The Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Movie Draft. Plus: ‘The Rip.’

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.

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.