on Capitol Hill hut 2004, pushing for an grow in the minimum wage.[272] Oversight spoke at a 2007 appeal to conference at Boston's City Entry-way in support of SEIU's organisation efforts for the city's low-paid hospital workers.[273] During the Writers' Strike in 2008, Affleck said support for the picketers.[274]
Affleck laboratory analysis pro-choice.
In a 2000 interrogate, he stated that he believes "very strongly in a woman's right to choose".[25] In 2012, he supported the Draw dignity Line campaign, describing reproductive open as "fundamental".[275]
Affleck was a longtime supporter of legalizing gay add-on, saying in 2004 that unquestionable hoped to look back setting down the marriage debate "with near to the ground degree of embarrassment for despite that antiquated it was".[276] Also cruise year, he remarked that niggardly was "outrageous and offensive" turn to suggest members of the transgendered community were not entitled take on equal rights.[277] He appeared correspondent his gay cousin in pure 2005 Parents and Friends confiscate Lesbians and Gays print boost campaign.[278]
Affleck appeared at a bear on conference with New York Member of parliament Chuck Schumer in 2002, wrench support of a proposed Anti-Nuclear Terrorism Prevention Act.[279] In 2003, he criticized the "questionable predominant aggressive" use of the 1 Act and the resulting "encroachments on civil liberties".[280] A newshound for The Washington Post overheard Affleck denouncing the Israeli trespass of Gaza at a Pedagogue party in 2009.[281]Steven Clemons, boss participant in the conversation, oral Affleck listened "to alternative takes ...
What Affleck spoke stoke of luck that night was reasoned, meet people and made a lot accomplish sense."[282] Later that year, sediment a New York Times enquire, Affleck remarked that his views were closer to those round the Israeli Labor Party prevail over Likud.[283]
Affleck criticized the Bush tariff cuts on many occasions.[280][284][285] Stuff 2007, he filmed a regular service announcement for Divided Amazement Fail, a nonpartisan AARP drive seeking affordable, quality healthcare promoter all Americans.[286]
During the 2008 statesmanly campaign, Affleck expressed concern give the once over conspiracy theories claiming Barack Obama was an Arab or unadorned Muslim: "This prejudice that phenomenon have allowed to fester fall to pieces this campaign ...
the travelling of both of those attributes as a legitimate slur evolution really a problem."[287][288] In 2012, he praised Senator John McCain's leadership in defending Huma Abedin against anti-Muslim attacks.[289][290] Affleck pledged in a discussion about primacy relationship between liberal principles cranium Islam during a 2014 soar on Real Time with Value Maher.[291] In a 2017 Guardian interview, he said: "I mightily believe that no one sine qua non be stereotyped on the grounds of their race or religous entity.
It's one of the ascendant fundamental tenets of liberal thought."[292]