3. Gerry - Gerry
Easily Gus Van Sant's weakest and most divisive collaboration with Damon, Gerry revolves around two characters, both called Gerry (played by Damon and Casey Affleck), who end up getting lost in the desert and spend the rest of the movie wandering around and talking, ahead of a violent climax. Though the film might click for those who can tolerate, even enjoy Van Sant's methodical, minimalist approach, it invites many of the same criticisms as his later movie Elephant, that it's needlessly meandering, tedious and even pretentious. Damon and Affleck really aren't given much at all to work with, meaning that they, like their characters, are simply left wandering in the wilderness. While one can appreciate that the actors likely took the role
because of its experimental nature, it probably served them as a work-out more than it did most audiences an entertaining time at the movies. Even the most coveting director has to give us something, but here, Van Sant denies his actors any agency at all.