Literary HackGood Will Hunting Goes Two Different Directions
April 19th 2010 11:06
In 1997 two young actors wrote a screenplay about a troubled and genius young man who knew everything in life except how to deal with it. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck starred in their movie, Good Will Hunting, along with Robin Williams and Gus Van Sant was brought on as the director. The movie became a critically acclaimed masterpiece and was nominated for 9 Academy Awards, earning Robin Williams a Best Supporting Actor award as well as Damon and Affleck a Best Original Screenplay award.
Good Will Hunting sent little-known Affleck and Damon into superstar status and turned both of them into major box office draws. While both left Good Will Hunting as rising young stars, Affleck went on to have much more immediate and commercial fame than his friend and co-star. Affleck soared into the spotlight almost instantaneously. Dating Hollywood vixens, immersing himself into the Hollywood lifestyle, landing on magazine cover after cover, Affleck became a virtual overnight sensation. Damon, on the other hand, consistently and methodically chose his movie roles. Damon appeared to be much more subdued than Affleck, seemingly not able to fill the role of a blockbuster Hollywood actor. Damon plotted, maybe gambled, with his future by not capitalizing immediately on his fame and credibility Good Will Hunting garnered him. The two actors and best friends rose to super stardom at the same time due mostly because of the same project, but took two vastly different paths on their way to becoming America's top actors.
In the three years after Good Will Hunting, both actors cashed in on their success by starring in an increasing amount of movies. This was especially true of Affleck who starred in a slew of movies, including the mega blockbuster, Armageddon. Damon too saw more roles than ever before including Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan. As their movie star status grew, so did the names of their girlfriends. Damon dated Minnie Driver and Winona Ryder while Affleck dated the famous Gwyneth Paltrow.
The next three years (2001-2004) saw their careers slowly heading in opposite direction. Affleck starred in another mega blockbuster, Pearl Harbor, although is was critically viewed as a mediocre movie. Affleck was seen as a party boy around Hollywood after Good Will Hunting and his image worsened in 2001 when he checked into alcohol rehab. Soon after Affleck started to date Jennifer Lopez, which was of course we all remember as "Bennifer". While engaged the couple starred in Gigli which was considered both critically and commercially a disaster. Affleck also starred in several other big name movies like Paycheck and Daredevil. Both were considered critical flops, continuing the idea that Affleck had been over-saturated throughout Hollywood. Damon, however, took slightly lesser roles, both in number as well as publicized. Damon starred in Ocean's 11, a who's who of actors that cast Damon on the same plane as co-stars Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Damon also turned down the lead role in the remake of Planet of the Apes for a smaller project entitled The Bourne Identity. Of course this gamble paid off as Damon is now shooting the fourth installment of the Bourne series, which has been both critically and commercially a wonderful success. In 2003, Damon met a bartender, Luciana Bozan Barroso, who is now his wife.
Following the Bennifer fallout, Affleck starred in Jersey Girl where he met his now wife, Jennifer Garner. Affleck then laid low until he played a somewhat small role in the 2006 mystery thriller, Hollywoodland. He continued his mini comeback by directing the successful Gone Baby Gone. Most recently he starred in the well received State of Play, opposite Russell Crowe. Affleck is currently directing his second movie, The Town.
While Affleck is defining himself again to be considered both a top-notch actor and a director, Damon has cemented his status as one of the top actors in Hollywood. If the Bourne series and Ocean series gave him credibility as a great actor, than The Departed cemented. The Departed, was directed by the famous Martin Scorcese and won Best Picture of 2006 at the Oscars. Damon then starred in The Good Shepherd, directed by the great Robert De Niro. Damon then went on to star in the Clint Eastwood directed, Invictus.
In the immediate years following Good Will Hunting, Affleck looked as though he was the one that would cash in the most from the movie's success, However, due to overexposure Affleck fizzled out and the consistent and carefully role-choosing Damon became one of Hollywood's best actors.
Matt and Ben sporting off their Oscars.
Good Will Hunting sent little-known Affleck and Damon into superstar status and turned both of them into major box office draws. While both left Good Will Hunting as rising young stars, Affleck went on to have much more immediate and commercial fame than his friend and co-star. Affleck soared into the spotlight almost instantaneously. Dating Hollywood vixens, immersing himself into the Hollywood lifestyle, landing on magazine cover after cover, Affleck became a virtual overnight sensation. Damon, on the other hand, consistently and methodically chose his movie roles. Damon appeared to be much more subdued than Affleck, seemingly not able to fill the role of a blockbuster Hollywood actor. Damon plotted, maybe gambled, with his future by not capitalizing immediately on his fame and credibility Good Will Hunting garnered him. The two actors and best friends rose to super stardom at the same time due mostly because of the same project, but took two vastly different paths on their way to becoming America's top actors.
Will and Chuck in Good Will Hunting
In the three years after Good Will Hunting, both actors cashed in on their success by starring in an increasing amount of movies. This was especially true of Affleck who starred in a slew of movies, including the mega blockbuster, Armageddon. Damon too saw more roles than ever before including Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan. As their movie star status grew, so did the names of their girlfriends. Damon dated Minnie Driver and Winona Ryder while Affleck dated the famous Gwyneth Paltrow.
Ben hit it big with Armageddon
The next three years (2001-2004) saw their careers slowly heading in opposite direction. Affleck starred in another mega blockbuster, Pearl Harbor, although is was critically viewed as a mediocre movie. Affleck was seen as a party boy around Hollywood after Good Will Hunting and his image worsened in 2001 when he checked into alcohol rehab. Soon after Affleck started to date Jennifer Lopez, which was of course we all remember as "Bennifer". While engaged the couple starred in Gigli which was considered both critically and commercially a disaster. Affleck also starred in several other big name movies like Paycheck and Daredevil. Both were considered critical flops, continuing the idea that Affleck had been over-saturated throughout Hollywood. Damon, however, took slightly lesser roles, both in number as well as publicized. Damon starred in Ocean's 11, a who's who of actors that cast Damon on the same plane as co-stars Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Damon also turned down the lead role in the remake of Planet of the Apes for a smaller project entitled The Bourne Identity. Of course this gamble paid off as Damon is now shooting the fourth installment of the Bourne series, which has been both critically and commercially a wonderful success. In 2003, Damon met a bartender, Luciana Bozan Barroso, who is now his wife.
I still can't believe these two were actually engaged.
Following the Bennifer fallout, Affleck starred in Jersey Girl where he met his now wife, Jennifer Garner. Affleck then laid low until he played a somewhat small role in the 2006 mystery thriller, Hollywoodland. He continued his mini comeback by directing the successful Gone Baby Gone. Most recently he starred in the well received State of Play, opposite Russell Crowe. Affleck is currently directing his second movie, The Town.
While Affleck is defining himself again to be considered both a top-notch actor and a director, Damon has cemented his status as one of the top actors in Hollywood. If the Bourne series and Ocean series gave him credibility as a great actor, than The Departed cemented. The Departed, was directed by the famous Martin Scorcese and won Best Picture of 2006 at the Oscars. Damon then starred in The Good Shepherd, directed by the great Robert De Niro. Damon then went on to star in the Clint Eastwood directed, Invictus.
In the immediate years following Good Will Hunting, Affleck looked as though he was the one that would cash in the most from the movie's success, However, due to overexposure Affleck fizzled out and the consistent and carefully role-choosing Damon became one of Hollywood's best actors.
Ben got their first
But Matt stayed longer
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