In a 2014 interview with Screen Rant, Matt Damon, who has collaborated with both George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh multiple times, shared his unique perspective on the two directors’ visions. Damon has not only been cast in three George Clooney-directed movies but has also worked with Soderbergh on the Ocean’s saga. Thus putting him in a great position to offer insights on both directors, considering their mentor-mentee relationship.
Throughout the years it has been evident that George Clooney in his directorial endeavors has not reached the same level of success as his acting career, despite claiming to have mentors such as Steven Soderbergh and the Coen Brothers. While learning from great filmmakers is priceless, replicating their mastery is no child’s play. With each new Clooney movie critics are left to question if he can actually ever be the director he so desperately wants to be.
Matt Damon Compared George Clooney’s Direction Style With Director Steven Soderbergh
Over the course of three decades, Steven Soderbergh has maintained his status as one of the most influential filmmakers in the industry. Whereas on the other hand despite being his mentee, George Clooney is still struggling to find firm footing in his career as a director. Having worked with both personalities, Matt Damon in a 2014 interview for promoting The Monuments Men, a Clooney directorial, claimed the actor’s style of directing a shot is much like his Oscar-Winning mentor’s. He said,
“He’s great. I was an extra in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, so I’m glad I graduated finally to a speaking part. But he’s terrific. He’s incredibly well-prepared. It was a lot like working with Steven Soderbergh. He cuts in camera, so there’s no coverage. There’s no kind of fat at all in your day. It’s completely streamlined.”
Despite the lack of commercial success, Matt Damon had nothing but praise for George Clooney’s directorial abilities. He further continued saying,
“And what’s great about that – designing a show that way – is that he gave Phedon (Papamichael), his cinematographer, extra time to light each shot, ‘cause there were fewer shots in any given scene. So Phedon had more time to work, which is important in a movie about art, that each shot looks really, you know, like a piece of art.”
While fans and critics may have lost hope in Clooney as a director, Damon undoubtedly remains a firm believer in him and his vision.
Matt Damon Loves Being “Slaughtered by the Critics Together” with George Clooney
While Matt Damon’s friendship with Ben Affleck often gets the majority chunk of the media attention, another underrated relationship that tends to get overshadowed is the friendship between Damon and George Clooney. With Clooney directing eight movies to date, he has cast Damon in three of those. At the 45th Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, Damon took the opportunity to pay tribute to the legendary actor, who was being bestowed the honor and spoke from the heart about their friendship and mutual admiration. He said,
“I have worked with George on some of his biggest hits and some of his biggest bombs. We have received rave reviews together, we have been slaughtered by the critics together,–And I have loved every minute of it.”
He then further continued saying,
“George, You are one of the most talented people I have ever met across multiple disciplines,–, your talent and intelligence is visible and apparent to everyone who was lucky enough to work closely with you. You have earned everything. And it’s been a privilege to work with you on the hits and the misses. And it’s a privilege to call you my friend.”
All in all the two share a bond that no harsh critic could affect, and therefore will continue to support each other no matter what in the years to come.
Source: Screen Rant
