| | |  | Ben Affleck News & Gossip
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| | Ben Affleck Lost Half a Million in Secret Poker Ring | | Added 13 years ago | Source: Yeeeah |
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It’s no secret that Ben Affleck likes to gamble and whore — but nobody knew exactly how much he like to gamble until today, when it was revealed that Ben lost nearly half a million to a movie mogul while partaking in the same secret poker ring that put Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon under federal investigation last month. Radar Online says:
It’s emerged Affleck, 35, even hosted his own game — which was referred to in poker circles as “Ben’s Game” — at the Grand Havana Room in Beverly Hills.
“Ben wasn’t the most skillful player,” [an insider said]. “It was almost like he was someone who felt they did not deserve the money they had.”
The actor began gambling with Ron Meyer, president of Universal Studios, [and] their poker games were anything but friendly — the Hollywood honcho’s biggest winning hands came at the expense of the actor, who lost a hand to the tune of $400,000.
“Ben busted big,” one player at the table on the night in question said. “He drummed up a giant tab, and then all of a sudden he disappeared from the game. He wasn’t seen for months.”
It left many in the ring to ask why the star just didn’t pay Meyer. The source said: “He’d had a string of bad movies and didn’t have any big projects on the horizon, and everyone was wondering, ‘Is Ben broke?’
“But we knew that he couldn’t stiff a businessman like Ron Meyer. That would be ‘career over’ in Hollywood. Suicide.
Eventually, Ron got paid.”
Let’s be honest, the name “Ben Affleck” has been synonymous with “career over” for the last six years. And speaking of has-Bens (see how I did that there?), former supermodel Paulina Porizkova went swimming last weekend without her top on. It’s only slightly less depressing than talking about Ben Affleck’s career, but hey — it’s still boobs. And the last time I checked, it was still two more boobs than you had when you first started this post.
Paulina with her son (awkward much?) in the Caribbean last weekend:
PHOTO SOURCE: Fame Pictures
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| | Ben Affleck to direct and star in real life CIA caper film | | Added 13 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Ben Affleck had a lot of critical and commercial success with his last film, The Town which he directed and starred in. According to Variety he’s about to direct and star in another film based on the real-life story of a late 70s Iran hostage crisis with a twist. Through an elaborate ruse the CIA convinced the government of Iran that the US diplomats they’d captured were film production workers scouting out a location for a fake movie they’d invented. It sounds brilliant actually, and full of potential. With Affleck in charge it could be quite good. The film is being put out by Warner Brothers, and George Clooney will be one of the production partners. John Goodman (love him) and Alan Arkin are in talks to co-star. Hopefully they’ll add another hot young actor besides Affleck for eye candy.
Finding a leading man can be difficult these days, but director Ben Affleck has found the perfect one for “Argo”: He cast himself.
Affleck is set to star as Tony Mendez, the CIA exfiltration expert who created a fake Hollywood production to get six Americans who were hiding out at the Canadian ambassador’s out of Iran.
Alan Arkin and John Goodman are in final negotiations to co-star in Warner Bros.’ Tehran hostage crisis pic as Hollywood producer Lester Siegel and Oscar-winning makeup artist John Chambers, respectively.
George Clooney and Grant Heslov are producing the political drama through their Smokehouse banner along with David Klawans (”Nacho Libre”).
Chris Terrio adapted Joshuah Bearman’s April 2007 Wired magazine article, titled “How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue American from Tehran,” which told how the CIA and the Canadian government teamed to rescue six U.S. diplomats who’d been taken hostage at the American embassy by a group of Iranians in 1979. The CIA’s ruse involved the explanation that the six hostages were actually a Hollywood film crew scouting a movie titled “Argo,” and using those fake identities, they were able to flee the country.
[From Variety via Huffington Post]
The Town was a great movie, but I get the critics who say that Affleck isn’t the strongest actor. He’s not, but he’s a very promising director. He also plays certain parts very well, and this type of CIA operative posing as a Hollywood wheeler dealer could be perfect for him. He’s got charisma and there’s a kind of superficiality about him that makes him seem slippery. I like Ben, he’s just not an Oscar level actor. He’s played his career well though over the past few years. It probably wasn’t easy to go from a punchline to an acclaimed director, although having millions of dollars in the bank surely made it possible - and tolerable.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
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| | Ben Affleck: 'I have no testosterone left, but you know, I?m happy' | | Added 13 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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As you?ve probably seen on all of the mom-and-baby-themed blogs by now, Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck and their two daughters have been back on the Dimple Parade paparazzi stroll the past month. My thought on the subject is that Jennifer was promoting Arthur, and maybe she was trying to create some buzz for her horrendous monstrosity project, a ?young? reboot of Miss Marple. Basically, whenever I see photos of Garner two days in a row, I get suspicious and think she?s hustling something. CB and I always disagree about that - CB loves Garner, and thinks that Garner just has a routine that the paps can easily follow, day after day. In reality, it?s probably a little of both theories. Anyway, as you can see from their recent pap-friendly outings, Garner and Affleck seem to be a better mood these days. There were even photos of them smiling and laughing together, a rarity. And now Us Weekly has a nice little story about how Jen and Ben are back on track:
He may be outnumbered three to one, but Ben Affleck wouldn?t change a thing about life with his girls.
?I have no testosterone left, but you know, I?m happy,? he tells Us Weekly of wife Jennifer Garner and their daughters. In fact, a source tells Us Weekly that the pair, who celebrated Garner?s 39th birthday with a barbecue at their home in LA?s Pacific Palisades April 17, are better than ever.
?All is really good,? says the insider. The only recent hiccup? Getting Violet into the right private school, says the friend. ?But it was all sorted out. Tom Hanks wrote letters of recommendation!?
The couple?s work-life balance makes the grade too, adds the source: ?Ben is happy doing smaller films now and being a family man. He?s the happiest he has ever been.?
[From Us Weekly, print edition]
As I said, it takes very little for my suspicions to be raised about this family. I think Ben screwed around with Blake Lively - and probably others. I also have concerns that he?s drinking again, and maybe worse. So? while I think that Ben might/probably genuinely love his wife and his daughters, he?s also got that self-destructive streak that rises up every so often and wreaks havoc. When I see unnamed sources saying stuff like ?Ben is happy doing smaller films now and being a family man. He?s the happiest he has ever been? all I think is ?Um, really? Or is that wishful thinking?? Still, I guess I should give Jennifer and Ben some credit - they really did seem like they went through a bad rough patch after Seraphina was born, and they managed to move past it. It probably helps that Ben buys ?I?m sorry I boned her? jewelry for his wife after big transgressions!
Photos courtesy of Fame.
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| | Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck look happy and content for a change | | Added 13 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck were photographed out together, supposedly looking for a school for one or both of their daughters, and they looked pretty happy and content for once. They often seem disconnected and upset in candids, but I think their mood is usually a reaction to the paparazzi that hound them and isn’t necessarily a reflection on their relationship. Kaiser isn’t a fan of Garner, and I understand that criticism that Lainey and Kaiser lob at her - that she’s shuttling her kids out to promote stuff, that she’s arranging photo ops. I don’t agree with that take on her, and I’ve seen video of the paparazzi absolutely swarming her when she’s out with her kids. I think that Garner and Affleck live a predictable life, that they’re followed everywhere and and that they deal with it the best they can. The worst that Ben has done is flip the bird a few times and scowl, which is completely understandable and a pretty mild response to what he goes through daily.
These two don’t even have a bodyguard (Kate Gosselin has one for God’s sake) and while Garner has admitted to having a nanny she isn’t usually seen out with a lot of helpers. I like them, I can’t help it. They don’t seem to think they’re regal, they do live the high life but they don’t seem to flaunt it or overextend like Ben’s ex J.Lo and her diminutive control freak husband. I’m rooting for them, but frankly I’m surprised they’ve lasted as long as they have. I had to say something negative and there it is. I’ve seen a lot of friends split up and marriage is a tough prospect for anyone, particularly two people in the spotlight with such different schedules. We’ve heard a lot of stories about trouble in their relationship, and this blind item may point to them. It’s got to suck when your movie bombs too, although Garner wasn’t the main headliner on Arthur.
Last week Garner dished on her sex scenes with Russell Brand in Arthur. She said “I’m very familiar, in my own way, with the anatomy of Russell Brand — and it’s good.” He was wearing underwear, though, or she may have needed some antibiotics to stop that familiarity from itching.
Photo credit: Fame
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| | Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner's School Search | | Added 13 years ago | Source: Celebrity Gossip |
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They haven?t been spotted together in quite some time, but the paparazzi finally caught up with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner in Los Angeles, CA earlier today (April 12).
The ?Town? actor and his ?Valentine?s Day? wife both looked cute and casual as they checked out some potential new schools for their daughters, Violet and Seraphina.
Up ahead for Jen, she is set to begin work on her next project in which she will be starring as a younger Miss Marple in Disney?s reboot of the Agatha Christie mystery series.
Aside from starring in the film, Garner will also be found behind the camera producing alongside her Vandalia Films partner, Juliana Janes.
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Arriving on a flight at LAX airport, Ben Affleck was spotted returning out west to Los Angeles, California on Monday evening (March 21).
The "Good Will Hunting" star kept it cool and casual as he chatted it up while wearing a black corduroy blazer, black button-down shirt, and blue jeans.
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| | Ben Affleck Talks Congo on Capitol Hill | | Added 13 years ago | Source: Celebrity Gossip |
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He likes to stay involved when it comes to foreign affairs, and Ben Affleck was busy partaking in a committee hearing at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday (March 8).
Joined by Cindy McCain, the ?Good Will Hunting? actor dressed the part in a designer suit as he took the stage to say a few words regarding the problems in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Affleck became involved after a 2008 visit to the African country, and since then, has helped set up the Eastern Congo Initiative advocacy organization.
Today in D.C., Ben discussed the issues facing the nation, which has been torn apart by conflict and violence since war erupted there in 1998.
Of the cause, the 38-year-old said, ?People are dying, really dying and have been for a long time. Fifteen years, three-plus million people have died. I don?t know that I can make any more argument about why you should pay attention to this.?
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| | Ben Affleck says Matt Damon gave him 'pages of notes' on how to improve The Town | | Added 13 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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The Daily Mail has a maybe-new interview with Ben Affleck, posted to coincide with the UK DVD release of The Town. (It’s possible it was conducted back in September when the movie was first out in England, but it’s hard to tell from their description.) Affleck talks at length about the process he went through to research the movie, which included spending hours talking to convicted robbers from Charlestown, the neighborhood in Boston that was portrayed in the film. He also said that his best friend, Matt Damon, viewed the film in five different stages of completion and gave him “pages of very smart notes” of where to go with it.
On how Matt Damon helped with The Town
We?ve been friends for 30 years. I can?t believe I?m old enough to say I?ve had a friend for 30 years. But he is a friend, and a partner in a company we have together. He saw The Town in five different versions and each time he saw it he presented me with pages and pages of very smart notes. I?ve got to a stage in life where I have learnt who my real friends are. You don?t need many, you just need good, solid friends. My brother, Casey, is another one and my godfather is a really brilliant guy.
On his research for the film with convicted robbers
I spent hours just talking to the inmates. I developed an excellent relationship with the authorities and we shot one scene in a real maximum-security prison. When you walk in you can just feel decades of sorrow and pain, anxiety and terror, loneliness and misery.
I met one guy who had served 15 years before being released. I asked him to audition for a part in the movie, but I remember being pretty intimidated by him. Then he came in and read and he was amazing. He said, ?My daughter told me if I get in the movie I?ll be a millionaire.? I said, ?You know what, you?re not going to be a millionaire but we?re going to put you in the movie and see what happens.? It changed his life. There are guys in that movie who have been nothing all their lives. Now they are legends at home.
On why he’s a good poker player
Maths aside, it is really a game about knowing yourself and reading other people. There are all these tiny nuances of human behaviour you can tap into, which is why so many actors get into it. Actors are good at it because they learn to detect truth. Tobey Maguire is a better poker player than most poker professionals ? he?s a genius. It?s mesmerising to watch him.
On how he’s content with life
You make mistakes in life and that is what learning and growing up is about. In the movie business it is very easy to get carried away. But now it is nice to be in a place where I feel lucky with my family and really blessed.
Failure is just a function of risk. I look at my great heroes as actors and directors and none of them have perfect records. I imagine I will have an even more imperfect record. I think you have to still be brave enough to take risks. Today I am enjoying the success. Being number one at the box office is pretty cool. But I?ve been round the block enough times to know it won?t last forever.
[From The Daily Mail]
This begs the question: how much of Damon’s input was used in The Town (which should have earned an Oscar nomination)? I’m sure Affleck is a talented director, and Damon has said as much, but how much of The Town can we credit to Damon? Like those excellent, close up car chase scenes through the labyrinthian streets of Boston bore a certain resemblance to the chase scenes in Prague that were shown in The Bourne Identity. I’ll admit to stirring the pot on this one, but that really occurred to me when I saw the movie.
Also I’m impressed with how Affleck has grown as an actor and family man. He has a good head on his shoulders now and has definitely matured. It’s nice to see his career pick up again.
Thanks to Kaiser for the lead!
Ben Affleck is shown at the BAFTA Awards on 1/15/11. Matt Damon is shown on the LA set of “We Bought a Zoo” on 1/25 and 1/26/11. Credit: WENN.com
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| | Ben Affleck's new (actual) beard: cute or tragic' | | Added 13 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Here’s Ben Affleck getting annoyed at the paparazzi while out getting froyo in Santa Monica yesterday with his wife Jennifer Garner and their oldest daughter Violet, five. Ben is sporting a beard that we also saw during his family vacation in Hawaii over the holidays. (Photos are here. While Garner rocked a red bikini we sadly didn’t get to see Ben without his shirt on.)
I finally saw The Town over the holidays and I have to say I was blown away. Kaiser says that Affleck is a better director than he is an actor. He did play a meaty role that he might not have been able to score on his own, but we also have to give him credit for stepping aside and letting his costars, like Jeremy Renner and Jon Hamm, shine. I thought he did an excellent job, and I also found my girlhood (ok, early 20s) crush on Ben renewed. The guy is gorgeous and there’s something troubled about him, or maybe he just played that character with such subtly that I found myself thinking he was playing himself. I like Ben and I’d love to see him get an Oscar nom for best director. That’s really where his talent lies, but he’s a decent actor too.
Does he work that beard though? Hell no, the guy has a gorgeous face. Maybe he’s trying to go incognito given how much the paparazzi hound him and his family. It doesn’t look like it’s working. Shave it, Ben!
Also, how cute are those glasses on Violet?
Credit to Kaiser for that title! Photos are credit: WENN.com
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| | Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner's Hawaiian Family Holiday | | Added 13 years ago | Source: Celebrity Gossip |
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Ringing in 2011 in the islands, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner enjoyed the first day of the New Year on the beach in Hawaii on Saturday (January 1).
With the "Good Will Hunting" hunk showing off his bushy facial hair, the couple romped along the shoreline with their daughters Seraphina and Violet along for the waterfront fun.
Prior to the family excursion, Miss Garner tended to a little athletic outing - as she went out for an early morning surf session while being all smiles when coming back to shore.
The trip comes after a year in which Jen has finished shooting movies "Butter" and "Arthur" while Ben is fresh off of the release of his successful director/actor efforts in "The Town".
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