3. “Gone Girl” (2014)
Time will prove where in David Fincher’s terrific filmography “Gone Girl” finally comes to rest. But while there are those of us here who felt the widespread rapture that greeted his Gillian Flynn adaptation might have been a little exaggerated in that context, there’s no doubt it’s an exceptionally slick, deliciously watchable thriller. Of course Rosamund Pike got the majority of the plaudits in the showier role as the murderously sociopathic Amazing Amy. But Affleck’s casting as her husband Nick who will be accused of her murder and largely convicted in the court of public opinion because helooks guilty, was a quieter masterstroke. Affleck himself has often struggled with how his private life has interfered with the image of him as an actor (and has sometimes done himself no favors in that regard), and so he’s perfectly placed to embody a man whose ostensible blessings — handsomeness and an eagerness to please that might in any other context be charming — damn him by simply coming across all wrong.
2. “Dazed and Confused (1993)
With spiritual sequel “Everybody Wants Some!!” premiering in SXSWrecently to uniformly positive notices (here’s our review) the canonization ofRichard Linklater‘s beloved, nostalgia-drenched last-day-of-high-school ensemble comedy seems complete. But one of the key aspects of this deceptively loose-limbed, free-wheeling film is that despite its shaggy structure, it’s actually full of acute, skewering insights, and is very brilliantly cast. Aside from coining “Alright, alright, alright” for Matthew McConaughey and defining his zonked-out stoner appeal, the film proffers archetypal early roles to Parker Posey, Milla Jovovich, Joey Lauren Adams, Adam Goldberg, Rory Cochrane as well as Ben Affleck. And casting Affleck as the meathead bully O’Bannion is particularly well-considered, with his arc of meanness followed by comeuppance playing out as one of the most satisfying of the film’s overlapping storylines. Affleck’s jocklike good looks, ever undermined by that edge of infuriating smugness makes his “Carrie“-esque moment as the white paint rains down on him feel all the sweeter.
1. “Good Will Hunting” (1997) …. Chuckie Sullivan
Gus Van Sant‘s film may have brought Ben Affleck a writing Oscar at age 25, it may star Robin Williams in an also-Oscar-winning inspirational teacher role, and it may have made astounding coin ($226m) for a somewhat formulaic genius-against-the-odds picture, but the biggest surprise about it is how, despite all that, it remains an intensely likeable film. And Affleck’s Chuckie Sullivan is one of his least affected, most affecting performances — as the loyal but un-brilliant friend of Matt Damon‘s prodigy, Chuckie ensures the film’s heart rivals Will Hunting’s cerebellum in size. It’s easy to imagine a far less successful, less easy-to-root-for version of this film where the two actors reversed the roles, with Affleck striding into the role of Will Hunting and off into the sunset destined for Great Things. But the fact that in a script he co-wrote, he took the less central, non-title role indicates that he (and friend and collaborator Damon) understood his own appeal perhaps better than many Hollywood execs ever would.
Click over to see our rankings of the other films in Affleck’s filmography as actor.
