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Affleck vs. Hamm. Let the Square Jaw Off Begin!

Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms, Yo! / Dustin Rowles

Trade News | July 28, 2009 | Comments (14)

It’s been nearly a year now since we reported that Ben Affleck’s next project as a director will be The Town, an adaptation of Chuck Hogan’s novel Prince of Thieves that’s being described as a romantic comedy slash crime thriller. I got no issues with Mr. Affleck behind the camera — Gone Baby Gone proved that he was a natural there. And although his acting star is on the rebound after a series of well-received roles in Hollywoodland, Smokin’ Aces and State of Play (he’s also in Mike Judge’s upcoming Extract), I still think that Affleck’s best when he’s off-screen.

Unfortunately, he’s also starring in The Town, and yesterday, both Jon Hamm and Rebecca Hall signed on as the other two principals. The movie follows the relationship between a bank manager (Hall), the career criminal (Affleck) who stole more than her heart, and the dedicated FBI agent (Hamm) trying to bust the crook and his gang.

I like the Hamm casting — he’s the classy-man’s version of Affleck, anyway. I don’t, however, see Affleck as a career criminal type — didn’t he try that in Gigli with disastrous results and criminally awful high-Jersey hair? Rebecca Hall, likewise, is the embodiment of classy. So, maybe Mr. Affleck will come around to replacing himself with a better actor. Like his brother.

Filming on The Town will start next month (after Hamm wraps up “Mad Men”) in Boston.

And speaking of Affleck, has anyone ever seen his directorial debut, 1993’s comedy short, I Killed My Lesbian Wife, Hung Her on a Meat Hook, and Now I Have a Three-Picture Deal at Disney. I’m going to need to track that down.


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Comments

And speaking of Affleck, has anyone ever seen his directorial debut, 1993’s comedy short, I Killed My Lesbian Wife, Hung Her on a Meat Hook, and Now I Have a Three-Picture Deal at Disney. I’m going to need to track that down.

It's a real movie. It even has an IMDB page.

Posted by: George at July 28, 2009 10:10 AM

It still hurts that Phantoms was as bad as it was. It's still, to this day, the scariest book I've ever read. Mind you, since they re-released the book... they toned down some parts that are... let's say... offensive to religion.

Posted by: Colin at July 28, 2009 10:30 AM

Loved Gone Baby Gone but I was somewhat distracted from the story by the sheer amount of focus I dedicated to understanding Casey Affleck's speech. Great actor, but the man needs to stop mumbling.

Posted by: Agent Scully at July 28, 2009 10:38 AM

wait what? they re-released that book Collin????

Posted by: JenVegas at July 28, 2009 11:07 AM

Yeah Colin and JenVegas, I'm with you, fuck Affleck, I want to talk about Phantoms!

Definately the scariest supernatural book I've ever read. When did they re-release this edited, chipper-skipper version you speak of?

I hope Koontz rewrote the part of the sheriff to be more suggestive of an Affleck-esque individual. You know..."failed" is the word I'm looking for, but it doesn't seem descriptive enough.

Posted by: TheGreasedScotsman at July 28, 2009 11:51 AM

All I know is I had to stop watching Phantoms about 25 minutes in 'cause the random empty town filled with mutilated bodies was giving me the heebie-jeebies something serious. Now, most of that was likely due to (a) the fact that I was about 12 and (b) the fact that I had played "Silent Hill" not too long before I saw it. Maybe the movie sucked for the hour after I stopped watching, I don't know, but those opening scenes...*shudder*.

Posted by: Shay at July 28, 2009 12:21 PM

When I say re-released, it was probably more of a " comprehensive edit."

The first copy I ever read was from my mother, and it looked to be from the 80's, maybe even the original release.

I've since purchased my own copy, and although I haven't read it in a couple of years... I remember a distinct line or two relating to "God is ___," and "Jesus ___ ___."

That, and the fact that I believe some minor parts of the story were changed. But, trust me... those lines are very haunting (and probably disturbing) in how they were delivered in the story, and changing them really effected that scene.

Posted by: Colin at July 28, 2009 12:23 PM

By the way, I know my explanation seems vague… I just don't know exactly the phrasing and I don't want to misquote. I just know that it went from severely harsh language about God and Jesus… to something less perversive.

I'm by no means religious, but reading that when you're 12 years old is pretty jarring, and I assume it would still be today. I'll have to get the copy from my parents house so I can compare...

Posted by: Colin at July 28, 2009 12:31 PM

Mind you, since they re-released the book... they toned down some parts that are... let's say... offensive to religion.

Posted by: Colin at July 28, 2009 10:30 AM
---
If they did that to Dan Brown's book, they'd be two pages long. And both would be blank.

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at July 28, 2009 12:36 PM

In keeping with the thread I'll say I definitely prefer Affleck as a director but maybe his time behind the camera and getting to watch Casey strut his stuff in Gone Baby Gone will improve his acting abilities...he was pretty good in State of Play but was essentially just playing Affleck In An Expensive Suit.

Collin, I don't know how I feel about Koonz re-editing his perfectly good and perfectly terrifying book to remove some religious references. Did he find God or something? Is he gonna pull an Ann Rice on us?

Posted by: JenVegas at July 28, 2009 1:01 PM

Jon Hamm! woo! Dude needs to get more work. And he needs to come over so I can jump him.

Posted by: figgy at July 28, 2009 2:12 PM

Seriously, Rebecca Hall just does not get enough love. My pants and I will be perfectly content watching her and Jon Hamm be, you know, them.

Posted by: Annie UhOh at July 28, 2009 7:32 PM

AFFLECK STOLE THE TOWN from TOWNIES a film by Mike O'Dea. O'Dea is shooting a new movie in Charlestown called CODE OF SILENCE. Affleck is going to embarrass himself competing with Mikey. Visit their website in my sig

Posted by: Kim at August 6, 2009 12:14 AM

Mike O'Dea is a complete nothing and wannabe everything. O"Dea couldn't direct a door mat commercial for late night public television.

Posted by: Doony Dumps at August 21, 2009 7:39 AM





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