Ben is Back!

Today is Ben Affleck's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN. I think Ben will remember 2010 as a good year for himself. It is the year that his birthday occurs amid a bit of buzz. And really, when was the last time there was buzz about Ben?

It has been 3 years since his directorial debut Gone Baby Gone garnered him actual buzz. It has been 5 years since he got some ink for his nuptials to Jennifer Garner. It has been over 6 years since the tabloid well of "Bennifer" dried up. And it has 9 years since Pearl Harbour and 12 years since he blew up in Armageddion. The man won an Oscar for screenwriting an entire teenager ago. All of that to say, there has not been a lot of bread to share at the Ben banquet in recent years.

But that is all changing this summer. This summer Ben is back. This summer Ben's latest film The Town is hitting the festival circuit and is generating buzz for Ben. His second feature as a director, this film is a make-or-break endeavour. If it goes well then Ben has a shot at being taken seriously behind the camera. His kudos for Baby will carry-over and give him a big hug of respect. (I'm not sure casting himself in the film was his best move to ensure this outcome but I cannot deny that I am happy to have him back up on the screen either.)

And Ben is bringing his buzz to TIFF in September (yes, I think I will be doing some stalking) before the film goes out for wide release. It has a great cast and that collective of talent may see Ben through. It speaks highly to him that those actors (Chris Cooper, Jeremy Renner, John Hamm, even Blake Lively - all of whom have earned raves for their work) would be involved in his project so my hopes are high.

So Happy Birthday Ben. I hope this year of your life brings you great success, if only so it means I will get to see you around more often. Cheers.