ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Actors, producers, activists, directors (definitely more Ben than Matt), screenwriters and paparazzi sowers (definitely more Matt than Ben, see entry Bennifer). Two operators in the sector who do everything. And rare case of male friendship that has been going on since high school to Cambridge Rindge and Latin School of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Ever since Ben defends shy Matt from a fight on the football field, and since they discover they’re passionate about acting, and want to become a professional. Maybe not star, sure of the important actors, like Newman or Redford. 42 years later, they have become important, perhaps there is still work to be done on “icons of cinema”. But what an adventure from the Oscar for Will Hunting – rebel genius till today.
The understanding and the race for fame begin with a joint bank account, it’s a continuous relationship of brotherhood and support. Especially in that area of global glory which is about success. One thing that, you know, puts you in crisis, and that a friend – better if with the same problem – can help with scaling. “It was a great help over the last 25 years, have an occasional checkup with Ben», Matt recently told a People«become famous all of a sudden, I mean, for a couple of years it has created quite a mess in the head».
And viceversaone would say thinking back to the separation from Jennifer Garner after 10 years of marriage and the memes about Affleck’s sadness: photos smoking in the car alone and the one staring into space in the press junket of Justice League (2016). A phase – mixed with alcoholism and mental disorders – in which Matt must have certainly been at Ben’s side, Incredible relay runner from Jennifer (Lopez) to Garner (he has 3 children with us) and finally again to Lopez, married last year.
The only one with a similar round trip was Charles of Englandnow happy and on the throne with his beloved Camilla, not like Ben who instead remained a bit il Sad Affleck ever, with a donut in hand and the face of a who – with the cameras of the 2023 Grammys an inch from his face – he realizes for the first time that the Earth is hanging in a vacuum. Seeing him filmed by Jennifer, “woe to you if you get up”, one can imagine Luciana Barroso – Matt’s wife – who on the sofa says to him «call him tomorrow».
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon at the premiere of “Air – The Story of the Great Leap”. (Getty Images)
Ben Affleck, an instant star
However, of films together – Ben and Matt, 50 and 52 years old – they made 9. The first – from uncredited – was The man of dreams (1989); the last one is in theaters these days and it’s called Air – The story of the great leap. History of Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), Nike manager who launched the Air Jordan brand in 1984. Collaboration between the brand and Michael Jordan for the new division dedicated to basketball. It deals with of Ben’s fifth directorial filmthe first in which Matt directs and the first born of their new production company Artists Equity. Founded to divide all fees not only between directors, producers and screenwriters, but also with the other professional figures of a film (costume designers, editors, directors of photography).
Who won an Oscar in the first film by four-handed screenwriters – for Will Hunting – rebel genius, in 1998 – can only think like this: dividing every cent. Strengthened by an east coast democratic creed that feeds first and foremost on work ethic, good stories and awareness of the means. Physical too. Ben and Matt have been and are, but a man’s 50 is different from a woman’sof sex symbols. At the time of Cambridge Ringge and Latin School, Matt says Ben always got the lead parts, which often fell on the handsome, daredevil hero.
The blue-eyed blond of the couple instead he was already the future agent Jason Bourne. At least in terms of attitude: shy, silent and attentive to facts, who cares about educational qualifications, books, and in fact he enrolled at Harvard (but he will be the first of the two to show off his abs, in the Mr Ripley’s Talent; Ben only gets there in 2010 with The Townand with suspicion of computer graphics).
With the Oscars for “Will Hunting – rebel genius”, 1998. (Getty Images)
Triumph Will Hunting – rebel genius
The race for an Oscar begins right at Harvardwhere Matt writes down the first treatment of the film in the late 80s (in the middle there is his cinema debut in Mystic Pizza – Julia Roberts’ last film as an unknown). The gestation of the screenplay – shared when Matt joins Ben in Los Angeles, and edited following some tips from Rob Reiner and Kevin Smith – it goes on throughout the 90samid economic hardship, the famous joint current account to provide for expenses and to the great dream of producing Hunting and the first film together: Honor school; the star is Brendan Fraser.
Everything changes with the arrival of Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax (with the metoo the actors will be asked to account for their alleged silence on the harassment of the producer), who in 1995 bought the script – at Smith’s suggestion – from Castle Rock, now disinterested in the project due to creative differences. With the studio king of independent films Ben and Matt get to star in the film, that it is directed by Gus Van Sant and that Robin Williams is in it (later Oscar as supporting actor).
Released at the end of 1997, Will Hunting – rebel genius earns 225 million worldwide (the budget is 10 million), gets 9 nominations and transforms the life of the hard-working friends. At 25, Ben is also the youngest screenwriter to win an Oscar.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon at the Guys Choice Awards in 2016. (Getty Images)
Building success
After a hangover of partying and compliments, Matt stars in Save Private Ryan and in The Talented Mr. Ripley, gets engaged to Winona Ryder and keeps a low profile; instead Ben becomes engaged to Gwyneth Paltrow and throws himself into action with two blockbusters, the space Armageddon and costume drama Shakespeare in love (Best Picture at the 1999 Oscars beating Private Ryan). Now stars, Ben and Matt can afford to act in cool projects without box office obligationsIt is the case of Dogma of the friend Kevin Smith (in which they are two fallen angels trying to get back to heaven through a ruse).
The sense of gratitude for Kevin – who Ben had already filmed with Looking for Amy – is so strong that in 2001 the couple even tour with him Jay & Silent Bob… Stop Hollywood!a film that partly makes fun of the fame of Rebel genius.
Then, with a fresh memory of the difficulties of every artist in trying to realize their projects, they launch themselves into a very virtuosic docu-series, Project Greenlight. Which talks about the selection, the green light and the realization of film projects by first-time directors and screenwriters. Projects that then had a theatrical release.
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck at the 1999 Oscars. (Getty Images)
Flops, sagas and Michelle Obama announcing Argon best movie
Box office failures but also bad movies happen to everyone. Doing the count, however, it is Ben who stands out for his collection of horrors. There is Fell from the skywith Sandra Bullock, Criminal trapwith Charlize Theron, and there is Extreme love (known as Liliesa film that should have capitalized on the Bennifers and instead put an end to it). For Matt there is instead the bad memory of Titan AEbut since 2002, from the first episode of Jason Bourne and of Ocean’s Elevenhe doesn’t miss a beat, maybe he has some drops (Downsizing – living large), but becomes one of the most solid actors around.
At the same time supporting actor and leader, reliable and simple, solid and fragile. Liberace-Michael Douglas remade lover at will in Behind the candelabra And The Martian who recycles the poop of his companions.
How does he recover Ben? Throwing himself into directing, when he can. The debut with Gone Baby Gone – in 2007 – is excellent. With the thriller The Town goes out of competition at the Venice Film Festival, while in 2012, Michelle Obama announces from the White House That Argon is Oscar for best film (after collecting two statuettes).
Ben Affleck, Viola Davis and Matt Damon, stars of “Air – The Story of the Great Leap”. (Getty Images)
When acting directed by othershe who is more woody than Matt, works great if the character adheres to the sad figure born from the stolen photos where he looks like no Batman, but a Medioman annihilated by life: It is the case of The lying love – Gone Girl by David Fincher. And you really can’t think of anyone else playing the dumb husband.
The Last Duel And Air – The story of the great leap
With the biopic up Sonny Vaccaroguru manager who transformed Nike into that lifestyle symbol that lasts and continues to expand, it is probable that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon wanted to forget the few dollars (30) raised by The Last Duel. The violent Middle Ages (but without dragons) of the good Ridley Scott – out of competition in Venice 2022 – not even they were able to bring it up, even though they had written the screenplay.
More effective, and it can already be seen from the European and US box office, a story that has to do with sneakers, perhaps the most successful shoe ever. With Michael Jordan (appointed, but never living; instead the mother Deloris appears, an exceptional Viola Davis), Phil Knight – the founder of Nike played by Affleck – and indeed Sonny Vaccaro: for the sports and sportswear community, three subjects that are much more iconic than Ben and Matt. It will not be The Godfather, but at least it’s a very well done drama where no one wears capes, just 80s looks and hair. And we will certainly see at the Oscars 2024.
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