Key Takeaways
- Podcast hosts and a guest debated if the current January is the best-ever month for movie releases.
- The new Netflix action film 'The Rip,' starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, received high praise.
- Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are leveraging streamers to produce mid-budget films.
- The episode featured a movie draft of favorite films starring, directed, or produced by Damon and Affleck.
- Discussions included the duo's Hollywood impact, career trajectories, and director collaborations.
Deep Dive
- Hosts and guest debated whether the current January is the best ever for movie releases, contrasting with traditional perceptions.
- To assess January's quality, past releases from 1986, 1996, 2006, and 2016 were reviewed, noting few notable titles in 1986 and three mainstream comedies in 1996.
- Recent films like '28 Years Later', 'The Bone Pool', and 'Primate' were cited as strong contenders, alongside original movies.
- The panel debated distributing January releases more evenly vs. the
- The discussion turned to 'The Rip', starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, directed by Joe Carnahan, acknowledging its overqualified cast.
- One host praised the Netflix action film as an 'absolute yes,' highlighting the Damon and Affleck reunion.
- The film delivers charm and humor, with Damon and Affleck appearing to enjoy themselves, similar to their collaboration on 'Air'.
- It was deemed an 'A-plus January Netflix release,' noted for good dialogue and performances, despite a 'B-minus' script.
- The conversation shifted to the inverted roles of Damon and Affleck in 'The Rip' compared to 'Air,' with Damon in charge.
- Hosts analyzed a scene where characters discover money and a woman, noting Sasha Calle's performance.
- The film's setting expands from a single location to a larger Miami chase, compared to 'Assault on Precinct 13'.
- 'The Rip' highlights Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's chemistry rather than exploring them as adversaries.
- Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's production company leverages streamers, securing funding for 'The Rip' based on success rather than a flat fee.
- This strategy, attributed to their star power, aims to produce mid-budget films, potentially rebuilding the 'middle class' of filmmaking.
- This approach contrasts with the trend of high-budget blockbusters or low-tier streaming content, addressing a perceived gap in quality.
- Joe Carnahan's career trajectory was cited to illustrate the shift away from reliable directorial opportunities due to the decline of DVD business and rise of streamers.
- Affleck's Best Picture win as a filmmaker and their enduring friendship and mutual support in the film industry were highlighted.
- Their deep knowledge and passion for movies make their public personas particularly engaging.
- They represent a blend of talent, interest in old Hollywood, and fun, managing early fame since the 1990s.
- The hosts began to discuss and refine draft categories for selecting movies related to Damon and Affleck, specifically regarding Oscar nominations.
- Chris Ryan selected 'Good Will Hunting' as his number one pick, noting its Oscar win and traditionalist approach.
- The selection was met with agreement, and the conversation touched upon the film's writing and the actors' careers.
- Hosts praised the film and discussed a related Rewatchables episode, expressing a desire for more character-driven films from the duo.
- The writing process for 'The Last Duel' and Nicole Holofcener's role were briefly mentioned.
- 'Dogma' was selected, highlighting Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's performances as fallen angels, praising its reissued 4K version.
- One participant expressed a soft spot for Kevin Smith's directorial efforts.
- 'The Last Duel' was argued to capture the essence of Damon and Affleck's 90s collaborations, deemed a 'special film' despite 'The Rip' being more fun.
- Its quality was noted, suggesting potential to be overlooked due to its release timing and Ridley Scott's prolific output.
- During a movie draft, 'The Departed' was selected, prompting a discussion about its Oscar reception and editing style.
- For the 'Blockbuster' category, 'Armageddon' was chosen, leading to a debate about its status as a quintessential summer blockbuster.
- 'Gone Girl' was selected by another participant, justifying it as the best movie about Ben Affleck, noting its past success.
- One participant drafted 'Bourne Supremacy' and 'Wildcard,' discussing director Paul Greengrass's work.
- 'Dazed and Confused' was selected to increase Ben Affleck's count, with 'Mall Rats' and Jason Lee's performance highlighted.
- Final picks included 'Field of Dreams' for a cameo by Matt and Ben, and 'Truth or Dare' was briefly mentioned.
- Discussions also touched on films like 'Gone Baby Gone' and baseball free agency.
- The panel debated Matt Damon's most fruitful director-actor partnerships, with Steven Soderbergh emerging as a frequent collaborator, followed by Christopher Nolan and Kevin Smith.
- Ben Affleck's notable collaborations include Zach Snyder and Michael Bay.
- The discussion pivoted to Ben Affleck's personal style, questioning his use of beard dye and the fit of his jeans.
- The hosts debated the authenticity of dyeing beards versus hair, noting Affleck's beard appears less natural than his hair color.