10 Amazing 2014 Performances That Changed Your Mind About Actors You Hate

6. Ben Affleck - Gone Girl

Okay, so the Ben Affleck comeback may have started a little earlier with his performances in 2010's The Town and 2012's Argo (both of which he directed himself) but a lot of people remained unconvinced until his startling turn as Nick Dunne in David Fincher's Gone Girl. Affleck received a tonne of stick in the late 90's and early 2000's, for his celebrity marriage to Jennifer Lopez as much as for his appearances in a series of duds like Pearl Harbour, Gigli, Paycheck and Daredevil. Affleck was routinely mocked for being wooden, a poor superhero and a poor romantic lead. After getting a divorce from J-Lo, the scrutiny on Affleck subsided and, in a pleasant surprise, he became something of a super-director himself. The Town and Argo showed him at his best, displaying the kind of form that won him praise in earlier films like Good Will Hunting and Chasing Amy. Everything was going great until August 2013 when it was confirmed that Affleck was set to play The Dark Knight in the upcoming Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. Fans were outraged and widely criticised the casting decision. Affleck, to his credit, remained understanding and told fans that he understood their concern but not to pre-judge. 2014's Gone Girl did a lot to quell fears about Affleck's acting chops and although Nick Dunne is worlds apart from Bruce Wayne, even Affleck's staunchest critic had to agree that it was a great performance and that, maybe deep down inside, they were excited to see what Affleck could do as the caped crusader.