Sam Sattin thinks there are better things for Ben Affleck to be doing in Hollywood than playing one of the most iconic superheroes in comic book canon.
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Affleck. One of those names that, when you hear it, tends to conjure little more than a puff of ‘meh.’ It’s not like you intended this reaction. It’s a simple matter of Pavlovian reflex. You might feel compelled to issue a mirthless admission of self-censorship so that you don’t offend your friends who see in the 41-year-old Berkeley-to-Boston transplant what you cannot.
Such an effort might approximate, “I mean, I liked The Town a lot. And he was fine in Good Will Hunting, I guess.” But then, for a lot of us, no matter what we do, no matter how many times we watch Argo and try to convince ourselves that Affleck’s performance was any better than Roddy Piper’s in They Live, one word continues to resonate from that part of our brains where we store and sublimate unpleasant memories, decisions we wish we could unmake. DAREDEVIL. That affront against humanity. DAREDEVIL. The red-eyed offense against nature that we wish we could bury in the Arizona desert and hope aliens don’t hold us accountable for championing when they excavate it in 3006.
Reflecting upon my vapid response yesterday after hearing the news, I had to wonder, however, what it is about the casting (or in this case, miscasting) of a superhero that ignites such a powder keg of emotion in our culture? Right now the Middle East is pretty much being swallowed down the gullet of hell, Europe’s economy is collapsing, and President Obama is wrestling the GOP Manticore (Republidon?) in the senate. Twitter buzzes all day long with prognostications on the fate of the free world with an admixture of idiocy and relevance that redefines hysteria for our times. But then, in one second it is decided that Ben Affleck, the fucking guy from Clerks, will play an older Batman in Zack Snyder’s sure to be lackluster sequel to his already offensive first installment, and we lose our collective shit.
Maybe this is because superheroes are larger than life. Batman, Superman, Wonderwoman, Spider-Man—cultural symbols, every one. They make up the fabric of our country’s national identity, and some people, a lot of us, are uncomfortable with having that national identity portrayed by the guy who played Bartleby in Dogma.
But if there’s one bit of good that can come from this is, Affleck’s casting as a seasoned Dark Knight may prevent Val Kilmer from setting up a tent on Christian Bale’s front lawn. That and it might save Affleck himself from unnecessary humiliation. The guy can direct a solid film. Let’s just keep him out of the cape and cowl. For the good of society.
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Also read: Ben Affleck Cast as Batman, Twitter Explodes With #Batfleck Mania
Like superheroes? Read Sam Sattin’s new novel, League of Somebodies, available from Amazon.
Lead photo: AP/Nathan Denette
Luke 16:10 – “”If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”
How can I trust a man that blew the role as a C-class superhero in Daredevil to represent the depth of The Batman? My Bible teaches me that I shouldn’t trust him. If Affleck learned anything from Dogma, it’s don’t ever take sides against God, Alanis Morissette or the family (the DC Comics family).
Affleck played George Reeves in Hollywoodland – not a pretty or easy part, and he did it well ( George Reeves played Superman in the 50s, and was an alcoholic, Affleck does him justice ). Argo and The Town : great films, but Gone Baby Gone : a brilliant film. A BRILLIANT FILM. Affleck is the man. I would find it more palatable if he looked a bit older, he’s just too fresh faced. But I trust him now, he makes good choices again. He’s got this, but yeah – please take Snyder out of it, or have him stick… Read more »
“Argo and The Town : great films, but Gone Baby Gone : a brilliant film. A BRILLIANT FILM. ”
Totally agree with that.
Ben Affleck is a much better pick than George Clooney. I think Ben Affleck is an underated actor myself. But my favorite Batman was Michael Keaton.
I bet my neck most of guys who jump on Affleck hate bandwagon think Shawshank Redemption, and The Dark Night are the best movies of all time, and The Godfather is boring. Lol
Aw man, are you guys jumping on the Affleck hate wagon too? I expected better. Batman has become Jesus for atheists. As said in the article, it’s pretty ridiculous how people are going to water over this. The reaction is as rabid and foolish as the people who picketed The Last Temptation of Christ back in the 80’s without ever having seen a frame of it. 10,000 signatures on some slacker petition to remove an actor from a job? As you said, what about the rising facism in Greece or the unrest in Spain, to say nothing of the madness… Read more »
I dont care what other think about Ben Affleck. The fact that he can direct movies like Argo and The Town is the fact that this man is no your ordinary handsome movie guy. This guy is awesome. I bet my money your favorite actor cant direct movie like Argo in his entire life. Gosling, Bale, Meh…..
But in my opinion, is better to kick Zack from the director seat and put Ben Affleck as a director, and find another actor to play as a batman.
Still, Ben Affleck is awesome.
Don’t you think that one of the problems men have is their superheroes– that they can never measure up to. God forbid we shake that perfect image and apparently Ben Affleck has. Maybe it’s time to challenge the image. Linda Joyce
I’m not sure he has the right charisma for it. He’s too damn upbeat in every other film usually. Batman is dark n brooding, Afleck seems more upbeat in his personality.
Ha, remember everyone saying that Heath Ledger would be terrible as The Joker?
I’m sure he’ll be fine. I don’t really think that this ‘needs to be discussed’ at all. I think there are many other job appointments we should care about much more.
It’s just a movie.