It’s Ben Affleck‘s birthday! To mark the occasion, here are five performances from the acclaimed comedic and dramatic actor. Check some of these out!
Mallrats (1995)
Sure, it’s not REALLY one of his best (or biggest) roles, but it sure is one of his earliest. Shortly after playing the completely douchey O’Bannion in Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused, Affleck was cast in Kevin Smith’s Clerks follow up film as the completely douchey Shannon Hamilton. Man, did he luck out by not getting typecast after these two films. But he really does nail the role and gives Jason Lee a rough time at the mall.
The Tender Bar (2021)
I only saw this one once, but I enjoyed it. It’s a real nice film and he is just great as Uncle Charlie. The film is set in 1970s Long Island and is based on a memoir by J. R. Moehringer. After moving back in with his grandparents, J.R. forms a bond with his Uncle Charlie, the owner of a local bar. Charlie fills the role of a surrogate father to J.R. all along he encourages him in his pursuit of becoming a successful writer even if J.R.’s mother has expectations of him going to Yale or Harvard and become a lawyer. All in all it’s a sweet and simple film with a great cast.
The Accountant (2016)
A solid action thriller from Gavin O’Conner about a money launderer with autism and is trained in martial arts and weapons. Sounds like a lot to throw into a film, but it works. At the heart of it all, like O’Conner’s previous film Warrior, it is about two brothers who have been estranged. Affleck does a great job as the autistic accountant and I can’t wait to see what they do with the upcoming sequel.
Extract (2009)
This is a sleeper of a film if you ask me. Mike Judge put together a cast that is outstanding. Between Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis, J.K. Simmons, Kristen Wiig, and a barely recognizable T.J. Miller, Affleck slides right on in there as Joel Reynolds’ (Bateman) best friend and local bartender, Dean Slade.
He just rolls on in and steals almost every scene he is in. He’s the king of bad advice and it is genius. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, you should. I mean just look at that hair, why pass it up? Plus Mila Kunis is adorable in it.
The Last Duel (2021)
And speaking of hair, I never would have expected to see a blonde Affleck in a movie, but his role as Count Pierre d’Alençon is something you can’t unsee, he just owns it. And once again he pulls off the completely douchey character once again with ease. I know some people think this film was divisive or a flat out bomb, but they are wrong. It’s a well made and interesting film that really makes you think. Remember this: “There are three sides to every story… your side, my side, and the truth. And no one is lying. Memories shared serve each differently.”
What are some of your favorite films to feature birthday Ben Affleck?
