Matt Damon names his most unfairly treated movie: “It deserves a different level of review”
From his early beginnings in Good Will Hunting, leading him to win an Oscar at just the age of 27, Matt Damon proved himself to be an advocate for independent filmmaking through his record-breaking drama about a mathemagician working as a janitor.
Since the soaring success of his 1997 film, which the actor co-wrote with fellow friend and actor Ben Affleck, Damon continued to nurture his roots within the genre, then going on to star in The Talented Mr Ripley, Saving Private Ryan and Oceans Eleven. His filmography now shows no limits, working with great auteurs like Gus Van Sant, Steven Spielberg and the Coen brothers as one of the most sought-after actors of his generation.
While he may be an undeniable movie star, no one in the business is immune to failure. Many actors and filmmakers work on movies that either don’t see the light of day or struggle to make a splash. Damon describes one sorely underappreciated and misunderstood film of his that he desperately tried to make work.
George Clooney occupies a unique spot in Hollywood through his work as both an actor and director, recently returning to the director’s chair for The Boys in the Boat, following the story of the University of Washington’s men’s rowing team. However, while his work behind the camera has been surprising in its own way, he is most renowned for his acting capabilities and undeniable star quality, starring in the likes of Ocean’s Eleven, Fantastic Mr Fox and Gravity. While he has been met with acclaim for many roles, particularly for his collaborations with the Hollywood chameleon Stephen Soderbergh, his directorial work hasn’t always been met as kindly.
Passion can only get you so far, which seems to be the case for Clooney and some of the films he helmed as a director, with Damon starring in one of his lesser-known creative ventures and discussing its misunderstood and unjust treatment.
Suburbicon, directed in 2017, follows a quiet family living in Suburbicon in the 1950s. After a home invasion, the family turns to blackmail and murder. Starring Matt Damon and Julianne Moore, the film was obliterated by fans and critics despite the overwhelming sprawl of the ensemble cast and period setting. But to Clooney’s dismay, the film completely bombed, and Damon was left equally devastated after his championing of the project led to failure.
When discussing this, Damon said: “In that situation it’s easier for me than George. He spent two years on it and it does sting. It was made for a price. It’s a calculated miss, but it sucks. And nowadays, when the reviews come out, it’s almost like the reviewers are trying to one-up each other to see how creatively they can abuse a movie. And when movies are made in good faith you can tell.
“You can tell when one is a cash grab and one is not. And you may not like the movie, but you can see when it’s crafted at a certain level. I think it deserves a different level of review”.
Perhaps this might be the kind of film to have a revival, with many film lovers revisiting under-appreciated projects from the past that might deserve a rewatch. While it might not have done well at the time of its release, a calculated risk is always worth it, and always better than playing it safe.
