Ben Affleck has to have had one of the most turbulent careers in Hollywood history. His love/hate relationship with the media and audiences in general is enough to give a casual bystander whiplash. For many years, he was an incredibly in-demand actor, a handsome matinee idol who may not have been the strongest actor, but could certainly put butts in seats. Then he had his ill-fated relationship with Jennifer Lopez, and everything changed. Viewers began to tire of the media blitzkreig that was Bennifer, and unfortunately this loss of favor occurred at the same time as the release of Gigli and Jersey Girl, two of the worst films in recent memories. He went from the top of the world to being a Hollywood laughingstock. But he pulled an unbelievably smart move -- he laid low for a little while, and let everyone move on. Then when he came back, it was behind the camera, where he could reinvent himself as a director with the gritty crime drama Gone Baby Gone. As a debut film, it caught the attention of audiences and Hollywood insiders alike, earning a Best Supporting Actress nod for Amy Ryan. Since then, he hasn't disappointed us yet, releasing The Town and Argo, and proving that maybe the director's chair is where he really belongs.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
