Ben Affleck: five best moments

Ben Affleck – Gigli and all – has come into his own as an acting, writing, directing and producing jack-of-all-trades. He’s starring in David Fincher’s Gone Girl, out in UK cinemas this week, so we’ve looked back at his on-screen career and picked five of his top performances to date. But which roles have we missed? Tell all in the comments section.

Dazed and Confused

Affleck exhibited an almost feral energy in Richard Linklater’s quintessential high school film, as notorious bully and jock Fred O’Bannion. Though in a peripheral role, on the edge of protagonist Mitch Kramer’s storyline, Affleck doled out vicious spankings to high school freshmen (those in their first year of secondary school) with a paddle that rarely seemed beyond reach.

Argo

Flexing his multitasking muscle, Affleck picked up several awards and nominations for acting in, directing and producing this political thriller. The film whipped up controversy for its ‘ahistorical’ take on the tale of six American hostages taken in Iran in 1979, and later smuggled out in an elaborate film-based ruse, but Affleck shone in his supporting role as CIA officer Tony Mendez.

Dogma

What would this list be without at least one Kevin Smith film? As fallen angel Bartleby, Affleck teamed up with longtime friend Matt Damon (cast as Loki) in this provocative, twisted and humorous look at Catholic dogma. And now, let mayhem begin in the comments, on how we’ve missed Mallrats, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Chasing Amy 

Hollywoodland

Before being somewhat controversially cast as Zach Snyder’s Batman last year, Affleck was Superman. Well, sort of. He played George Reeves, the Superman actor killed in an unsolved shooting case in the 1950s, and donned the iconic red pants and cape in the semi-biographical drama, earning a Golden Globe nomination for his hard work.

Good Will Hunting

Affleck wrote this film’s screenplay with longtime friend and collaborator Matt Damon and pulled off a great on-screen performance. His cheerful Chuckie Sullivan character served as a foil to Damon’s Will Hunting, providing some of the film’s most memorable scenes.