“I would kind of end up being pigeonholed”: Ben Affleck’s $232M Oscar Winning Movie Was Made Out of Actor’s Own Frustration Stemming from His Undying Loyalty

Ben Affleck has traveled a long journey from Boston to Hollywood. He is the very example of a self-made actor who started small but reached great heights all thanks to his skills as an actor, writer, producer, and director. His career has sprawled across all genres which began to boost in the 1990s when Good Will Hunting got him into wider prominence. 

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However, he too, faced a point in his life when he felt frustrated about being stuck if he kept on making movies in his hometown. It all started after the release of 2010’s The Town which is when he realized to let go of his frustration. It eventually resulted in getting him his Oscar-winning film, Argo. 

Ben Affleck Felt Stuck After Making The Town

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After making his name along with Matt Damon due to Good Will Hunting in 1997, Ben Affleck began to hone his writing, producing, and directing skills along with his primary acting skills. He used his secondary skills in the 2007 crime-thriller project, Gone Baby Gone which was set in Boston. The film performed moderately in the theatrical run, getting positive acclaim from critics.

Soon after that, he came back starring and directing in the 2010 crime-drama film, The Town. With a star-studded cast, it too was well-acclaimed by critics and moviegoers. 

However, he decided to keep his hands out of Boston especially when he was in the director’s chair otherwise he would end up being a ‘Boston Crime Guy’. Talking to Rolling Stone, he shared, 

“I knew I had to get out of Boston and stop making movies there, at least for one movie, otherwise no one would ever consider me for a movie that took place south of Providence. I honestly felt like I would kind of end up being pigeonholed as Boston Crime Guy.”

Though his loyalty to his hometown was quite great, it would have ended up giving him just a small portion of what he was really capable of. Eventually, his decision to let go of his hometown turned out to be the right decision which eventually led him to his Oscar-winning film, Argo. 

Ben Affleck Moved Out of His Pigeonhole to Create Argo 

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The political-thriller film, Argo led Affleck to solidify his talent as a director, which was taken from a real-life event of CIA operative Tony Mendez’s life, who rescued six Americans from Tehran during the 1980 Iranian-U.S. hostage conflict. 

Unlike his previous films, the 2012 film was filmed in several locations and even included historical significance which further levied to the movie. Its overall depiction ended up winning critics and audiences’ hearts majorly thus winning several accolades. 

Having been nominated for 7 Oscars, it ended up winning three including the Best Picture award. Meanwhile, the Batman actor’s hard work ended up earning him the BAFTA Award for Best Director. 

Argo is available on HBO Max. 

Source: Rolling Stone