Martha Thomases: My Take On Affleck
Like my colleagues on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I have been confounded by the negative energy directed at Ben Affleck after the announcement by Warner Bros. that he would play Batman in the next Superman film.
The Internets almost always hate every announcement from Hollywood that has anything to do with nerd culture. I remember the howls when Christian Bale was announced to play Batman in the Nolan movies, and how Heidi McDonald ran photo number eight from this slideshow in her defense of the casting. Worked for me.
The objections seem to stem from fans’ displeasure with some of Affleck’s earlier work. They especially cite Daredevil, which I kind of liked, even though it’s overwrought, and Gigli, which I haven’t seen. And don’t intend to ever see.
I love Ben Affleck. I have loved him at least since Mallrats and definitely Chasing Amy. When I had a chance to talk to Kevin Smith at some industry event, I told him I thought Affleck would be a great Superman. He agreed. He even said Warner Bros. wanted Ben for the part. That was more than 15 years ago.
Which brings me to the reason I believe.
I can only imagine that the Internet complainers never saw Hollywoodland. It’s the story of a private detective investigating the death of George Reeves, the actor who played Superman in the original television series. Affleck plays Reeves in a performance that, in my opinion, should have earned him an Academy Award nomination. He not only creates a layered, believable portrayal of George Reeves, the man, but he vividly recreates the Reeves we knew from television. The way he holds his body changes when he is on-camera and when he is off.
This performance alone should tell us that Ben can be both The Dark Knight and Bruce Wayne. I’m not the only fan of the character who thinks so. The actor previously rumored to be the next Batman agrees with me.
So does Patton Oswalt, whom I love very dearly (and chastely, from afar). He said:
“A Batman portrayed by someone who’s tasted humiliation and a reversal of all personal valences — kind of like Grant Morrison’s “Zen warrior” version of Batman, post-Arkham Asylum, who was, in the words of Superman, “…the most dangerous man on the planet”? Think for a second and admit that Ben Affleck is closer to that top-shelf iteration of The Dark Knight than pretty much anyone in Hollywood right now.”
That quote should establish Oswalt’s geek credentials pretty well. And make his point.
Like Denny O’Neil, I have my qualms about a movie that features both Superman and Batman. It could be fun, but I’m not sure that Zack Snyder, the director of Man of Steel, is the person to direct it. He has cited Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns as his inspiration, and that’s not my favorite interpretation of the characters. I like it when Batman and Superman are friends, when Superman’s optimism lightens Batman, and Batman’s realism ground Superman.
I’m less happy when they fight. Especially if they aren’t going to team up and save the world together at the end.
SATURDAY: Marc Alan Fishman
SUNDAY: John Ostrander
While I’m keeping a neutral stance about Ben Affleck. I’ll just wait to see the film when it comes out.
I do have to say I was satisfied about the way Michael Keaton handled the role under cape and cowl…
I don’t understand who all these people are who think Affleck is a bad choice. I think he’ll do a fine job. So much depends on the story and director anyway that who is in the suit is almost secondary.
I liked Daredevil too. I think Roger Ebert said it was a good movie and very close to being a great movie.
I was particularly interested in Hollywoodland when it came out. George Reeves is probably only second to my father in influence. While Affleck doesn’t particularly resemble George Reeves, (William Peterson formerly of CSI, looks a lot like him) I think he did a great job. I read that he loaded hours of George Reeves’ dialogue on his iPod to listen to his inflection and speech patterns.
The only thing about Hollywoodland that I object to is that it seems to support the theory that Reeves committed suicide. This is something that I don’t want to accept.
Since i despised the last three Batman films (well, the second and third; the first was annoying but harmless like {as Heinlein put it} dead yeast in beer), i have no problem with casting someone else as Batman.