Ben Affleck as Nick?


I just finished the book yesterday and decided to watch the movie. I was surprised by the casting. Nick was 34 in the book and Ben Affleck was 42 when this came out. Are there not enough 30-somethings in Hollywood? Nick is also supposed to be very intellectual, a writer. I don't buy Ben as that type...

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I had the advantage of not having read the book, and so not bothered by trivialities (sorry). Meanwhile, I think Affleck was really good in this role.

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Ben Affleck is actually pretty intellectual and astute. But he's a horrible actor, and I had my doubts when he was cast. However, I thought he pulled this off quite well. He played Nick with just the right amount of disingenuous, smug smarminess. If Nick is played correctly--as in true to the character of the book--you want to punch him in the face. Affleck succeeded. The fact that he cheated on his wife with the young nanny in real life helped. ha

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The fact that he cheated on his wife with the young nanny in real life helped. ha


Agreed! Hence why I laughed my arse off when he said: 'trust me'.
I need to read the book ...

George Lucas talking about: 'Hey, give it to me, I'll fix it. I'll make 20 more of them'

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You're not buying Ben Affleck as a writer? He won an Oscar together with Matt Damon for their screenplay for Good Will Hunting. If that's not a reason to buy an actor as a writer, I don't know what is! He's a great writer. You'd know that if you watched the movies his written or adapted to screenplay.

Caesar. Is. Home.

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Affleck is not who I envisioned in the role. I think someone like Lee Pace would have been better. Affleck was ok, but certain aspects of the character were lost in the translation from the novel to the screen.

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Lee Pace is a great actor, however, Ben was born to play Nick.

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Yeah. I thought they should have gone with someone younger. Plenty of better actors in the born in 1978-1980 range. Would have been more believable as her twin and the same age as Amy.

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Ageism isn't rampant enough? (Snideness aside, I hadn't read the book, thought Ben Affleck was good in this movie though. Several others as well, actually, Gigli being a glaring exception.)

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I thought Affleck was excellent casting. He was just right!

Because this is one role where you actually want an actor who seems shallow and self-absorbed.

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He looks mid to late 30s.

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