Ben Affleck’s Biggest Flop Made Him Realize Two Essential Things
Fortunately, Ben Affleck has found the silver lining in his worst projects.
This article is more than 2 years old
Ben Affleck’s career has been a mix of hits and misses. While movies like The Accountant and Argo did very well, Daredevil and Gigli did not get the same response. Fortunately, the Justice League star has found the silver lining in his worst projects. Reflecting on the catastrophically bad Gigli, the actor said the disastrous film made him realize two things – that he loves directing and Jennifer Lopez.
Billed as a crime comedy, Gigli starred Ben Affleck as a mobster who is ordered to kidnap the brother of a powerful federal prosecutor. When everything goes wrong, his boss sends a free-spirited female gangster named Ricki (Jennifer Lopez) to help. Since its release in 2003, Gigli has been considered one of the worst movies of all time, with its love scenes attracting the most ridicule. It was also one of the most expensive box office flops in Hollywood history.
Despite all this, Ben Affleck called Gigli a gift when speaking to friend and fellow actor Matt Damon for Entertainment Weekly’s February cover story. “If the reaction to Gigli hadn’t happened, I probably wouldn’t have ultimately decided, ‘I don’t really have any other avenue but to direct movies,’ which has turned out to be the real love of my professional life,” he told the publication. “And I did get to meet Jennifer [Lopez], the relationship with whom has been really meaningful to me in my life.”
It’s been a minute since Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez got back together, but the media still can’t get enough of the glamorous couple. The pair spent their first Christmas together in 2021 – 17 years after their split. They were engaged to be married in 2002 before calling time on the relationship in 2004. Just last month the couple made their rekindled romance red carpet official when they attended the premiere of Ben Affleck’s new movie, The Tender Bar. Directed by George Clooney from a screenplay by William Monahan, the movie is an adaptation of J. R. Moehringer’s 2005 memoir of the same name.
The story follows a boy in search of a replacement for his father, who disappeared shortly after his birth. He eventually bonds with his uncle and the patrons at a bar. It also stars Tye Sheridan and Daniel Ranieri as Moehringer, along with Lily Rabe, and Christopher Lloyd. The film received a limited release on December 17, 2021, before streaming on Amazon Prime Video on January 7, 2022. Although The Tender Bar received mixed reviews from critics, Ben Affleck was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.
Meanwhile, comic book fans can catch Ben Affleck in The Flash later this year where he will reprise his role as Batman. His character is said to be a very substantial part of the emotional impact of the movie. The Flash is said to be loosely based on Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert’s 2011 DC Comics crossover event Flashpoint. The story will follow Barry Allen as he travels back in time to prevent the death of his mother, which brings unintentional consequences to his timeline.
Joining Ezra Miller and Ben Affleck in the cast are Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, Ron Livingston as Henry Allen, Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen, and Sasha Calle as Supergirl. The Flash is directed by Andy Muschietti from a screenplay by Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey). The movie is currently scheduled for release in theaters on November 4, 2022.
