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Entries in Ben Affleck (13)

Sunday
06Sep2009

Review: “Extract”

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Seen on: August 12, 2009

The players: Director: Mike Judge Writer: Mike Judge, Cast: Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig, Ben Affleck, J. K. Simmons

Facts of interest: Mike Judge also directed "Office Space" and created "Beavis and Butthead."

The plot: Joel (Jason Bateman) is an extract plant owner who's having big problems at home and at work.

Our quick thoughts: Mike Judge, creator of “Office Space,” returns to the big screen with “Extract,” a deliciously funny comedy about a desperate white-collar guy who just doesn’t know how to handle his troubles at home and at work.

Click to read more ...

Monday
31Aug2009

This week's new movie releases - Sept. 4, 2009

Opening this week are Phil Traill's "All About Steve" with Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper; Mike Judge's "Extract" with Jason Bateman and Mila Kunis; and "Gamer" with Gerard Butler and Michael C. Hall:

ALL ABOUT STEVE (with Sandra Bullock, Bradley Cooper)

Synopsis: Despite the fact that she has only gone on one short date with the man (Cooper), a love-struck puzzle creator (Bullock) becomes enamored with a successful cameraman and follows him to a series of media events in hopes that the feeling is mutual.

Click to read more ...

Thursday
27Aug2009

'Gossip Girl's' Blake Lively heads to Affleck's 'Town'

Blake Lively

Teen Choice Award winner Blake Lively from the sucky television show "Gossip Girl" (sorry, I just can't stand it) has signed on to join the solid cast for Ben Affleck's upcoming crime flick "The Town," the big-screen adaptation of Chuck Hogan's novel "The Prince of Thieves."

She joins Affleck, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall and Jeremy Renner. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the awesome Chris Cooper is also in talks to join the Warner Bros./Legendary project, and I can only hope he does.

Click to read more ...

Tuesday
28Jul2009

Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall travel to 'Town'

Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm and Rebecca Hall are packing for Ben Affleck's "The Town," the big-screen adaptation of Chuck Hogan's novel "The Prince of Thieves."

Directed by Affleck, the film focuses on a thief who falls in love with the manager (Hall) of the bank he recently robbed. Variety says Hamm plays an FBI agent who also gets somehow involved with her.

Hogan and Peter Craig wrote the screenplay, which Affleck rewrote. “Town” marks Affleck’s second directorial effort after his acclaimed drama “Gone Baby Gone.”

Hamm, whose credits include "Mad Men," recently starred in "The Day the Earth Stood Still." As for Hall, the "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" star will soon be seen in "Dorian Gray."

Monday
27Apr2009

Maria Bello, Craig T. Nelson board 'Company Men'

Craig T. Nelson and the charming Maria Bello are set to star in John Wells’ upcoming drama "The Company Men." Ben Affleck, Kevin Costner and Tommy Lee Jones are already part of the project, which is set during a slowing economy and follows a successful career man (Affleck) who struggles with his financial situation after he suddenly loses his job. Costner plays his brother-in-law, and Jones stars as a partner in the firm.

According to Variety, Bello is playing the vice president of human resources, and Nelson plays the firm's CEO. Wells also wrote the script for "Men." Bello was last seen in "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," and Nelson recently starred in "Blades of Glory." By the way, the still you see above is a shot from the film (via WorstPreviews).

Friday
17Apr2009

'State of Play' web reviews

Kevin Macdonald returns with "State of Play," a thriller about a reporter who embarks on his own investigation into the murder of a congressman's assistant. Tony Gilroy, Billy Ray and Matthew Michael Carnahan worked on the script, and Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren and Rachel McAdams star. Here's what the Web critics think:

Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck star in State of Play• Brad Brevet at RopeOfSilicon: "When State of Play is good, it's really good, but there are those moments where you can tell they are trying to fit six hours of an acclaimed miniseries into a 127 minute thriller."

LatinoReview's Ron Henriques: "The film not only works as a thriller, but is one of the best pictures in years to realistically look at the inner workings of a newspaper and the various elements and individuals that make it work."

Joblo's Chris Cumbray: "Still, with a better ending, this could have been one of the best of the year, and it’s a shame that now, it’s simply going to be remembered as a decent thriller, but nothing more."

CinemaBlend's Katey Rich: "As much fun as it is to watch the hunt, though, State of Play stumbles with the conspiracy it eventually unravels, which involves corporate intrigue and government corruption rotely familiar from dozens of other thrillers stretching back decades."

Click to read more ...

Monday
13Apr2009

This week's new movie releases - April 17, 2009

Here's what's on the menu this week: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor's "Crank: High Voltage" with Jason Statham, "17 Again" with Zac Efron, and Kevin Macdonald's thriller "State of Play" with Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren and Rachel McAdams:

CRANK: HIGH VOLTAGE

Synopsis: In this high-octane sequel, hitman Chev Chelios’ (Statham) launches himself on an electrifying chase through Los Angeles in pursuit of the Chinese mobster who has stolen his nearly indestructible heart.

First thoughts: Yes, I admit I am quite excited to see this sequel, even though it looks a gazillion times crazier and far more brainless than its predecessor. That said, I really enjoyed "Crank" because it delivered fast-paced non-stop silly action. And sometimes, that's exactly what I need (as long as it's entertaining), no matter how over-the-top it is.

Click to read more ...

Friday
20Mar2009

Costner, Lee Jones are 'Company Men'

Kevin Costner and Tommy Lee Jones have signed on to join Ben Affleck in John Wells’ upcoming drama “The Company Men."

According to Variety, the film is set during a slowing economy and follows a successful career man (Affleck) who struggles with his financial situation after he suddenly loses his job.

Costner is set to play his brother-in-law, a drywall installer who helps him get a construction job. Jones stars as a senior partner in the firm.

Wells wrote the script and will direct the flick. He previously wrote and directed several “ER” episodes and co-created television’s “Third Watch.”

Costner recently starred in "Swing Vote" and "Mr. Brooks." He's also gearing up to direct "The One." As for Jones, his recent credits include "No Country For Old Men" and "In the Valley of Elah."

Friday
06Feb2009

'He's Just Not That Into You' web reviews

Dating and married life are placed under scrutiny in Ken Kwapis' latest comedy "He's Just Not That Into You," starring Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson and Justin Long. It's a great cast, but how great is the movie?

CinemaBlend's Katey Rich: "So it's not that funny, not that smart, and not that original, but the movie has a hypnotic pull regardless."

• Matt Goldberg at Collider: "Director Ken Kwapis has absolutely no idea what he's doing with this film. He divides it up into sections, there are brief "man-on-the-street" interviews (done by actors so what's the point?), and then there are about five inter-linked love stories."

• Brad Brevet at RopeOfSilicon: "Like I said, just watching this film is a social experiment and going to the theater to watch it should be considered extra credit."

• Ron Henriques at LatinoReview: "But this film manages to make both men and women look like buffoons when all of their problems can be solved by a little communication with each other."

• William Goss at Cinematical: "Nah, at the end of the day, this film feels more like a one night stand than anything else: you'll enjoy taking it home overnight, but when tomorrow comes, it's less a matter of calling it as merely recalling it."

Monday
08Dec2008

Ben Affleck attached to helm 'Arizona'

Ben Affleck is attached to direct Miramax Films' "Arizona," a drama based on true events, according to Variety.

The film tells the story of Don Bolles, an Arizona Republic investigative reporter who was killed in a car bomb explosion during one of his investigations into state government.

The trade says Miramax has hired Sheldon Turner to pen the sctipt. Turner's credits include "The Longest Yard" and "the Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning."

Affleck made his directorial debut with 2007's "Gone Baby Gone," which was warmly welcomed by critics. On the screen, Affleck will next be seen in "He's Just Not That Into you."

Affleck has certainly done some crappy films as an actor, but I really enjoyed "Gone Baby Gone" and believe he's got a lot more in store as a director. This project sounds right up his alley.