AFFLECK to return to directing

[yorrick brown]

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=22163

Because of uncomfortable parallels with the Madeline McCann case, you still can’t see Ben Affleck’s directorial debut, Gone, Baby, Gone in this country yet. But trust us when we say that the crime drama is a real treat, and that Affleck is a fine director.

And now it seems that he may be warming up for another go in the director’s chair, for he has picked up the rights, along with his producing partner Sean Bailey, to another gritty crime novel, The Blade Itself.

At the moment, there’s no concrete news that Affleck will direct the movie, which is currently being adapted by Aaron Stockard(he wrote GONE BABY GONE with the fleck., but we’d put good money on it.

The novel, named by Esquire magazine as one of the five best of 2007, concerns two childhood friends from Chicago who grew up committing petty crimes together. They drift apart and, when they are reunited years later, one has to decide how far he will go in order to stop the secrets of his past from coming out.

All good, tense, movie-worthy stuff. Affleck is currently filming State Of Play, with Russell Crowe, and so this might not become his next project for a while. But it all sounds promising, nonetheless.

Miramax have picked up the rights, while Affleck and Bailey will produce via new production company, Ideology.
Chris Hewitt

[JJFlamingo]

Looks like Affleck's on his way to being the next Eastwood...

[Powerslave]

I wasn't crazy about Affleck's directing on Gone Baby Gone, but it did show that he had some potential. The project doesn't sound especially interesting though.

[thedudeman69]

Looks like Affleck's on his way to being the next Eastwood...

I cannot believe how dead wrong this statement is.

[Lazy Boy]

Hope he makes a good film this time.

[Pirate Mike]

Looks like Affleck's on his way to being the next Eastwood...

Or the next Mad Mel. One day they'll find out about all the Fleck's 10-07's

Eastwood eats pieces of shit like Affleck for breakfast. But I did like Gone Baby Gone and might see what else he's got in store. Plus I think it's good he's not being a bitch for the Weinsteins (QT, RR) and still making movies with Miramax

[vesaker]

huh..... i wasn't aware he had left directing :p

and not to sound ignorant but whats the deal with it not being realeased down under yet?

[floydtheater07]

"Gone Baby Gone" was fantastic. He did a very good job with that one; personally, I enjoyed it even more than "Mystic River", although I guess I'm in the minority on that one.

Either way, I'm glad he's gonna keep directing. He's apparently very good at it.

[JoeChar4321]

"Gone Baby Gone" was fantastic. He did a very good job with that one; personally, I enjoyed it even more than "Mystic River", although I guess I'm in the minority on that one.

Either way, I'm glad he's gonna keep directing. He's apparently very good at it.

You're not in the minority at all. Gone Baby Gone is far superior to Mystic River. Affleck has a very bright director's career ahead of him. Considering that he started at a very young age, his directorial body of work may even dwarf Eastwood's one day.

[JCPhoenix]

Hope he makes a good film this time.

Pretty much what I was thinking.

[Monotreme]

Yeah, Gone Baby Gone's redeeming values were its acting far more than its directing... Affleck managed to capture the spirit and atmosphere of the streets of Boston impeccably well but the film is visually dry. Still, I agree he showed potential and would like to see him at it again.

And Gone doesn't even scrape the curb of Mystic River.

[ilovemovies]

Gone Baby Gone most definitely is NOT better than Mystic River.

Still, The Fleck did a great job directing it and I'll be very interested in seeing him continue his directing career. As long as he doesn't quite acting which fortunately he's not.


And, sigh. It looks like another case of something getting a blacklash. Seriously, everybody LOVED Gone Baby Gone when it came out now it seems like it's fashionable to not like it. Whatever. I hate backlashes personally.

[corran horn]

Gone Baby Gone most definitely is NOT better than Mystic River.

Still, The Fleck did a great job directing it and I'll be very interested in seeing him continue his directing career. As long as he doesn't quite acting which fortunately he's not.


And, sigh. It looks like another case of something getting a blacklash. Seriously, everybody LOVED Gone Baby Gone when it came out now it seems like it's fashionable to not like it. Whatever. I hate backlashes personally.

I concur. While not as good as Mystic River, or possibly Shutter Island when it comes out, Gone Baby Gone was pretty impressive for a first-time director. hopefully The Blade Itself will be a step-up.

I've never understood backlashese against films (save for the one that targeted Shakespeare in Love). It usually strikes me as a combo of herd mentality and fickleness. Bear in mind, I'm not criticising those who saw flaws in it from the very beginning. That's understandable. It's the turning against a film for unknown or questionable reasons.

I'll have to read The Blade Itself and see what I think. Looking forward to seeing Ben in State of Play.

[Shockwave]

Awesome news.

GONE BABY GONE was one of the better movies ive seen of late. I thought it was just as good as MYSTIC RIVER.