Ben Affleck, Modern Master Award, 2013

Reviewed by Lynn Montgomery. Arlington Theatre

I have not seen every Ben Affleck movie.  In fact, there were times when just seeing Ben Affleck’s name above the title was enough to insure that I would not be seeing that movie: Reindeer Games; Armegeddon; Gigli; Pearl Harbor; Bounce; Smokin Aces; State of Play. I don’t know, some of these could be great movies. I’ll probably never know because I doubt I will ever see them. They all sound like the same story to me. I’m sorry – just a little too much blowing things up and monosyllabic mumbling to interest me. And then there was the whole Bennifer/Jennifer Lopez thing. Another nail in the Ben Affleck coffin. But of course, that was before The Town and Argo. It is a cliche to say it now but – hey this guy is talented! He did deserve that Oscar for Good Will Hunting after all.

This year’s Modern Master Award was presented to Ben Affleck at a packed house at the beautiful, historic Arlington Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara. He deserved the accolade. Affleck is a talented writer/producer/actor/ who seems to be unfazed by all the hype. Maybe it is because he went through that dip in his meteoric rise that he has maintained a sense of humility. Actually, I think it is that he really is a nice guy.

Matt Damon, who was there to present the award to his best friend/co-writer, said that he was worried about Ben there for a while and his choices in films. When he asked his friend about some of the holes in the scripts he was choosing, Ben said not to worry, if I do this and tweak that and make this little adjustment here – it will be a great film. Damon said that Affleck was usually right. If those changes were made it would be a great film. But the problem was they were not Ben Affleck films. They were just starring Ben Affleck. He couldn’t make the changes. That power was with the director.

Flash forward to The Town, starring Ben Affleck, co-written by Ben Affleck,  directed by Ben Affleck. Anything that needed to be tweaked was and the result was a great film.

Flash forward to this year and the film Argot. Yesterday’s headline in London said it all: “Iran-hostage drama “Argo” continued its journey from awards-season outsider to favorite Sunday, winning three prizes, including best-picture, at the British Academy Film Awards.” Affleck dedicated his directing prize to “anyone out there who’s trying to get their second act.”

George Clooney, a producer of “Argo,” quipped: “I don’t know what you’re going to do for a third act.”

I know. He’s going to insure that anytime the film says – a Ben Affleck movie, I will be standing in line to buy a ticket.