Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of Hypnotic, starring Ben Affleck, we’re counting down our favorite Affleck movies! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
In 2023, it’s probably impossible for most to recall the time before Michael Jordan and the Air Jordan brand were global icons. Air takes us back to a time when, not only was Nike not the king of the courts, but they were on the verge of shutting down their entire basketball department. That’s the intriguing story at the heart of the film, and, even as someone who grew up with the Chicago Bulls dynasty and couldn’t get enough of The Last Dance, was a tale I was unfamiliar with. Not only does Ben Affleck direct, but he stars as eccentric Nike CEO Phil Knight, and he seems like he’s having a blast. It’s an intriguing story boosted by great actors doing great work: Matt Damon as talent scout Sonny Vaccaro, Viola Davis as MJ’s mother Deloris (at the request of Jordan himself), and a scene-stealing performance from Chris Messina as Jordan’s agent are just a few of the performances that make this well worth a watch. So come for the behind-the-scenes tale of how the most famous shoe deal of all time came to be, and stay for some truly jaw-dropping “Where are they now?” end credit factoids. (Jake Bourgeois)
Where does Kevin Smith take his View Askew audience when he gets his stories out of the convenience stores and malls? He attempted his most mature and interesting story to date with Chasing Amy. Critically acclaimed in the ‘90s, and one of the most re-evaluated films from that era, Smith delivered an impactful and thought-provoking film. When you have a film coming from one of the rising stars of the independent film movement that features characters of the LGBTQIA+ community, that is quite exciting. With a new perspective, the treatment is problematic. There is a fair assessment when you look at it with 2023 lenses. But what remains strong and effective in regard to the film are the actors, the humor, and much of the story’s humanity. Ben Affleck was given a meaty lead role, and he ran with it. Jason Lee solidified himself as one of the most interesting comic reliefs in indies at the time. But it is Joey Lauren Adams who steals the show in this View Askew entry. It is hard to deny the charm of this film, but it is important to process it with a critical eye. (Shane Conto)
Even though Ben Affleck the director has started to really warm people up to him, Ben Affleck the actor always felt a bit like an afterthought. He was seemingly treated like a movie star would have been treated with his various roles, except his rise came during the fall of the movie star. And even though he performed in Academy Award-winning features, it felt for a long time that he had a cloud over him. Personally, that all changed with Gavin O’Connor’s The Way Back, which put Affleck in a role that forces him to pull back all the layers, both within the character and also within himself. The natural charisma and energy he so often brings to his screen is largely gone. Instead, we see a raw and intimate portrayal of a hurt man drinking himself to death. And what feels especially poignant is that aspects of the film feel incredibly similar to certain aspects of Affleck’s own life. O’Connor then brilliantly uses basketball as a backdrop to tell Affleck’s story, a move we have seen time and time again, yet O’Connor doesn’t fall into the trappings of the usual sports movie. Where the average movie would end, O’Connor chooses to show what happens after the game, and what decisions Affleck’s Jack makes once the season is over, instead of the typical Hollywood ending. It’s ultimately a simple story, but one that isn’t afraid to pull any punches, and I believe it was a clear level up in Affleck’s career. (Nashua Doll)
Shakespeare in Love gets bad wrath from people for the Best Picture win (which, let’s face it, should have gone to Saving Private Ryan) and Judi Dench’s Best Supporting Actress win for less than six minutes of screen time. While these are both perfectly fair points, they don’t change the fact this is a good damn film. The sets, acting, and costumes are all outstanding, and do a great job of immersing you in the atmosphere of England during the reign of Elizabeth the First. It has an exceptional balance of comedy and drama, much like one of the bard’s plays. Affleck is delightful as Ned Alleyn, and Mercutio in the play. Alleyn was the biggest acting name of the time, and Affleck gets this across by his portraying him as slightly egotistical, but also frustrated by the incompetence of the rest of the cast. He has probably the funniest line when he sings stage directions and continues to sing when informing “Thomas Kent” (Gwyneth Paltrow) that they are in the wrong place. I also like the way they make certain aspects of Romeo and Juliet relevant to the plot, such as the fact Juliet doesn’t appear for a while in the play. I love the idea of making a fictitious biopic regarding historical figures that very little is known about. However, I’ve always believed this screenplay started as a comedic version of Romeo and Juliet without a tragic ending. (John Tillyard)
Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel, starring Matt Damon, Jodi Comer, and Adam Driver, takes place in 14th century France, and released only a couple years ago. For some reason, it has undeservedly sunken into obscurity. We are taken through the story in a Rashomon-esque manner, seeing the events through the perspective of the three main leads, leading up to the climax where Damon and Driver must fight a duel to the death over an accusation of sexual assault. Scott does an excellent job telling this story with the care it deserves, while also making it clear that although times have changed, they haven’t changed nearly enough. Ben Affleck gives one of my favorite performances in the movie as Pierre d’Alençon. This performance is one of the most under appreciated of the entire film. Clearly having the most fun with the role, Affleck is the one character allowed to lighten up an otherwise dark and serious atmosphere. His character is truly a terrible person in a position of power but, to use a modern colloquialism is, a dude you would totally grab a beer with. It is a shame that Affleck’s performance, as well as the amazing performances of the rest of this all-star cast, and the movie itself, have been overlooked by the mainstream audience. The Last Duel is an outstanding work that needs much more love than it gets. (Nick Ferro)
After focusing his work solely behind the scenes for his feature directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone, Ben Affleck hopped back in front of the camera for his second effort, The Town. He plays Doug MacRay, the leader of a crew of Boston bank robbers looking to leave the life behind. Affleck gives a steady performance in a cast full of colorful characters — led by a great Jeremy Renner performance. Sure, the directing gets a lot of the attention, but if we don’t care about the character at the heart of things, that impact is severely lessened. Through both his front-facing and behind the scenes work, both directing and co-writing, there’s a real sense of place he’s able to create by sticking to what he knows and setting things in Boston. Add in a masterclass in how to direct tension, and you have, without a doubt, one of the best projects in Affleck’s filmography. (Jake Bourgeois)
The quintessential hangoutfilm is none other than 1993’s Dazed and Confused. Boasting a cast full of up and coming stars such as Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Milla Jovovich, Cole Hauser, and Jason London, the story takes place in 1976 on the last day of school. All is right in Randall Floyd’s (London) life until he is handed a contract to sign. The contract essentially is a promise not to party during the football season. Randall doesn’t taking a liking to this, and throughout the film shows his displeasure for following the rules. The biggest jerk in this film, and a main antagonist for our younger cast, is none other than Ben Affleck, who plays the vile and cocky Fred O’Bannion. He stalks the soon-to-be freshmen, and can’t wait to inflict injustice with his mighty wooden paddle. This is a fun side plot to follow throughout the film, and Affleck does a great job on portraying this all-time recognizable bully. If you’re looking for a film with good vibes and a chill factor to it, look no further than Dazed and Confused. (Joe Vargas)
Have you ever wondered whether your significant other (in this case, it’s the wife) wants to kill you? Well, if not, after finishing Gone Girl, you may question that as you quickly check your credit card statements and garage/shed. Nobody does paranoia thrillers better than David Fincher, and he again flexes his muscles, but he does it so nonchalantly that it doesn’t seem hard whatsoever. But as many movies after this one learned, it’s extremely hard to make a story like this work (looking mainly at you, The Girl on the Train). Gone Girl is a perfect example of how to twist the audience’s expectations halfway through the film, mix everything up, and still finish the film in a very compelling way. Unlike other films, this one gives you the twist in the middle, because that twist actually matters in the overall plot. This is Rosamund Pike’s best performance to date, and Ben Affleck just can’t catch a break in this film. But he portrays his oblivious character perfectly, whilst making us understand why someone with Pike’s intellect would want to marry him in the first place. Gone Girl is a complex film that doesn’t benefit just from its twist; it benefits from having a compelling story told with Fincher’s masterful precision and somebody like Pike in the main role. A must-watch movie, especially if your significant other starts behaving weirdly… (Luke Burian)
While Ben Affleck is mostly known for his acting chops, he excels greatly in his handful of directorial outings, the best of which, in my opinion, is the 2012 film Argo. Based on the hostage crisis that took place in Tehran from 1979 to 1981, Affleck’s character, CIA agent Tony Mendez, is tasked with the mission of bringing U.S. Embassy members in Iran back to the United States. To do that, he hatches the idea of entering the country under the guise as a science fiction filmmaker location scouting his next film and smuggling out the embassy members as the different crew members of the production. To do this, he asks for the help of former CIA agent, and current Hollywood make-up artist, John Chambers (John Goodman) and film producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) to help sell this movie well enough to make it look like a legitimate production. While the film doesn’t follow the real-life events perfectly — most notably the ending — Argo is a wonderful movie, directed greatly, and Affleck delivers an incredible performance, along with Goodman and Arkin. And while the real life conclusion may not have gone down the way the film depicts it, the movie version of the way the finale plays out is incredibly gripping and tense, which is how I feel every time I see it, despite how many times I have watched it previously! (Jeff Alan)
Good Will Hunting was the first movie I saw where I had to start taking Ben Affleck more seriously. Double dipping as both a performer and a screenwriter with Matt Damon, Affleck plays Chuckie, one of Will’s friends. He understands that Will needs to move on with his life, and is trying to make sure that Will gets out of his current situation. We’ve all been there, where a comfortable situation becomes a crutch for people who are afraid of moving on with a part of their life. We also need that friend to give you that push. It also felt a little as if Chuckie and Affleck’s lives parallel one another with Will and Damon’s lives respectively. It would be a long time before Affleck would be more of a prominent name above Damon, but Affleck cemented himself as a star on the rise with his Best Original Screenplay Oscar. This was the start of a long, diverse, and decorated career. (Mike Hilty)
Dogma
Finding a balance between being a religious satire as well as a Jay and Silent Bob movie, Dogma is peak Kevin Smith. Pairing Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as the outcast angels Bartleby and Loki, respectively, was genius casting. Their comedic chemistry is through the roof as they attempt to exploit a loophole created by a Catholic church to return to heaven, and they bring enough sincerity to add weight to the film. They help Smith achieve the ultimate goal of a satire, which is to still tell a compelling story and stand on its own, rather than being full spoof. With some of his great dramatic turns, I’d be hard-pressed to call this Affleck’s best performance, but it is my favorite. His gruff self-righteousness and curmudgeonly demeanor as Bartleby contrasts delightfully with Damon’s fun-loving Loki. An outstanding cast also features strong performances from Salma Hayek, Jason Lee, Alan Rickman, and Chris Rock. You may have your work cut out for you trying to watch this, since it isn’t available on streaming due to rights issues between studios, but it is well worth the effort to track it down. (Jason Mack)
The Accountant
Ben Affleck has been in a lot of movies over the course of his career, and in 2016 he starred in The Accountant. This film tells the story of Christian Wolff (Affleck), who works as an accountant not only for regular people, but for crime organizations as well. When he is hired to look over the books of a company about to go public, he uncovers an embezzling plot that puts his own life in danger. Along for the ride come Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, and John Lithgow, to make this story truly compelling. Some compare this movie to Affleck playing two of Matt Damon’s characters rolled into one person (Jason Bourne and Will Hunting), but the film is more than that: Affleck brings something to this that is different from his other roles. and it’s quite the unique performance. (Austen Terry)
Triple Frontier
Triple Frontier does not hesitate to be all about the action. Having a strong cast that includes Oscar Isaac and Ben Affleck, J.C. Chandor has a strong thriller. The action is very strong throughout the film, and can’t be ignored. “Redfly” (Affleck) is downward spiral with no suitable no income, and has to take care of two families. He says a powerful line, “They take your best years, then spit you out.” The opening sequence of events impresses well in a town in South America. It’s obvious that Chandler was seeking to showcase his ambition to take you to places you’ve haven’t been to before. The film’s actual shooting locations were in Mammoth, Oahu, and Columbia. It highlights the characters who have risked their lives for the country, yet they are barely getting by. This is the kind of film where the team gets together for one final stand. This time, though, they are fighting for themselves, and not for any idea or government (Christian Grullon)
School Ties
I can hardly believe it’s been 32 years since the world got its first taste of what would become a regular fixture in the cinematic landscape, the onscreen pairing of Matt Damon and the man of the hour, Ben Affleck. While School Ties is very much (Brendan) Fraser/Damon centric, it did give us our first taste of things to come from our fifth favorite Batman, second favorite Daredevil, and number one favorite space mining astronaut. All kidding aside, at the fresh-faced age of 20, it was clear that even in his limited screen time, Affleck was destined for bigger things. This was no easy task, given the weight of the material being covered and the talent surrounding him. School Ties is centered around David Greene (Fraser), a Jewish high school quarterback earning a scholarship to play at a prestigious Catholic prep school in 1950s Massachusetts. Damon plays his antagonist, the third generation legacy, Harvard bound, former quarterback who ultimately exposes David’s religious background, erupting in turmoil among the students. With all the explosive performances surrounding him, Affleck still manages to shine in his supporting role as the fun loving Chesty Smith. He didn’t just show up, but brings his A-game even then, and thankfully for all of us, it would be just the beginning of so many more great things to come. Oh, and did I mention, it holds the record for most nude Oscar winners in a single movie scene…? (Patrice Downing)
Armageddon
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: Armageddon has one of the most deceptively stacked casts of any film out there. It says a lot when no matter what scene you cut to, whether it’s the late Michael Clarke Duncan dancing in a leopard print speedo or Will Patton cheekily providing an ironic feeling of calm amongst asteroid-quakes, space machine guns, and angry shotgun wielding fathers (because this a Michael Bay film, so of course all of those are included at no extra cost), you’re always in for a treat. Yet even with this strong of a cast, just like the world called on Harry Stamper to save it, Bay called upon Ben Affleck to do two things: use his late ‘90s charm to be A.J Frost, the sarcastic, hardworking rebel with a heart of gold, who just wants to prove himself to his boss/girlfriend’s father, and to not ask directors questions related to the logic of training drillers to be astronauts, or vice versa. For all the craziness and bizarre events of this film, Affleck does an incredible job of driving home the emotional weight of the third act in ways that still give all the feels over 20 years later. (Matt Lawson)
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
We were skeptical about Ben Affleck taking on the mantle of The Caped Crusader, Batman. With four portrayals by Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Christian Bale, what else could we get? In 2016, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice followed 18 months after the events in 2013’s Man of Steel; an older and hardened Bruce Wayne (Affleck), after seeing the heavily destructed Metropolis, finds Superman (Henry Cavill) as an existential threat to humanity. The film marks the first time Batman and Superman are together in a live action feature, and the superheroes go head to head. The movie is a dark but entertaining turn for Batman and Superman. The two heroes are pitted against one another by Lex Luthor’s (a funny but insane Jesse Eisenberg) manipulation. With their showdown turning into the showdown to save the world, the superheroes get a little help from Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (with a fantastic introduction of Gal Gadot) to take on Doomsday. Affleck doesn’t disappoint: He’s a wiser but jaded man who knows what people would do to each other for power, so he wants to ensure the meta-human doesn’t bring the war to their doorstep. As well, he’s hardened before he finds inspiration in humanity once again, with the help of Superman, which was the setup for Justice League…but that’s another story. Affleck may have gotten flak for his casting, but the Oscar winner showed he could play anyone, including the Dark Knight. (Chantal Ashford)
Also See: State of Play, Boiler Room, Changing Lanes, Hollywoodland