As Ben Affleck’s Uncle Charlie would say, some films just have “it.” There are certain films that get announced, with a release date attached and a trailer in the editing … Continue reading Why George Clooney’s ‘The Tender Bar’ could be Ben Affleck’s ticket back to the Oscars
Greed can be a deadly thing. One of the most unique and poisonous human frailties in the world, greed can take not only one person down, but several. When it … Continue reading ‘Triple Frontier’ is a thrilling showcase about the casualties of war
For as long as I can remember, a movie has been the biggest con in the world. You gather real people together in order to make a fictional world with a plan to entertain. In 1979, CIA specialist Tony Mendez(a perfectly understated Affleck) used the front of a movie production crew to rescue six American diplomats hiding out during a time of war. Argo is the first movie in 2012 to full embody the idea of an Oscar winner.
The story blends drama together with a thriller and mixes in killer comedy from Alan Arkin’s director Lester Siegel and John Goodman’s legendary makeup artist Don Chambers, two men who helped Mendez make a fake movie. A hard edged thriller that doesn’t take itself too seriously. What more could you ask for in the beginning of the awards season? For over 75 days, the Americans were trapped and this was the best bad idea in the agency.
Affleck’s attention to every detail is amazing here and creates a legit reputation in Hollywood for Affleck’s skill as a storyteller behind the camera. Real photos are brought to stunning life here and the real Tony Mendez and hostages were involved in the making of the film. The post credits sequences features a message from the U.S. President at the time, Jimmy Carter, who says in a matter of words, that the mission was top secret but cemented Mendez’s reputation as one of the best agents in the history of the CIA. The movie is a riveting and smooth presentation, laying out the grounds for the revolution in a narration to Mendez’s idea to the building of the mission. (more…)
It’s funny how one TV spot can change fans opinion of an actor’s take on a role. The latest Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice trailer focused heavily on Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne/Batman, finally unleashing the sinister nature of the new Bat. Apparently, Wayne doesn’t like the potential damage an alien can bring to Earth. Check it out.
Affleck will save this film from being a campy overstuffed mess. I said it then and stand by it now. When he was first announced as the next Batman years ago, the dawn of fan hatred began. They threatened everything close to Affleck except for his beloved Boston Red Sox and lovely ex-wife Jennifer Garner. It was a serious revolt and worse than the Daniel Craig/James Bond dirt talk.
Why? A number of reasons that all centered around one. Affleck sucked in Daredevil. There are other reasons people will list, but this one takes the cake. The last time Affleck put on tights and tried to be noble, the result was a flop and something Netflix had to clean up later(ironically, the new season of Daredevil premieres a week after Bat and Sup do battle). The reality is that Daredevil was terrible on a whole new level and not just with Affleck. Mark Steven Johnson’s directing was wretched, Garner wasn’t good at all, and the saving grace was Colin Farrell, having too much fun as Bullseye.
Affleck has made a strong comeback in the last ten years, getting nominated for Oscars and directing a trio of films(Gone Baby Gone, The Town, Argo) that stand up to any other director’s last three films. He has also become a better actor by mixing himself into ensembles and taking the right parts to properly utilize his talent. Love or hate the guy, there’s rapid truth to the fact that he can’t miss right now.
Warner Brothers seems to think his performance is pretty good. Many if not all of the recent TV Spots have focused on Batman and many of the trailers have as well. Director Zach Snyder’s Man of Steel was a good if not great film and the studio declined to give him another stand alone Superman film. Isn’t that telling?
Warner Brothers has dished out three Batman film per decade and only give Snyder one Superman film even after it made some good money. Why? They like Batman more and really like Affleck’s take on the character. Why else would you see Batman in Suicide Squad and there be confirmed rumors of a feature length stand alone Affleck Batman film? A studio doesn’t pour 200-300 million dollars into a guy they are not sure about. They all know Affleck is going to be fantastic as Wayne and do Batman justice as well.
It’s the perfect mix of actor and role, especially since this Batman is older, edgier and has something to prove. Affleck nearly didn’t take the role before Snyder told him what the world around Batman was and how he would fit into it. This is not your ordinary Batman. This is a mad man and someone who saw lives lost in the finale of Man of Steel, a huge plot point and basis of fan criticism that is playing a role in the new film.
Stop worrying about whether Affleck will be as good as Bale and check your hatred at the door knowing he won’t be as bad as Tobey Maguire was as Peter Parker. Ben Affleck will be the best part of Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice. He will be the one you will be walk away talking about. The film, well, that is still a mystery.
Affleck is a reason for even the casual comic book movie and film lovers to take a chance with this summer tentpole.
“Maybe Gotham and I share the same opinion. We have a bad history with freaks who dress like clowns.”
The tense face-off between Bruce Wayne(Ben Affleck) and Clark Kent(Henry Cavill) is the best part of this new slice of footage from 2016’s mega blockbuster, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. This is the big swing from DC in its response to Marvel, who has taken over the superhero movie scene the past few years. If David S. Goyer’s script has the juice of this verbal face-off, not even the erratic inconsistent filmmaking style of Zach Snyder can mess it up.
For all the people who hated Man of Steel’s over the top finale, where Sup and General Zod’s fight leveled a city, that is the exact definition of the thorn stuck in Wayne/Batman’s side as this movie opens up. The carnage in MOS’finale also leveled a Wayne Enterprises building, killing several of Wayne’s employees and friends. This makes Wayne question the new alien in town, someone who has the power to destroy it as much as nurture and protect it.
The new footage also introduces in depth other key players like Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman and Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor as well as a new villain, Doomsday. Any Superman comic book collector knows what the presence of this beast signifies. In the comics, he killed DC’s hero. His place in the movie seems to eventually align Bat and Sup each other instead of against each other.
It should be fun watching the human Wayne take on the otherworldly Superman. At the heart of these films is the ideals of each hero and how the heroism can lead to more death. It begs the question that is hammered down so well in the Captain America films. Are they heroes or vigilantes?
Wild theory time. Here’s something I’d love to see happen. Morgan Freeman makes an uncredited cameo as Lucius Fox at the beginning of this film and in a scene that evokes 9/11, is talking to Wayne when the Wayne Tower is struck by Superman and Zod. Fox is killed in the wreckage and that personally spikes Wayne’s anger. Just an idea that Snyder and Goyer could be hiding up their sleeve. Or Lois Lane(Amy Adams) being killed in wreckage by Doomsday and Wayne making a quip towards Superman, saying “now you know how it feels to lose someone you love to another’s madness”. Something sets Kent off into a mad descent of anger. The possibilities in this DC film universe shaping flick spring out in a number of directions.
I can’t get enough of Affleck’s Wayne/Bat. He is the perfect guy at this particular age to play this character in this story. An older, wearier and angrier hero who doesn’t trust what this new alien brings to the table.
This movie could be incredibly good or overstuffed. It’s hard to not think about Spider Man when you see all these characters at once. Then again, Joss Whedon pulled it off with Avengers so it’s not impossible.
Are you pumped for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice?
Watch the trailer for yourself.
Welcome to the land of trailers. Teases that drive us fucking insane. A tidbit is dropped a year in advance and we spend the next few months breaking down the threads, hints and tiny bits of details that may lead to spoilers. Directors and editors create these 150 second ice cubes of intrigue just to drive us nuts and make us buy the 11 dollar ticket on opening night. Take Suicide Squad, writer/director David Ayer’s latest loaded deck. It comes out in August of 2016, which is over a year away but in the middle of shooting he drops a trailer off for us to dissect and digest over and over again. You see, SS is the third film i the new DC universe of films. It started with Man of Steel and continues with Batman v Superman before Suicide Squad drops next summer. Let’s start with that trailer and roll on from there.
Suicide Squad
What is this about? Well, DC’s band of thieves are rounded up by the government to task missions and take care of the dirty work that they don’t want traced back to their hands. Instead of asking Batman to take out some criminals or a terrorist cell, the suits install baddies like Harley Quinn(Margot Robbie from Wolf of Wall Street), Lloyd aka Deadshot(Will Smith with a shaved head!!!), Captain Boomerang(Jai Courtney) and Rick Flagg(Joel Kinnaman). They do job, eventually turn on each other and the whole trailer is tuned to a Bee Gee’s cover. Sounds swell and the trailer works very well.
Ayer’s magic trick here is reinventing The Joker via Jared Leto’s punk rocker imitation. He had silver teeth, green hair, a deep voice and the tattoos to assure us this is not Heath Ledger’s Joker. Should we cut this new version a free rein of slack? Yes. As much as I adore Ledger’s work, Leto doesn’t do a film because he’s told to. He decides to take it on. It’s a choice thing. From the looks of the trailer I don’t think he is playing around. (more…)
After the initial teaser wet the lips earlier this year, Warner Brothers and Director Zack Snyder have dropped a bigger chunk of their 2016 cinematic blockbuster, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, at our feet. The Comic Con footage has been released. A new trailer that promises all kinds of mayhem next March. Let’s throw on the cape and fire out 5 quick instant reactions.
“20 years in Gotham. How many good guys are left? How many stayed that way?”-Bruce Wayne
1. Tying the story right back to Man of Steel. People were mad at the city being destroyed in the huge climax of MOS must know it plays a part here. The damage done to Metropolis is what causes Ben Affleck’s Batman to seek revenge on Superman. One of his buildings was destroyed that day and this kicks off the juiciest part of the plot.
2. I love the older wearier look on Affleck’s Batman. This isn’t your young rich guy crusader. This is an angry man. He’s lost more people than Superman can count and there will be justice. Hate on The Fleck all you want but he’s perfect for this role. A mix of all the previous Batman’s rolled into one good performance. The shot of Affleck’s Wayne running into the building crumbling dust cloud reminded me of 9/11 instantly. It’s a powerful shot that works while making you a bit cold and sending the focus to the world’s new hero…or alien. (more…)
Dose of Buffa 