Ben Affleck Confirms Live By Night as His Next Feature

[Kane52630]

yikes.

 

[Guts]

Aha! I KNEW there was something that was bothering me about Affleck's face in the trailers. I remember thinking, "Holy crap what kind of botox disaster did Ben go through for this movie?" But it was CGI. I'm actually kind of relieved that its not plastic surgery or something.

This movie seems like a complex one. it seems like on a technical level its very well made, well shot, well acted, good action, but it seems like the story isn't telling anything new. This sounds like Jason Bourne, which critics also had a lot of issues with but it was technically a very well made movie ( I really enjoyed JB though) So this may be one of those movies where if you just take it at face value for what it is you'll enjoy it but if you're looking for something fresh you'll be disappointed.

Maybe it wasn't CGI.

 

[weezerspider]

Also let's not forget Kubrick did Eyes Wide Shut and Villeneuve dropped the ball with Enemy.

Both of those are great.

 

[Guts]

Also let's not forget Kubrick did Eyes Wide Shut and Villeneuve dropped the ball with Enemy.

Eyes Wide Shut really is Kubrick's worst movie. I think the only people that like it are conspiracy theorists.

 

[Guts]

I didn't hate Eyes Wide Shut but I thought the movie didn't get very interesting until the masked party scene.

 

[Kane52630]

Both of those are great.

 

[Auteur]

Both of those are great.

 

[David H.]

Both of those are great.

Both of those ARE great.

 

[titansupes]

Aha! I KNEW there was something that was bothering me about Affleck's face in the trailers. I remember thinking, "Holy crap what kind of botox disaster did Ben go through for this movie?" But it was CGI. I'm actually kind of relieved that its not plastic surgery or something.

This movie seems like a complex one. it seems like on a technical level its very well made, well shot, well acted, good action, but it seems like the story isn't telling anything new. This sounds like Jason Bourne, which critics also had a lot of issues with but it was technically a very well made movie ( I really enjoyed JB though) So this may be one of those movies where if you just take it at face value for what it is you'll enjoy it but if you're looking for something fresh you'll be disappointed.

Yeah no, he definitely got some surgery. There was a lot of conversation around it in the month or so prior to BvS.

 

[Guts]

Usually it's the huge action set pieces that people are amazed to find out that it was a practical effect.

 

[Samuron]

Eyes Wide Shut really is Kubrick's worst movie.

Barry Lyndon is worse, IMO.

 

[weezerspider]

Barry Lyndon is worse, IMO.

?!?? Barry Lyndon is great!

Fear and Desire and Killer's Kiss are easily Kubrick's worst two films. Everything else he did is golden.

But seriously, I dig Affleck, but comparisons to Kubrick are wack.

 

[BatLobster]

I'm kinda bummed about the reviews for this just because I figured this would be something I'd check out in theaters this winter but now I'm not so sure.

Hopefully all the poorly reviewed films Ben has been associated with this year will just get lost in the wash that was the sh**-fest that is 2016 as a year in general.

 

[Arachnerd]

Yeah, but you just know some fans aren't gonna let Affleck's last effort go and immediately declare his Batman movie is doomed.

 

[The Chris]

In honesty I was a little scared of how playing Batman affecting his directing career. What i mean is BvS is such a big film and Batman is such a big character that needs big attention, and then he does another action film in the Accountant so i always wondered if he could possibly tiring himself too much or not able to focus as much as you need to for this. I mean with The Town and Argo all he had was small movies like The Company Men and To the Wonder, and nothing when he made Gone Baby Gone. The Batman scares me. Playing Batman AND directing the film at the same time? Who knows how that will go. I hope he can pull it off.

 

[Marvolo]

Ben had to direct a stinker at some point. It was inevitable. Hopefully his Batman film will be a return to form.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/ap/entertainment/article_69c9931a-d0c0-557f-bd08-44a2d1f7dccd.html

The reviews for "Live By Night" haven't been great , and it won't reach the Oscar heights of "Argo." But after the film's first, more traditional crime-thriller chapter, it becomes a timely collision between diverging visions of America: multiculturalism squares off with the KKK and religious zealotry.

"Some of those conflicts, it turns out, are still really relevant today," Affleck said. "In fact, I had no idea a story about immigrants and the Klu Klux Klan and morality would feel so current today."

Whether or not "Live by Night" succeeds, Affleck is at peace with the undulations of his Hollywood career.

"I do look at the careers of other directors, guys like John Huston, and see how they had big hits and big misses and lived big lives. That's OK with me as a model," Affleck said. "I don't mind the high stakes gambling nature of this profession. If it's a hit, you're a hit, and if it's a bomb, you're a bomb. That's just the way things go. There's something uniquely American about that."

 

[BatLobster]

He seems to have a good attitude about it.

 

[The Chris]

I liked the movie a lot actually. It's his weakest sure but i was still completely entertained and engaged, and thought both the cast and directing were pretty strong.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

[YT]wRJLHr6mP1U[/YT]

 

[Loden Greatstorm]

I had such high hopes for this. I will still check it out but im not expecting much.

 

[DeadPresident]

Whatever directorial mistakes Affleck may have made I think another component is that it's a really laborious and dragging story in print as well. Lehane's other books usually felt quick and well-paced, but Live by Night dragged a lot after a particular point in the story. It doesn't seem like a story well suited to film.

 

[brandeezy89]

Whatever directorial mistakes Affleck may have made I think another component is that it's a really laborious and dragging story in print as well. Lehane's other books usually felt quick and well-paced, but Live by Night dragged a lot after a particular point in the story. It doesn't seem like a story well suited to film.

Reviews stated the same

 

[Blitzkrieg]

From someone over at BOT:

Not perfect, a bit uneven and messy, over-the-top and far too sprawling for its runtime (feels like a lot of stuff cut in the first half, Ultimate Gangster Edition Blu-ray anyone?), but once it hits its stride in the second half it gets really good. Very much enjoyed this.

Affleck was good in it but the supporting cast around him really shined - Cooper, Messina and Fanning especially. Was awesome to see Gleeson, Miller and Saldana (and even Clark 'Agent Coulson' Gregg) in this also. And of course it looks absolutely gorgeous (thanks Bob Richardson).

Overall, doesn't reach the heights of Argo but I don't think it really tries to - it's a very solid effort from Affleck and an enjoyable ride. If anyone enjoyed Legend they'll definitely like this.

 

[The Shape]

Has anyone else here seen this?