Check Out the First Photo of Ben Affleck as Batman

Director Zack Snyder, who's helming the upcoming (as yet untitled) Batman/Superman crossover film that stars Ben Affleck as the Caped Crusader, tweeted the first picture of Affleck in costume on Tuesday.

The black-and-white photo doesn't reveal much, although Affleck's slumped shoulders may indicate that his Batman will have the same world-weary disposition as Christian Bale's did in the Dark Knight trilogy. His Batsuit appears to be made of rubber, and his ears are also noticeably smaller than in previous incarnations. Fans can also get a partial glimpse of the Batmobile. Check out the photo here.

Ben Affleck's Batmobile Revealed! Zack Snyder Teases Photo of New Batman Ride

Director Zack Snyder took to Twitter earlier today to cause fan-boy pandemonium by sharing a sneak peek photo of the new Batmobile, which Affleck will drive as Batman in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel.

"Could be time to pull the tarp...Tomorrow?" Snyder teased on Twitter along with a dark photo of the hot ride. In the pic, the back of the Batmobile is visible from under a tarp covering the rest of the car. The new Batmobile is housed in a dark warehouse.

Perhaps we'll only have to wait a few more hours to see the whole thing (get excited, Batman fans!).

It was announced back in August 2013 that Affleck had been cast as Batman opposite Henry Cavill's Superman for the upcoming Man of Steel sequel. The casting news was met with mixed response.

In January, the movie studio announced the flick had been delayed by a year with the release date being moved from July 17, 2015 to May 6, 2016.

Matt Damon on Ben Affleck: 'He's a Good Card Player'

"He's a good card player," Damon told PEOPLE while attending the Planes of Fame Air Show in Chico, Calif., on Saturday.

Damon, who played a high-stakes poker player in the 1998 film Rounders, briefly addressed the gambling controversy surrounding Affleck's ban from blackjack.

Asked how good of a player his longtime friend is and whether the notion of his ban is believable, Damon replied, "Yeah, he can play."

So has Damon, who attended the air show with his wife, Luciana, and daughters Alexia, Isabella, Gia and Stella, ever used tricks from his Rounders role in the casino?

"Plenty of times," he said with a laugh.

Ben Affleck 'Had to Have Been Blatant' About Card Counting, Expert Says About Allegations

If the Oscar-winner was, indeed, pushing his luck, then he must have been good, a legendary card counter tells PEOPLE exclusively.

"For them to kick him out, he had to have been blatant about card counting," says Jeff Ma, the inspiration behind the New York Times best-selling book Bringing Down the House, about M.I.T. students who swindled Vegas casinos with their card-counting acumen. (It was later turned into the 2008 movie 21, starring Kevin Spacey.)

"He must have been pretty good at it, too, meaning he was betting the right amount every time," Ma says speculatively. "For [the Hard Rock] to determine that they no longer want to deal blackjack to him, he must have been doing it pretty well."

Ma's theory largely echoes what a source previously said. The insider told PEOPLE that Affleck, 41, was banned from playing blackjack at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas because he was simply "too good."

Ma, a former M.I.T. student who was part of an elite card-counting team that won $5 million in Las Vegas over a seven-year span, is banned from playing blackjack in Las Vegas casinos. Much like he and his teammates did in besting the casinos, Ma assumes those who want to buck the system use "basic math" to count cards and get an advantage.

"Basically, blackjack is the only game in the casino with a memory, meaning what you see impacts what you will see," he explains to PEOPLE. "In blackjack, it's been determined that when there are a lot of low cards left in the deck, it's in the dealer's favor. When there are a lot of high cards, it's in the player's favor. All you're doing is tracking."

Should someone decide to keep track, Ma notes, the player is "probably keeping a running total of all cards he's seen on the table, so you know what high cards and low cards remain. When the odds are in your favor, you increase your bet, and vice versa."

Contrary to folklore, card counting isn't illegal, but it is frowned upon by casinos and provides grounds for ejection. And, according to Ma, card counting doesn't really give players that big of an advantage.

"Depending on the rules of the casino, you can get your odds anywhere between a 1.5 to 2 percent advantage. It depends on how aggressive you're going to be with your betting," he said. "You could win a lot with that advantage. Most casinos don't understand how small of an advantage you have when you're card counting – they just know you are, and they freak out because they think they're going to lose to you."

Affleck's checkered gambling past

Forthcoming “Batman” star Ben Affleck — who was banned for life from playing blackjack at the Hard Rock Casino in Vegas — has been cleaning up at the game for years.

The Hollywood high-roller, booted for counting cards, had hit it big playing “21” at the very same casino, raking in a total of nearly $1 million in two trips.

The Oscar winner won $140,000 in a single sitting while playing with pal Matt Damon in 2000, The Post reported at the time.

A year later, he won $800,000 while playing three simultaneous hands at $20,000 a pop.

With $75 million in net worth, the 41-year-old actor is in it more for adrenaline than for money.

He gave away every one of his $140,000 in chips to casino staffers on the 2000 trip — tipping his dealers, waitress and door boys as much as $5,000, sources told The Post.

He hasn’t had the same luck with poker.

Affleck ran into trouble when he hosted a regular Hollywood poker game for A-listers in a posh cigar bar in Beverly Hills, Star magazine reported.

“Ben’s Game” was high stakes and drew such luminaries as Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Tobey Maguire to the Grand Havana Hotel.

One night “Ben busted big” — betting too much on a bad hand — and was forced to fork over $400,000 to movie mogul Ron Meyer, a source told the magazine.

“At the time, Ben wasn’t the most skillful player,” the source said.

“It was almost like he was someone who felt [he] did not deserve the money [he] had,” the source said.

“During the time period at the Havana Room, though, J.Lo would call all the time desperately trying to track down her fiancé,” the source added.

The star had better luck in 2004, when he won the California State Poker Championship.

He took home $356,000, which qualified him for the 2004 World Poker Tour final tournament.

He has since competed several times in the tourney but has never won any cash, despite top-notch training from poker superstars such as Iranian-born poker whiz Amir Vahedi, and his personal coach, Annie Duke, who was accused of using software to steal $23 million from online poker players in 2008.

Last Tuesday, Affleck was playing blackjack at a high-rollers table at the Hard Rock when guards approached, called him an “advantaged player,” phoned for a cab and asked him to leave.

Counting cards at blackjack isn’t illegal but many casinos forbid it.

It involves keeping a mental count of cards that have been dealt and cards that remain in the deck to determine when to increase or decrease a bet.

A spokesman for Affleck didn’t return calls seeking comment on Saturday.

Ben Affleck caught counting cards, kicked out of Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas

TMZ reports that Affleck was caught counting cards and got himself kicked out of the Hard Rock Casino and is now banned for life.

He was playing blackjack at a high rollers' table when sources say that security -- who noticed him counting cards -- told Affleck he had been deemed an "advantaged player" and was no longer allowed to play blackjack at the Hard Rock. Security then arranged for a car service to take him back to his hotel.

Affleck is known for being a big blackjack player, but maybe this encounter means his gambling days are over.

While Tuesday was not so good for Affleck, Wednesday (April 30) brought him some better news. HBO announced that Affleck and Matt Damon's series "Project Greenlight" is returning to the network with both Affleck and Damon attached as executive producers. The series, which has been dead for nearly a decade, finds a first-time director and chronicles the process of filmmaking.

'Project Greenlight' returning to HBO with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon as executive producers

The series debuted on HBO in 2001, with a second season following in 2003. For its third season, the series moved to Bravo in 2005, but it is now coming home to HBO. "'Project Greenlight' was ahead of its time," Affleck says in a release. "Now that technology has caught up to the concept, we thought it was a perfect time to bring it back. A whole new generation of filmmakers has grown up sharing everything, and the next big director could be just an upload away."

The show has led to the production of three movies, which saw varying levels of success. The most notable was "The Battle of Shaker Heights," which marked the feature film debut of then-Disney Channel star Shia LaBeouf in a lead role.

The new season of the show will feature a digital competition to find a movie to make. The winning idea will then be followed through pre-production, casting, filming and post-production.

HBO has yet to set a premiere date.

Gone Girl Debut Trailer Released: Watch Ben Affleck Search for His Missing Wife in the David Fincher Thriller

The debut trailer for the highly anticipated adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel Gone Girl has hit the Internet, and it's everything fans of the book could expect.

The minute-long clip features Ben Affleck as Nick Dunne, actively searching for his wife (Rosamund Pike) who vanished on their fifth wedding anniversary. However, everything takes a turn when Nick realizes that the authorities and media begin questioning him as a suspect behind her disappearance.

Dun, dun, dunnnn...

Viewers won't hear much dialogue in the trailer and instead find themselves listening to a version of Charles Aznavour's "She," covered by Richard Butler from Psychedelic Furs. It's creepy and yet pretty perfect for this.

However, avid readers of the book can't expect the same twists and turns on the big screen.

David Fincher, who adapted and directed Stieg Larsson's novel The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo in 2011, admitted that "we may have been too beholden to the source material."

"There was something thrilling about taking this piece of work that I'd spent about two years painstakingly putting together with all its eight million LEGO pieces and take a hammer to it and bash it apart and reassemble it into a movie," Flynn, a former EW writer, said.

Neil Patrick Harris, Missi Pyle, Tyler Perry, Patrig Fugit, Casey Wilson, Scott McNairy, Kim Dickens and Emily Ratajkowski also star. Reese Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea, along with Leslie Dixon, are producing the film.

Gone Girl hits theaters Oct. 3.

Jennifer Garner: Ben Affleck Taught Our Son About His 'Bits'

His wife, Jennifer Garner, stopped by the Tonight Show to promote her new movie Draft Day and talk about their kids: Violet, 8, Seraphina, 5, and Samuel, 2. But things got a little more than G-rated when discussing what Affleck, 41, has taught his youngest child.

“He’s so psyched to finally have a boy. He loves his girls, but he’s serious about his son right now,” Garner, 41, told Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday’s episode. “So he taught him about his bits. He taught him about his P and two N’s.”

As it turns out, the newest Batman is all about teaching biology.

“Now every time we pass a dog who’s walking on the street, or if we’re at a zoo or something, our poor little son is crouching down, looking up, and he’s like, ‘Mama, does that have a vagina or a penis and two nuts?’” Garner explained, laughing. “That’s what Ben has been up to.”

Who needs health class with Affleck around? Samuel even knows technical terms, Garner revealed.

“Sometimes Sam will look at me, and he’ll say, ‘But Mama calls them testicles,’” she said.

If Jennifer Lopez Could Save Ben Affleck or Diddy: "I'd Let Both Those Motherf--kers Drown!"

During a recent interview with Big Boy TV, the 44-year-old actress and singer was asked a hilarious hypothetical question regarding two of her former lovers.

"You're on a raft in the middle of the ocean and you look in the ocean, you see two people floating," host Big Boy asked. "You can only pull up one because that's how much room you have on the raft. You look in the ocean, you see Ben Affleck and you see Diddy."

Lopez erupted with laughter before yelling out, "I'd let both those motherf--kers drown!" LOL!

She quickly followed up with, "That's terrible! I'm just joking! Ben, Puffy, you know I love you. You know that. They know it."

All jokes aside, we know J.Lo and her exes are on good terms. Affleck has even talked about staying in contact with his former fiancée.

"We don't have the kind of relationship where she relies on me for advice," he's said. "But we do have the kind of relationship where there'll be an e-mail saying, ‘Oh, your movie looks great.' I remember when she got American Idol. I said: 'This was really smart. Good luck.' I touch base. I respect her. I like her. She's put up with some stuff that was unfair in her life, and I'm really pleased to see her successful."

Ben Affleck Skips the 2014 Oscars But Joins Jennifer Garner at Vanity Fair's Party

Instead, his wife Jennifer Garner flew solo at the 86th Annual Academy Awards. The Dallas Buyers Club star modeled her custom Oscar de la Renta dress on the red carpet and chatted with E! News about her son Samuel's adorable reaction to the fun and flirty frock. "He made it just for me and I love it," the 41-year-old movie star told Ryan Seacrest of de la Renta's bespoke design. "When my 2-year-old saw me in it, he said, 'Mama, you look so pretty!' So I said, 'Okay, that's the one. There you go!'"

Garner was on hand to support her costars Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey, who took home the Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor awards for their roles in the critically acclaimed drama.

Because their characters both had AIDS, Leto and McConaughey each dieted like crazy to lose weight.

According to Garner, however, their constant hungriness didn't ruin the mood on set. "I think there should have been more crankiness than there was. I have yet to see Matthew McConaughey cranky. I've done two movies with him [2009's Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and 2013's Dallas Buyers Club]. He is steady as a rock," she said of the actor, who triumphed over fellow nominee Leonardo DiCaprio. "But if it had been me, I would have been so cranky. I was cranky when my snacks didn't show up on time!"

Garner had no reason to be cranky after the Oscars: Affleck joined her at Vanity Fair's party. The couple, who tied the knot in 2005, mingled with Glenn Close, Chris Hemsworth and Liam Hemsworth.

Warner Bros' Next Whitey Bulger Move: Ease Rift With Ben Affleck And Matt Damon

This is all a part of the big game, but there are plenty of reasons to smooth any ruffles here. Affleck is directing and starring for Warner Bros in Live By Night, an epic period crime drama that he adapted from the best-selling novel by Dennis Lehane, author of Affleck’s first directorial outing Gone Baby Gone. It’s is follow-up to the Best Picture Oscar winner Argo he made for the studio. He also is playing Batman in Warner Bros’ Batman Vs. Superman.

This has happened at Warners recently with dueling King Arthur projects, with it looking like the studio will zero in on Guy Ritchie version after getting close to production on David Dobkin’s Arthur & Lancelot. Warner Bros paid $2 million to acquire Dobkin’s script, but unplugged the film the first time because its $130 million budget was $20 million too high, with Game Of Thrones’ Kit Harington to play Arthur and Robocop‘s Joel Kinnaman to play Lancelot. Those young upstarts were unproven screen commodities. Other projects previously considered by Warners was a remake of the 1981 John Boorman pic Excalibur that had X-Men helmer Bryan Singer attached; there is also a Harry Potter-style take being produced by Donald DeLine.

Affleck casts spotlight on situation in Congo

So the actor and director did a self-described tutorial before launching the Eastern Congo Initiative four years ago, a nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to peace and prosperity in the region. On Wednesday, he brought his star power and expertise to Washington, meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry and testifying on Capitol Hill.

Affleck, who has made nine trips to Congo, expressed cautious optimism about the outlook for the African nation while imploring lawmakers to remain diligent.

"The accomplishments over the last year were hard fought, but they are fragile and they are reversible," Affleck told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a packed hearing room.

He also had lunch with several lawmakers and sat down for interviews along with former Sen. Russell Feingold, the special envoy for the African Great Lakes region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Affleck joked about crashing congressional offices and the likely confusion over an actor slated to play Batman in the sequel to "Man of Steel."

"What are you doing here, aren't you supposed to be wearing a cape?" Affleck said in an interview with The Associated Press, citing a typical comment.

The star and director of last year's best picture "Argo," and star in the upcoming "Gone Girl" said he was taking the celebrity attention and using it to focus on an issue he cares deeply about — the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"Outside my family and my work, this is it. This is my legacy. This is the thing I will be identified with. I take it extremely seriously," Affleck said in a 20-minute session in which his passion for the subject was evident.

Congo, the former Belgian colony of about 68 million people, is one of the most volatile in Africa. Violence has claimed the lives of 5 million people since a regional war that began in 1997 and displaced hundreds of thousands.

Among the positive steps, Affleck cited the surrender last November of the armed militia M23 and the appointment of Feingold. His Eastern Congo Initiative, with two employees in the U.S. and 12 in the Congo, has had success through its community-based partnerships and, as Affleck noted, capitalism.

Theo, a chocolate company based in Seattle, is getting tons of its cacao beans from eastern Congo. Coffee is next, Affleck said.

"Now we have a window of hope in a place that has had a lot of war, a lot of conflict, a lot of suffering, basically no security sector," Affleck said.

Feingold said elections will be crucial as they stand as a "symbol to the people that they really have something to do with the government."

Affleck praised the work of former President George W. Bush on African issues as well as the effort of Cindy McCain, wife of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

"Our Republican friends have perhaps been better on Africa than my party," said Affleck, a Democrat.

Members of the Senate committee, including Chairman Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and John McCain, praised Affleck's commitment. Although the actor said he was "no Congo expert," the senators said he was imminently qualified to testify.

Affleck urged Congress to provide the funds for personnel and resources for the special envoy's office and to pressure President Barack Obama to engage directly with President Joseph Kabila, among other steps.

Affleck, in the interview, said his fame gave him a "special spotlight" while acknowledging the "certain skepticism about actors, about entertainment advocates." The key, he said, is to "demonstrate that you know what you're talking about, that you're not a dilettante."

Ben Affleck and Seth Rogen Testify Before Senate Panels in Washington, D.C.-All the Details!

On Wednesday, the actors testified before two different Senate panels to speak about the Democratic Republic of Congo (Affleck) and Alzheimer's disease (Rogen).

Affleck, who founded the Eastern Congo Initiative in 2010, spoke before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on behalf of the region. The Oscar winner was joined, per Time, by Russell Feingold, the U.S. special envoy for the Congo; Roger Meece, former U.S. ambassador to Congo; and Dr. Raymond Gilpin, the National Defense University's academic dean. Senator John Kerry was among those to meet Affleck and his affiliates, and he was impressed! Kerry praised the actor and Feingold on Twitter for being "passionate about the issues," even hashtagging #MuchRespectToBenAffleck!

As for Rogen? He testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the economics and current state of research of Alzheimer's disease treatment and prevention. His mother-in-law was diagnosed with the disease at age 55, and Rogen and wife Lauren Miller founded Hilarity for Charity to raise awareness about the disease.

At the second annual Hilarity for Charity event in April, Rogen and his funny friends reportedly raised $400,000 in the fight against Alzheimer's. "Bringing Alzheimer's into the limelight is what we're trying to do," he told the Hollywood Reporter. "Young people, unless they've been touched by the disease, don't really understand Alzheimer's and how it's growing," Miller added. "We want to focus on young people and their awareness of Alzheimer's." And to help bring in the donations, Rogen and fellow stars like Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Hart made themselves the butts of their own jokes!

Rogen even worked in a little humor before speaking before a committee Tuesday, tweeting a selfie with the White House in the background captioned, #HouseOfCardsSeason3.

Props to Rogen and Affleck for shining a celebrity spotlight on issues that really matter!

Seth Green says Ben Affleck not 'scary' enough for 'Batman'

The former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star is a well-known comic book enthusiast who even penned his own graphic novel in 2005, and now he's adding to the list of Batman purists who are critical of the Argo director's latest gig.

During an interview with veteran newsman Larry King, Green insisted that Affleck going head-to-head with Henry Cavill's Man of Steel in the upcoming Batman Vs. Superman film will not be convincing in the least.

The comic book aficionado explains, "You've got to remember that at the core of that character, Batman's a crazy person. Batman has no powers. Batman is a rich, screwed-up kid whose parents were killed in front of him, who with his money and insanity decided to become a vigilante symbol to combat darkness.

"If this movie is meant to be the idealistic alien, humans-before-all-else Superman, and this is supposed to be the grizzled, weathered Batman who's been living in Gotham, fighting crime himself for 10 years, you need a guy who's older. You need a guy who's got more weight. And you need a guy that a Henry Cavill Superman is gonna be actually scared of."

When King noted that Affleck should be praised for his acting abilities, Green replied, "Yes, but there is only so much you can act a role before people are or are not going to believe you in that role."

Matt Damon Responds to Ben Affleck and Jimmy Kimmel's Twitter Heckling With a Butt Fax

The Oscar winner responded to pals Ben Affleck and Jimmy Kimmel's teasing over his non-existent Twitter account by sending them over a shot of his bare bum.

"Dear Ben & Jimmy, Here's my fax. Love MD," a message accompanying the shot, sent on Damon and Affleck's Pearl Street Films letterhead read.

So, how did this all begin?

The battle of the gaffes kicked off when Affleck thanked Kimmel for retweeting a link that lets fans enter to win a date with him and Damon for charity.

"I thank you buddy. And @easterncongo & @water thank you," Affleck tweeted to Kimmel, before taking a dig at Damon. "Matt on the other hand? Matt you there? Right. We will fax you."

Kimmel continued to poke fun, adding, "Matt is prob too scared to get on twitter because no one likes him." This escalated further when Twitter TV retweeted that and added a #FaxingMattDamon hashtag for kicks. Affleck, of course, couldn't help but to retweet it.

So, Damon did the only thing he could...he sent a fax back...in a major way.

Continuing with the gaffe, Kimmel later posted the butt shot to Twitter, writing, "@BenAffleck - did you see what your "friend" Matt faxed to us? NSFW."

"Looks like u from here, Jimmy. All 4 charity?," Ben replied, later turning a serious note when he added Saturday, "#faxingmattdamon jokes aside, the kids in this story from @medium & @cironline are a reminder of why we're doing this," tweeting a link to the Center for Investigative Reporting's site.

In Late January, Omaze charity announced that for a minimum $10 donation, you can be entered to win a trip to L.A. and a date with Damon and Affleck, with all proceeds going to their charities Eastern Congo Initiative and Water.org.

Batman Alum Gary Oldman on Ben Affleck as Caped Crusader: "He's Got a Hard Cowl to Climb Into"

"He's got a hard cowl to climb into because I thought Christian had made such a signature on it," Oldman, who played Jim Gordon in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight franchise, told me at this week's Hollywood premiere of Robocop (in theaters now). "But Ben is a wonderful actor, so I'm intrigued to see what he does."

Oldman did advise Affleck not to pay attention to the fandemonium outcry over his casting. "All that stuff is always crazy," he said. "If you listen to the fans all the time we wouldn't have remade Robocop, no one would have made Batman. Ben will do fine. I think he'll do fine."

The Robocop reboot stars The Killing's Joel Kinneman in the title role with Abbie Cornish as his wife. Oldman costars as the cyborg lawman's creator, Dr. Dennett Norton.

Oldman recalled the first time he saw the original 1987 movie.

"I remember it being sort of sci-fi horror," he said. "There were a lot of heads rolling around with a lot of blood and guts and all that kind of stuff. I thought it was cool."

Win a Double-Date with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon - If You Can Stand Them

The childhood pals jokingly infer the latter in this chuckle-inducing video that's a case study in one-upmanship.

The Oscar-winning duo are auctioning off a double date with themselves on Omaze.com to raise money for Affleck's Eastern Congo Initiative and Damon's water.org. The winner gets an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles to see whether these two are really as insecure and bumbling as they seem here.

"It'll be like just us hanging out, taking selfies, talking about, how, like, the Sox are going to do," Damon explains on camera about what the winner can expect to happen.

Affleck promptly scorns Damon's seemingly bourgeois suggestions and counters that they could instead talk about "19th century literature, or the current state of politics in the Middle East." Later, Affleck also suggests that the duo could ask the winner "meaningful questions like, 'What are your hopes? What are your dreams? What are your fears?' "

Damon appears to roll his eyes at his pompous friend, and doubles down on his everyman approach. "If you don't want to get really weirded out by having existential questions posed to you by Ben Affleck, then maybe we could talk about some other fun stuff, like stories from the set of The Bourne Identity,' or any of the other hit movies I've been in.' "

Not to worry: Affleck didn't take that dig lying down. He then declared they could talk about stories from the set of Argo, which he pointedly notes won Best Picture – as Damon shoots him a withering look.

Things devolve from there, as Affleck pokes fun at Damon's height, Damon mocks Gigli and so on.

The folks at Omaze are clearly in on the joke, as they advertise the experience as a chance to learn, "What it’s like to act, write, grow up in Boston, play poker, vacation, get named Sexiest Man Alive, win Oscars and be epic … all with your best friend."

Entry cost? $10. The experience to hang out with this cunning duo? Priceless.

Jennifer Garner Reveals Family's Summer Plans (Hint: They Involve Ben Affleck Playing Batman)

Garner revealed recently that her family will be spending the summer in Detroit, where filming will get underway on the hotly anticipated Man of Steel sequel, starring her hubby as Batman.

"I'll be there this summer," the Dallas Buyers Club star told Detroit sports radio channel 105.1 FM. "Yep, all summer...Batman is shooting...or whatever it's called. I don't know what it's called. Superman with Batman, or whatever it is. But he is shooting this summer, so we'll be there."

That's OK, Jen, nobody else knows what they're calling the film either. Warner Bros. Pictures has dubbed it the "Superman/Batman Movie" for now.

The studio also announced last month that it was bumping the star-studded sequel's release date back from July 17, 2015, to May 6, 2016, to better allow the filmmakers time to "fully realize their vision, given the complex visual nature of the story."

Since then, Jesse Eisenberg has joined the cast as Superman archnemesis Lex Luthor and Jeremy Irons is onboard to play Batman's butler, Alfred. They join the previously announced lineup that includes Affleck as the Caped Crusader, Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel, Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.

Meanwhile, Garner was in New York when she chatted with Detroit Sports 105.1 about her latest project, the football-themed Draft Day with Kevin Costner, about the humorous-and-heartbreaking struggle the GM of the Cleveland Browns goes through to secure the season's No. 1 draft pick.

"The NFL loves this movie," the actress and mother of three gushed to Matt Dery at Radio Row, the one-stop shop for sports radio set up at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel in NYC during Super Bowl week. "They have given us every bit of access that we could possibly hope for, so they love it, and behind that it's a fantastic story."

So will she be getting the summer off while Affleck is working?

"We try," Garner said. "We try our best."

"Look at this place," she added, looking around her. "It's like a boys' playground. It's like little boys all given money and a table and a place to sit to have their idols sit down and chat with them, and then I come and spoil it for them."

You Can Hang Out With Ben Affleck and Matt Damon for Only $10-Seriously!

Omaze, a charity famous for giving anyone the chance to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences that also support social missions, has put together yet another fantastic opportunity for fans, and all it requires is a $10 donation and (as we said before) a lot of luck.

So what would you, your BFF, Affleck and his BFF Damon do together (other than become the four best friends that anyone could have)?

According to Omaze, two lucky fans will hang out with the duo in Hollywood. "You and your BFF will be flown to Los Angeles to hang out with Ben and Matt at an exclusive Hollywood event as their personal VIP guests! You'll mingle with the stars and learn what it's like to act, write, win Oscars, and just be awesome," the charity states.

Sounds like a good time, right?! Plus, how many people can say they hung out with Batman and, well, almost-Robin for a day?

"It's great to be working with Matt again. It was a little awkward after he didn't get the Robin role, so we couldn't be more excited," Affleck said. Damon followed up with, "Yeah that was tough, but I still have the costume from my audition, so I'm hoping I can wear it when we meet the winners." (Just imagine the Instagram pictures that would come out of that!)

All proceeds from this experience will benefit the Eastern Congo Initiative and Water.org. According to the release, "The Eastern Congo Initiative envisions an eastern Congo vibrant with abundant opportunities for economic and social development, where a robust civil society can flourish," while, "Water.org pioneers innovative, community-driven and market-based solutions to ensure all people have access to safe water and sanitation; giving women hope, children health and communities a future."

CBS Gives Pilot Order to Comedy From Ben Affleck and Matt Damon

More Time with Family stars Behind the Candelabra's Tom Papa as a husband and father making a career change to, well, spend more time with his family.

Damon and Affleck will executive-produce the project with writers Papa and 'Til Death's John Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa. Dave Becky and Josh Lieberman are also attached as executive producers.

Would you watch this comedy?

Chuck Lorre Explains Ben Affleck Manhood Joke, Names Martin Scorsese & Harvey Weinstein As Original Targets

that it really matters, but the joke I made at the Producers Guild Awards regarding Ben Affleck’s genitals being of sufficient size to fill the caped crusader’s codpiece was just that, a joke. I’ve never met Mr. Affleck in or out of a men’s room. Nor am I in the habit of peeking at another guy’s junk while standing at a urinal. (I mostly stare at the tiles and worry that the invisible auto-flush light beam is secretly cooking my internal organs.) I just wanted to open my speech with a cheap laugh about the Golden Globes. To be completely honest, the original version of the joke had me peeing next to and peeking at Martin Scorsese — who was, at best, a grower not a show-er. I cut it, wisely I thought, because it felt unfair to “belittle” a giant of cinema, even if I had issues with “Hugo.” I then considered telling the same joke with Harvey Weinstein as the celebrity at the neighboring stall, but cut that as well because I worried that he might be able to have me hurt. It was only when I thought of Mr. Affleck that it finally hit me. If I’m going to make up stuff about another man’s penis, why not go positive? Embellish his endowment if you will. It’s still funny. And it also allowed me to work in the Comic-Con Batman angle. Win-win right? Wrong. While the joke did score at the PGA event, it got way too much traction afterward. Which is why I now feel the need to set the record straight. You want to know if Affleck is man enough to be Bruce Wayne? Ask his wife. Or, if you’re feeling man enough, rent “Daredevil.” On Blu-ray.

Fox Pilot 'The Middle Man' On Pause As Ben Affleck Becomes Unavailable To Direct

Like most of Affleck’s movies, The Middle Man, from Fox, Pearl Street and Caron’s Picturemaker Prods., takes place in his native Boston. Described as a classic Boston crime story, it is set in the 1960s and tells the story of Rudy MacAteer, an FBI agent charged with taking down the Italian mafia, and his confidential informant, Irish-American gangster Mickey Flood. MacAteer’s efforts inadvertently give rise to the Irish mob, as he finds himself bending the laws he is governed by. Affleck, Caron and Carter executive produce. Caron wrote The Middle Man on spec from a story he developed with Michael Yebba and Emilio Mauro who had penned a previous incarnation.

Ben Affleck Jokes About His "Big D--k," Compares Himself to Michael Fassbender!

While accepting an award on stage at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, CBS mega producer Chuck Lorre said that at last week's Golden Globe Awards, he peed at the urinal next to Affleck, telling the audience, "Yes I peeked. And yes, Comic Con, he can play Batman."

LOL!

Later in the night, Affleck took the stage to joke about his private parts.

"I was at the bar briefly, and I came back to my seat and somebody said, ‘You know, there was a guy up on stage who said you have a big d--k,'" the Oscar winner joked to the audience. "I was like, ‘You know, isn't that always how is goes? The one time it happens and I miss it!' Thank you very much. Whoever you are, God bless you. I'm often confused with Matt Damon but rarely with Michael Fassbender, so..."

Private part jokes aside, Affleck then presented awards to the producers of both Gravity and 12 Years a Slave.

Other stars at tonight's PGAs included Brad Pitt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr., Jared Leto, Sarah Paulson, Lupita Nyong'o and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Pitt told us of his new haircut, "It's for a part. It's not a choice!"

Batman vs. Superman Release Date Pushed Back to 2016 -- What's Its New Competition?

Batman Vs. Superman, which stars Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Henry Cavill reprising his role as Superman/Clark Kent, is now slated to open May 6, 2016, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Man of Steel sequel was previously set for July 17, 2015, a date that will be replaced by Peter Pan. Now, the highly anticipated movie will compete against an untitled Marvel movie.

"We are happy to take advantage of these coveted summer dates, which are perfect for two of our biggest tentpole releases," Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman said in a statement. "We share the fans' excitement to see DC Comics' most popular figures, Superman and Batman, together on the big screen for the first time, which will now be arriving in theatres in May 2016. Peter Pan has delighted people of every generation for more than a century, so we are thrilled to bring him back to the screen next summer for today's moviegoers."

Who do you think will win at the box office?

Weinstein eyes Damon and Affleck for sea survival film

Lobsterman John Al­dridge, 45, fell into the Atlantic 40 miles off Montauk last July while the boat was on autopilot and his partner Anthony Sosinski was asleep. He used his rubber boots as flotation devices while lost for 12 hours at sea before he was rescued. Weinstein got the rights after the Paul Tough-penned story ran in the Times this month.

Ben Affleck Cozies Up to a Corpse in Gone Girl-Inspired Shoot

In a scene dreamt up (and photographed) by director David Fincher, Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike grace the cover of Entertainment Weekly's 2014 preview issue (on newsstands Friday) – as their Gone Girl characters, Nick and Amy Dunne.

While it's not a film still from the adaptation of Gillian Flynn's bestselling thriller, the ominous image teases this dark telling of love gone awry.

Nick and Amy are two unemployed magazine writers whose marriage falls apart once they depart New York City for Nick's native Missouri – but on the couple's fifth wedding anniversary, Amy vanishes and Nick becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance.

Soon, Nick is being eyed for murder, but it's unclear what's happened to Amy, keeping readers (and come fall, viewers) in suspense until the last moments of this twisted, two-sided tale.

As for Flynn – a former EW writer herself – turning her story into a screenplay was as exciting as writing the novel itself.

"There was something thrilling about taking this piece of work that I’d spent about two years painstakingly putting together with all its eight million LEGO pieces and take a hammer to it and bash it apart and reassemble it into a movie,” she tells EW.

Gone Girl also stars Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Missi Pyle and Casey Williams and comes to theaters Oct. 3.

Gone Girl First Look: Ben Affleck Takes On Nick Dunne in Movie Sneak Peek

Luckily, fans of Gillian Flynn's novel Gone Girl got a special treat tonight, when a still from the David Fincher directed film was released on the Internet. The photo, tweeted out by 20th Century Fox, shows Ben Affleck as the male lead Nick Dunne.

"Check out @BenAffleck as Nick Dunne, a suspect seeking the truth in his wife's disappearance in #GoneGirl," the caption read. Dunne (Affleck) stands at the microphone while a large "missing" poster with his wife's face (played by Rosamund Pike) stands in the background.

The thriller centers on the relationship between Nick and Amy Dunne, a married couple who have hit a rough patch after moving to Nick's small hometown in Missouri from New York after he loses his job.

Amy finds the change from the big city quite difficult, and things take a scary turn when she disappears on the couple's fifth wedding anniversary. To make things even worse, Nick becomes the prime suspect after what seems to be plenty of evidence against him arises.

The cast also includes Neil Patrick Harris, Missi Pyle, Tyler Perry, Patrig Fugit, Casey Wilson, Scott McNairy, Kim Dickens and Emily Ratajkowski. Reese Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea, along with Leslie Dixon, are producing the movie. Flynn wrote the first draft of the screenplay and was rewriting with Fincher, as of July.

Gone Girl is slated to hit theaters Oct. 3, 2014.

John Krasinski, Oren Uziel Sell Spec To Warner Bros; Ben Affleck, Matt Damon Producing

The studio is keeping the logline under wraps. This reteams the former The Office star Krasinski with Damon. They co-wrote and starred in the Gus Van Sant-directed fracking drama Promised Land. Uziel’s recent script credits include the sequel 22 Jump Street and the Men In Black reboot that is in the works at Sony Pictures. Krasinski co-stars in the untitled Cameron Crowe film that’s currently shooting. It is unclear at the moment whether he’ll star in the spec action adventure, which will be overseen at Warner Bros by Jesse Ehrman and Cate Adams. WME reps Krasinski and Uziel, and the latter is managed by Circle Of Confusion and attorney David Fox.

Ben Affleck On Playing Batman, And How Not To Accept An Academy Award

Affleck told me that he initially turned down the Bat-overture, but his home studio Warner Bros implored him to see what Man Of Steel helmer Zack Snyder was cooking up. “The stuff was incredible,” Affleck told me. “It was a unique take on Batman that was still consistent with the mythology. It made me excited. All of a sudden I had a reading of the character. When people see it, it will make more sense than it does now or even than it did to me initially. … If I thought the result would be another Daredevil, I’d be out there picketing myself. Why would I make the movie if I didn’t think it was going to be good and that I could be good in it?”

As to how his Caped Crusader will differ from past incarnations, particularly Christian Bale’s portrayal, Affleck said, “The idea for the new Batman is to redefine him in a way that doesn’t compete with the Bale and Chris Nolan Batman but still exists within the Batman canon. It will be an older and wiser version, particularly as he relates to Henry Cavill’s Superman character.” It is Affleck’s second superhero turn after Daredevil, and it is clear the missed opportunity on that film had a lot to do with him taking this job. He said that Daredevil was the only movie in his entire career that he regretted. “It just kills me,” Affleck said. “I love that story, that character, and the fact that it got fucked up the way it did stays with me. Maybe that’s part of the motivation to do Batman.”

Of Affleck’s Argo Oscar earlier this year, he said he felt validation for “plenty of moments when I didn’t know where I was going to end up. I had been kicked around some and maybe left for dead. I’m not a great believer in awards and the idea that some movie is best, because it’s subjective. But standing there at the Academy Awards eased some of the pain and frustration I’d been carrying. I loved movies and felt I knew how to make good ones and had something to offer, but there was a time when I wasn’t sure I would be invited to try anymore.”

That was a world of different from Affleck’s remembrance of the time he and his baby-faced Good Will Hunting writing partner Matt Damon took the stage to collect their scripting Oscars. I thought his stream-of-consciousness rant was the funniest thing in our interview. “We go down the red carpet and see all these journalists from TV,” Affleck recalled. “We’re starstruck. Holy shit, is that Roger Ebert? I see Dustin Hoffman, and he says, ‘You know, I did theater with your father.’ … When [my father] said he knew Dustin Hoffman, I thought he was bullshitting. And there I am at the Oscars and Hoffman brings it up. … So now I’m re-evaluating my whole relationship with my father as we’re walking inside. Every star you could ever imagine — there’s Jack Nicholson. It was Titanic’s year, and there’s James Cameron. We sat down, close to the front of the stage. Billy Crystal comes out, starts this song, and it’s ‘Matt and Ben, Ben and Matt.” It was like walking through the fourth wall of your television into a weird dream, one where I’m at the Oscars and Billy Crystal is singing to me and … never mind … I remember turning to James Cameron. I had never seen him before and don’t think I’ve spoken to him before and don’t think I’ve spoken to him since, but I’m overly relaxed and caught up. I go, ‘Hey, how’s it going, Jim?’ I remember he kind of looked at me. I say, ‘Don’t you think it would be cool if you knew how many votes each movie got?’ He looks at me like: ‘What the fuck is this kid talking about? Why is this kid talking to me? And why is he talking about the vote? I sat down. I’m thinking, ‘Shit, I just made an idiot out of myself with James Cameron. I’ll never be in one of his movies.’ … They read off our names. I’ll never forget the first thought I had — that I hadn’t given one second of thought to what I might say. You are an idiot. You come to the Academy Awards and didn’t prepare anything, not even secretly in your mind.”

Apparently, he wasn’t alone, and Damon here showed the benefit of that time he spent in Harvard. “Matt said, ‘Go ahead, talk first.’ Only later did I realize his show of graciousness was designed to give him a minute to prepare what he was going to say. I mumbled a bunch of stupid things. I thanked Boston twice. Probably once would have been enough. We’d won the Golden Globe, but I think the only other thing I’d ever won was some Little League trophies when I was 12. I look back on the whole thing ruefully. I had no perspective. I thanked Cuba Gooding Jr. — by now I was just saying stuff. We high-fived everybody. I hugged Denzel Washington as we were coming offstage and he was going on. Why did I hug Denzel Washington? Maybe he didn’t want to be hugged by me, a stranger. I felt like such an idiot afterward, but I have to say, we had a lot of fun that night.”

Here’s the link to the interview.

Henry Cavill Approves of Ben Affleck's Casting in Batman vs. Superman

In an interview with Total Film to promote the latter flick's Blu-ray release, the 30-year-old British hunk said that Affleck's mettle as an actor and director will make him a terrific Caped Crusader in the studio's first big-screen mash-up of the DC superheroes, tentatively titled Batman vs. Superman.

"I'm sure he'll be fantastic, above all else, and as a filmmaker he's got his own style, you know, he's not copying anyone else. And he's also sort of been tenacious in his career," Cavill told the site.

"He's had ups followed by downs and now he's very up again and I think that requires and shows a very special strength of character, and it's something which I enjoy working with because jobs like this require a strength of character. They require a dedication to the work and a belief in oneself and Ben has that, clearly."

No word whether Affleck's Batman will serve as Superman's foil or whether the two will end up just being sparring partners before joining forces to save Gotham City and Metropolis' citizens from some other threat.

But given Warner Bros.' professed desire to make a Justice League film in the coming years, we're betting on the latter scenario, especially now that rumors have it the Man of Steel sequel could wind up including Wonder Woman.

As the trades reported last month, French beauty Olga Kurylenko is one of several actresses who have auditioned for the female lead in the picture that, according to the casting breakdown, calls for someone "tall, brunette, athletic and exotic."

That sounds a lot like the Amazonian warrior princess to us.

The Zack Snyder-directed Batman vs. Superman is slated to hit theaters July 17, 2015.

Ben Affleck Gets Crafty With Daughters Ahead of Violet's Basketball Game-See the Pic!

Actually, that's just Ben Affleck, and the 41-year-old soon-to-be superhero was tagging along with daughters Violet and Seraphina to a craft store in L.A. on Sunday, Nov. 25.

After the doting daddy and his girls got their art fix for the day, the trio made their way to 7-year-old Violet's basketball game. At some point, mom Jennifer Garner met up with her hubby, and the proud parents and Seraphina cheered on Violet and her team, the Seminoles!

The family unit—minus 1-year-old Samuel, who was perhaps a little young for the day's festivities—even got in some fun at a local park and picked up pizza to go

But as much as Ben likes staying home with his brood, don't expect that to turn into a full-time gig anytime soon. "I don't want to be a stay-at-home dad," he told Details magazine last year. "Work is very important to me. I like to work. But I need my work to mean something to me in order for me to not be home with them."

And although Ben admitted his beautiful wife does most of "everything" around the house, it's clear he cherishes the time he spends with Jen and his family!

Stars party after Golden Globes

Taylor Swift had a dance-off with friends, Harvey Weinstein toasted with Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep to celebrate “August: Osage County” despite it being shut out, and Leonardo DiCaprio and Bradley Cooper sat with their moms.

While guests swilled from Moet mini-bottles and golden goblets, pregnant Kerry Washington abstained, but made a rare public appearance with husband Nnamdi Asomugha, staying until after midnight.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler threw a bash at the Chateau Marmont, where guests danced and ate cronuts and cupcakes.

Matt Damon made the rounds with his arm in a sling (which only appeared after the telecast) from a cycling accident. Minutes after he’d left HBO’s bash, Ben Affleck showed up searching the room — where stars included Tom Hanks, Emilia Clarke, Martin Scorsese and Jonah Hill — muttering, “Where’s Matt Damon?”

Ben Affleck on what to expect from David Fincher's 'Gone Girl'

Rosamund Pike (An Education) plays the missing wife, Amy, a displaced New Yorker who struggles more than her husband when they move to his hometown in Missouri. Flynn’s page-turner alternates perspectives, so readers are invited into both characters’ minds, a potential storytelling challenge for the filmmakers. “I don’t want to give away too much, because if you know the book, you know that there are set of reveals that you would want to maintain the integrity of,” says Affleck. “But I will say that Gillian adapted it and I think it’s very, very faithful to her book. If you read the book and liked it, you will definitely like the movie.”

Gone Girl, which is slated for release on Oct. 3, 2014, has been filming in Missouri and California and is aiming to wrap in February.

Ben Affleck's Batman Body: Don't Get Too Pumped Up...Yet!

At least not while you're still filming Gone Girl.

The upcoming caped crusader has been asked to refrain from working out too much while making the much-anticipated thriller.

"I'm trying to keep him at the size he's at right now until he's done with us," Gone Girl costume designer Trish Summerville told me at the Catching Fire premiere in L.A. "I'm sure he's working out but I think for him, he's probably a guy that builds up really quickly so I just kind of asked him if he can stay where he's at right now."

Rumors that he could have been hitting the gym pretty hard took off late last month after photographers snapped a seemingly muscled up Affleck while out for chores with his daughter Violet.

"He's a really big guy, like he's quite tall," Summerville said. "You don't realize how big he is. He kind of reads smaller on film than he does in real life."

And Summerville reiterated what we've known for a long time, "Ben couldn't be lovelier. He's so nice."

Gone Girl is an adaptation of writer Gillian Flynn's best-selling novel of the same name. Directed by David Fincher, the movie also stars Rosamund Pike, Tyler Perry and Neil Patrick Harris.

It's scheduled for release on Oct. 3, 2014.

"It's great to collaborate when people are so talented," Reese Witherspoon, who's producing Gone Girl, told E! News at last month's Elle Women in Hollywood gala. "I'm just thrilled that the movie is getting made so quickly…and this author Gillian Flynn, who is so talented, is having so much of her work produced now."

Now we want to hear from you. Are you pysched for Gone Girl? How about Ben as Batman?

Christian Bale gives tips to new Batman Ben Affleck

The British actor played the Caped Crusader in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, but stepped down after the release of The Dark Knight Rises in 2012.

Affleck has signed up to take over the role in upcoming blockbuster Batman vs. Superman, prompting a furious reaction from some fans who called for the star to be dropped from the film.

They even released a petition demanding his removal from the cast, but the Oscar-winner has now received the seal of approval from his predecessor.

Bale tells Accesshollywood.com, "I wish him all the best. He's a very experienced actor and filmmaker. He'll make it his own. It should be passed on to another actor and will be again after him."

The American Pyscho star also reveals he spoke to Affleck and gave him some helpful hints about working in the character's skintight costume, adding, "(I told him) just make sure you can take a piss without anyone helping him because it's a little bit humiliating. I went through having to have someone help you out of the costume in order to be able to do that. That was my main piece of advice for him."

Batman vs. Superman, which will pit Affleck's character against Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel, is due to hit cinemas in 2015.

Christian Bale Weighs In on Batkid - and So Does Ben Affleck

Miles, who is now in remission after being diagnosed with leukemia at just 18 months of age, has become a worldwide star after the Make-a-Wish Foundation turned the city by the bay into Gotham City for one unforgettable experience.

Former Caped Crusader Christian Bale heard about Miles' adventure and told New York magazine that he thought it was "fantastic."

Bale, who's been shooting the upcoming film Moses in Spain, heard about Batkid after flying into L.A. for a press junket on Saturday. "I saw this headline and thought, 'What's that?' " he said. "I looked on the news and I saw all the pictures of him running around and saving people. It's so touching."

"He must have been bewildered," added Bale, who played Batman in three films. "Hopefully, later on, he'll be able to look back and say, 'Oh my God, how amazing.' "

But he's not the only Batman to be wowed by Miles's feats. Ben Affleck, who's playing the Caped Crusader in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel, Tweeted on Saturday that Batkid is the "Best Batman ever."

Adam West, who played TV's Bruce Wayne in the 1960s also Tweeted, "What a wonderful thing. Relieved that Gotham is safe again thanks to Miles."

And Michael Keaton, who starred in 1992's Batman Returns, told TMZ that it was "the cutest thing in the world."

While there's no word yet from George Clooney, who played Batman in 1997, Val Kilmer – who donned the black mask and cape in 1995 – gave Miles a shout out on Facebook while the action was unfolding on Friday, posting, "Just heard the riddler is robbing a bank in the financial district. Hurry #sfbatkid."

Jason Patric battles for in-vitro son

Patric fathered the boy, 3, with girlfriend Danielle Schreiber via in-vitro fertilization. But the couple later broke up and Patric wasn’t recognized as the father, according to California law, which gives sperm donors no parental rights unless they are married to the mother or have a written agreement.

“The Lost Boys” star says he hasn’t seen Gus in 38 weeks since Schreiber cut off contact. Now, the distressed dad is taking action. He hosted the first Stand Up for Gus fund-raiser in Los Angeles Wednesday night to raise money to support a legal defense for families who have been “broken down from this system.”

Patric explained to us: “I don’t have nights with Gus anymore, so I’m going to have this evening, and we’re going to shine a light on this injustice.”

­A-list supporters of Patric’s cause on Wednesday included Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jon Hamm, Chelsea Handler and Kiefer Sutherland. Damon committed $15,000 to the cause during a paddle raise, but Mel Gibson trumped Damon’s offer and coughed up $20,000, to which emcee Joe Buck quipped: “Well Matt, you know what just happened .?.?. Mel just made your 15 look like nothing.”

Patric plans to make the fund-raiser more than a one-off event — “not only an annual thing, it’s a movement,” he said. “It’s going to continue every day and we need more than one event a year. I hope one day Gus will be running it on his own.”

Ben Affleck's New Batsuit Doesn't Feature a "Single Nipple," Says Kevin Smith

"I saw the Batman costume. More than that, I saw a picture of [Affleck] in the costume," he said during his latest Babble On podcast. "I don't want to give anything away 'cause that is up to them and stuff, but I am going to say this: I instantly bear hugged [Snyder]."

"You have not seen this costume on film before. For a comic book fan, it was mind-bending, because every other movie does this Matrix-y black armor thing," he continued. "There wasn't a single nipple on this suit. I think everyone is just gonna be like ‘Holy s--t!'"

Clooney has often mocked his Batman costume in the press. "The Batsuit was uncomfortable for all of the world. Even little kids come up and kick me," he recently told MTV while promoting Gravity. "They put nipples on the damn thing. You know, I didn't even know it until the film came out."

Batman vs. Superman will show the Dark Knight (Affleck) facing off against the Man of Steel (Henry Cavill). The movie is slated for release on July 17, 2015.

During a September appearance on Late Night With Jimmmy Fallon, Affleck said he's excited to see how his three children react when they see their dad in costume. "Every kid should see their dad as a superhero, right? It's so awesome, man," the actor said. "I'm so excited."

'Jersey Boys' And Ben Affleck's 'Live By Night' Get Release Dates

Ben Affleck as Batman: "I Think It's Great," Says Former Batgirl Alicia Silverstone!

The 37-year-old actress, who played Batgirl alongside George Clooney and Chris O'Donnell in the 1997 flick Batman & Robin, says she thinks Affleck will do a fantastic job playing the caped hero in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel.

"That sounds so cool," Silverstone told us at last night's L.A. premiere of Ass Backwards. "I did hear about that. That sounds cool."

"I think it's great," she added. "I like him."

It was announced back in August that Affleck would portray Batman alongside Superman Henry Cavill in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel sequel. Silverstone joins the list of celebs who've defended the Affleck casting choice amid lots of fan backlash.

Hugh Jackman spoke out in favor of the Oscar winner playing Batman, saying, "He's a Boston kid, right? He's a tough guy...I know [Ben] a little bit and I know he's going to relish the opportunity to go and crush it. I have no doubt he's going to crush it."

Affleck's wife Jennifer Garner also publicly commented, saying, "I was excited for him. I was excited because he had a real take on what he wanted to do, and you know, I have to say, my husband is a pretty great storyteller himself, and I'm excited to watch him do it."

The Man of Steel sequel is due in theaters July 17, 2015.

Ben Affleck Plans Geopolitical Africa-Set Warner Bros Thriller; Will Staples Scripting

Affleck is starring with Rosamund Pike in the David Fincher-directed Gone Girl, and he’s directing and starring in Live By Night, an epic period crime drama that he adapted from the best-selling novel by Dennis Lehane, author of Affleck’s first directorial outing Gone Baby Gone. Affleck is also going to star with Henry Cavill in the Zack Snyder-directed Batman Vs. Superman for the studio.

Staples scripted the Fox film Myth, which has James Cameron, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Sam Worthington involved, as well as King of Heists, a vehicle for Jeremy Renner. He’s repped by WME and Management 360. Affleck is repped by WME.

Ben Affleck Looks Leaner, More Muscular Than Ever as He Prepares for Batman Role

Ben Affleck was spotted out and about in Los Angeles wearing a tight shirt that showed off the actor's new muscular physique.

The Hollywood star was on daddy duty on Thursday and picked up his daughter Violet from school.

But all eyes were on Affleck's bod, which appears to be leaner and buffer than ever.

Clearly the 41-year-old is gearing up to look his absolute best in the less than forgiving batsuit.

It was announced over the summer that the Oscar winner had signed on to play Batman in the planned Man of Steel sequel alongside Henry Cavill.

And Jennifer Garner's better half knew that there would be some backlash after the casting decision was made.

During an appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, the actor addressed how he handled the negative comments from critics.

"The people from the studio were like, 'We're thrilled! And listen, we want to talk to you, because people go through this process and it can be a little trying.'"

Affleck was then advised not to go online for a few days, but he did so anyway. "I said, ‘I'm a big boy. I can handle any snub. I can handle anything.'"

"I said, 'I handle s--t.' I'm very tough,'" he explained. "So, I saw the announcement, I look down the thing and I look at the first comment. The first comment goes, 'Nooooooooooooo.' I'm like, ‘We're going to be Luddites for a while, kids.'"

Aww…well despite the haters, things are clearly shaping up for Affleck to be one awesome Caped Crusader!

Ben Affleck Not Practicing His Batman Voice Around the House Yet, but Jennifer Garner Can Hardly Wait

E! News caught up with the actress last night at the L.A. premiere of her latest film, Dallas Buyers Club, and we asked whether hubby Ben Affleck has been practicing his Batman voice around the house yet.

"Not yet," Garner said, quickly adding, "But I'm excited!"

The actress, who was rocking a sleeveless navy dress that showed off her toned arms, said that she was on the carpet solo because Affleck is out of town working.

The future Caped Crusader's latest project, David Fincher's adaptation of the Gillian Flynn bestseller Gone Girl, started shooting in Missouri last month. 20th Century Fox announced this week that the film will be in theaters Oct. 3, 2014.

Garner also recently offered her opinion about the extreme amount of weight that Matthew McConaughey shed to play a man dying of AIDS in Dallas Buyers Club, a real-life story about a homophobic womanizer who contracts the disease and gets active in smuggling illegal but helpful anti-viral meds into the U.S. from other countries.

"I hated it," she told Yahoo! Movies. "I hated seeing Matthew so—I mean, he looked ill. He looked legitimately really, very ill."

McConaughey has said that he consulted Tom Hanks for tips on how to shed pounds, the two-time Oscar winner having done so for Philadelphia, in which he also played an AIDS patient, and Cast Away.

"I was going around and people were going, 'Hey, are you feeling all right?'" McConaughey told People. "But then I hit 135 pounds. I ran into somebody and they didn't just ask if I was all right, they said, 'My God, we need to get you some help.' And I thought, 'There we go. That's the perfect spot.'"

CBS Nabs Comedy Produced By Ben Affleck & Matt Damon, Starring Tom Papa And Written By Cathy Yuspa & Josh Goldsmith

Based on the stand-up of Papa and the experiences of Damon, the multi-camera comedy, titled More Time With Family, centers on a guy (Papa) who changes his career and gives up a life on the road to spend more time at home with his family — but when he gets there, he realizes no one asked him to do that. The project originated with Papa and Damon who had worked together on two movies, The Informant and Behind The Candelabra. They teamed with Damon’s childhood friend and frequent collaborator Affleck, whose company, Pearl Street Films, is making a big push in television. The three met with a number of writers, going with Yuspa and Goldsmith and setting up the project at 20th TV where the scribes are under an overall deal. Damon and Affleck will executive produce through Pearl Street along with Papa, Yuspa, Goldsmith and 3 Arts’ Dave Becky and Josh Lieberman. This marks Pearl Street’s second TV sale and second big commitment — the company also has crime drama The Middle Man at Fox, which has a pilot order with Affleck directing and Glenn Gordon Caron writing.

Affleck and Damon were previously partnered in LivePlanet, which produced several TV shows in the early 2000s, including drama Push, Nevada and docu series Project Greenlight. In addition to his successful stand-up career, Papa, repped by ICM Partners, 3 Arts and Del, Shaw, Moonves, previously co-created and toplined the 2004 NBC comedy series Come To Papa. Last season, The King Of Queens alums Yuspa and Goldsmith, repped by ICM Partners, wrote and executive produced the NBC comedy pilot The Gates. Oscar winners Affleck and Damon are with WME.

Runner Runner: What to Know Before Betting on Ben Affleck & Justin Timberlake's Gambling Movie

Richie Rich's Girlfriend and Father: Gemma Arterton (Strawberry Fields in Quantum of Solace) plays Block's COO and lover, Rebecca Shafran. Richie soon falls for this slinky, shapely sophisticate who purrs with a British accent, but he better watch his sexyback. John Heard (Home Alone) costars as Richie's absent, gambleholic dad, and recently played another loser character with a different addiction — booze — in the hilarious crap-fest Sharknado.

Three Aces in the Hole: Writers Brian Koppelman and David Levien must be Hollywood's go-to guys for scripts about gambling. Before penning Runner Runner, they wrote the Matt Damon drama Rounders, the casino-heist caper Ocean's Thirteen (also with Damon and, well, everyone), and the poker TV series Tilt. Director Brad Furman comes to the table with no previous experience on a gambling movie, but he did helm the Matthew McConaughey legal thriller The Lincoln Lawyer. And that's a decent card to play.

Exotic Locale & Palatial Pad: Runner Runner was shot during the summer of 2012, with the American Commonwealth of Puerto Rico doubling for Costa Rica. The production design team was tasked with creating a realistically lavish world in a country where there's a great divide between rich and poor. One of the most extravagant settings is Block's estate, a posh party mansion with lots of gambling, free-flowing booze, and scantily clad chicas. Eat your heart out, Gatsby.

Run Richie Run: The movie takes its title from a poker term, for when a player gets two winning cards in Texas Hold 'Em. Though a runner runner is strangely never depicted in the film, the lucky play still serves as metaphor. Richie is also a literal runner — he runs dangerous jobs for Block, runs from scary thugs and officers, and even makes a frantic run for the border. Unfortunately, the by-the-numbers script runs out of fresh ideas long before the final running time.

Danger Danger: As Runner Runner points out, online gambling has become a huge industry as well as an enormous risk, with Americans spending $2.6 billion annually on illegal offshore gambling websites. The American Gaming Association, which has been pushing for a legitimate online poker market, launched a marketing campaign to portray Runner Runner as a "cautionary tale," a reminder of what can happen in the shady world of unregulated online gaming.

Runner, Runner Box Office: Why Ben Affleck (and Batman) Will Be OK If New Movie Stumbles

True, the critically trashed gambling thriller, formally opening Friday and costarring Affleck and Justin Timberlake, is not expected to sprint to the top of the weekend box office. Far from it.

"Gravity is the one everyone's talking about," says Hollywood.com box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian.

The Sandra Bullock-George Clooney space drama, also debuting Friday, is widely expected to take in more than $30 million and maybe as much as $40 million domestically by Sunday. The projections are off the charts for an adult-skewing, non-horror October release that's expected to compete for Oscars.

A strong hold for the animated family film Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2, last weekend's box-office champ, meanwhile, could leave Runner, Runner limping into third place with a three-day take that's more Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back ($11 million debut) than Pearl Harbor ($59 million debut), to name two other Affleck films.

The two Affleck films that more quickly come to mind as Affleck flexes his leading-man muscle again after making his mark as a filmmaker (who, granted, also acted) and leading Argo to a Best Picture win at last February's Academy Awards are Gigli, which cratered the star's career a decade ago, and the untitled upcoming Superman-Batman movie, which will put Affleck in the Caped Crusader's boots.

If the question is could a poor run by Runner, Runner return Affleck to the bad old days of Gigli, and put a dent into the Man of Steel sequel, the answer is no.

Runner, Runner is a relatively cheap bet: It was made for a reported $30 million. (Gigli, by comparison, cost more than $50 million.) "It could find an audience over time," Dergabedian says.

More than that, the Affleck of 2013 is in a different space than the Affleck of 2003. Post-Argo, celebrity-branding expert Jeetendr Sehdev said via email, "sentiment towards Affleck is extremely positive and one bad movie won't derail his career revival."

And Batman should be good, too.

"The people who religiously see the superhero films are not necessarily going to care about the success of Runner, Runner or its reviews," Sehdev said.

And besides no one's bigger than Batman. Or Superman.

Forgettable 'Runner Runner' just limps along

Justin Timberlake plays Richie, a not-so-subtle name for a former Wall Street star whose career tanked with the recession in 2008. He becomes a Princeton grad student/gambling whiz, then casually tosses his education away and is sucked into the world of online wagering.

For context, a few establishing headlines and news snippets are shoehorned in to let us know that online betting is a growing practice on university campuses. Richie is a kind of Joe College bookie, hustling his classmates — and even a few professors — onto an Internet poker site.

When Richie loses his life savings — which just about covers the cost of one term's tuition at Princeton — he deduces it's a swindle and hops on the next plane to Costa Rica to face the guy who done him wrong. He gets his money back — no joke — but is seduced by the lure of fast-track wealth.

The refund and seduction are courtesy of an even richer guy, with fewer scruples — as in none. This Costa Rica-based CEO is gambling tycoon Ivan (Ben Affleck). When a character is named Ivan, he's bound to be terrible. Everything in the movie is just that obvious, including the clunky expository voice-over narration.

One of the film's biggest problems is that Richie is an unsympathetic and rather dim character. The badly drawn role does the likable Timberlake no favors. The talented singer/actor was better in The Social Network, Friends With Benefits, Alpha Dog and almost any SNL skit. He plays a Wall Street weasel who decides to go back to school when his other options disappear, and he contributes to the gambling addictions of students and professors. He's hardly a figure of integrity. When a teacher approaches him for help with a bad bet he placed, Richie shrugs him off arrogantly. Consequently, it's hard to care much when he gets used by Ivan.

Gemma Arterton plays Rebecca, Richie's love interest, and also the COO of Ivan's gambling empire. Richie and Rebecca look good together, but have a lackluster chemistry.

Meanwhile, the feds are closing in on Ivan. FBI Special Agent Shavers (Anthony Mackie) is building a case against Ivan for racketeering, extortion, bribery and other unsavory practices.

Ivan is a devious and clever fellow. Affleck is at his best when his character is most malicious. Not only does he seem to be having fun with the role, but his Spanish is terrific. Audiences can debate whether he ought to play Batman, but his linguistic ear cannot be disputed.

Richie, on the other hand, is not as bright as his Ivy League admission would indicate. It's glaringly obvious that his new boss is up to no good. But Richie is an odd mix of savvy and naïve. It takes a few beatings and double-crossings before his IQ points seem to register. And when they do, it comes to a pretty anti-climactic conclusion.

When the story lags, director Brad Furman resorts to focusing on shots of chomping crocodiles.

But neither toothy reptiles nor stunning beachside vistas (actually shot in Puerto Rico) offer enough risk or reward to make this gambling thriller worth betting on.

Online poker thriller 'Runner' quickly politicized

It might be news to Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck, but the stars of thriller "Runner Runner" were playing key roles in the fight over online gambling regulation Thursday, hours before the film's opening.

The American Gambling Association has bought ads on major websites including Twitter, Facebook and the IMDb movie database framing the film as a "cautionary tale" that points to the need for Congress to legalize online poker. The ads also pop up when people Google the movie's title.

The screenwriters have said their story of a young gambler pulled into the criminal dealings of an offshore poker site was never intended as a political parable. The film is scheduled to open later Thursday.

The Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation, a national nonprofit, sent a letter to the casino lobby Thursday pointing to the writers' comments, and calling the ads dishonest. The group is demanding that the ads — one of which warns, "sometimes movie villains are real" — be taken down.

National director Les Bernal wrote that there was no reason to think shady offshore operations would disappear if online gambling was legalized in The U.S. and accused the casino lobby of wanting a cut of the illegal operators' business.

"Casino operators now hope to expand another key demographic to their base: young people, especially those of college age, which is why the AGA greedily seized upon 'Runner, Runner,'" Bernal wrote.

Internet poker, never fully legal, has been strictly outlawed since 2011, when the Department of Justice seized the domain names of the largest offshore sites catering to U.S. customers and blacked them out.

This crackdown, dubbed "black Friday," left poker fanatics with two options: Get dressed and visit a card room, or break the law and log into an offshore site.

Offshore gambling sites took in roughly $2.6 billion from U.S. players last year, according to Geoff Freeman, president of the association.

More recently, the federal government softened its stance on Internet betting, and three states — New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada — legalized some form of online wagering within their borders.

The gambling lobby, which counts MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment among its members, supports a federal approach, and warns that a patchwork of state laws will be unworkable for corporations, and could leave gamblers exposed to dishonest dealings.

The lobby is seizing any opportunity to try to jumpstart stalled federal legislation.

"Washington is changing, and how you share your message in Washington is changing," Freeman said. "You've got to break through the clutter."

Freeman dismissed the predatory gambling group's complaint. He said online gambling empires like the one depicted in the movie often fail to verify gamblers' ages and locations, and they offer no guarantee they're playing fair.

"Runner Runner," released by Twentieth Century Fox, tells the story of a Princeton University graduate student, played by Timberlake, who believes he's been cheated after gambling away his tuition money. He travels to Costa Rica to stick it to an online poker tycoon, played by Affleck, who then offers him a job.

Writers David Levien and Brian Koppelman, who also created the 1998 gambling classic "Rounders," told Reuters that they were surprised by the casino lobby's campaign and found it amusing.

Early reviews have been mostly negative.

Does Joseph Gordon-Levitt Think He'll Be Robin in Ben Affleck's Batman Movie? Watch Now to Find Out

But, the actor doesn't think he'll be reprising that role for the upcoming Batman vs. Superman movie with Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill.

"I don't have anything to do with that movie," Joseph, 32, said Tuesday, Oct. 2, on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. "I was in a movie that was the end of a trilogy that I was super proud and fortunate to be in. I think these next movies are sort of a separate chapter."

He explained to David Letterman last month that he doesn't know if the Man of Steel movie, directed by Zack Snyder, and its sequel "are so much of a continuation of the Christopher Nolan Batman," adding, "I don't think they're really connected."

As for what Joseph thinks of Ben playing the Caped Crusader? "I think he's gonna be great," he said.

Super nice guy!

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan became a top Hollywood star

His iconic character, Jack Ryan, starts as a CIA analyst and goes on to higher posts, topping out at U.S. president. One of the best-known recurring movie characters in contemporary films, Ryan has been played by Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin and Ben Affleck.

Clancy's second most famous character, ex-Navy SEAL and CIA operative John Clark, has been played by Willem Dafoe and Liev Shreiber.

Ryan also made a presence in TV movies and miniseries such as NetForce, which starred Scott Bakula, and Op-Center, starring Harry Hamlin.

An upcoming film, Jack Ryan, a prequel about Ryan's pre-CIA days, is scheduled for release on Christmas Day, starring Chris Pine as Ryan and co-starring Keira Knightley, Kevin Costner and Kenneth Branaugh, who also directed.

The following Clancy books were adapted into big-screen espionage thrillers:

• The Hunt for Red October (1990). Ryan (Alec Baldwin) aids the defection of a respected Soviet naval captain, who brings with him the Soviet Union's most advanced submarine. But is he defecting or trying to start a war? Co-starring Sean Connery, Scott Glenn, James Earl Jones, Sam Neill and directed by John McTiernan. Earned $200 million worldwide.

• Patriot Games (1992,) Ryan (Harrison Ford) thwarts an attack in London on the Prince of Wales by an IRA splinter group. Then Ryan and his family in Maryland are targeted for revenge. Co-stars Samuel L. Jackson, Anne Archer, James Earl Jones, Thora Birch and directed by Phillip Noyce. Made $178 million worldwide.

• Clear and Present Danger (1994). Ford reprises his role as Ryan. Here he's drawn into an illegal war fought by the U.S. government against a Colombian drug cartel. Co-starring Willem Dafoe, Anne Archer, Thora Birch and directed by Phillip Noyce. Made more than $215 million worldwide.

• The Sum of All Fears (2002). Ben Affleck plays a younger Ryan, tracking a sinister plot by terrorists to lure the U.S. and Russia into a world war. With the threat of a nuclear bomb detonation on American soil looming, Ryan must track down who is behind this massive conspiracy and avert disaster. Co-starring Morgan Freeman, James Cromwell and Liev Schreiber and directed by Phil Alden Robinson. Grossed $194 million worldwide.

In thriller 'Runner Runner,' Timberlake, Affleck explore gambling's underside

Writers David Levien and Brian Koppelman, who penned the 1998 gambling drama "Rounders," return to the poker world with "Runner Runner," out in U.S. theaters on Friday. While gambling is a core theme, the writers said they were inspired by the behaviors and motivations of shady operators from many other industries as well.

"We never set out to intentionally hit a topic. We loved the idea of a maverick businessman who is immune to extradition. It was informed by gaming as well as other business figures," said Levien of the 20th Century Fox film.

"Runner Runner," which owes its name to poker slang, follows Timberlake as a graduate student who goes to Costa Rica to confront an online gambling tycoon played by Affleck, who swindles him.

While gambling is actually rarely seen in the thriller, which features luxurious locations, lavish parties and plenty of fight scenes, the portrayal of gambling's underside was enough to spook casino industry groups like the American Gaming Association (AGA) as they push for a legitimate online poker market.

The AGA has launched a marketing campaign to portray "Runner Runner" as a "cautionary tale" about what could go wrong in the seedy world of unregulated online gaming.

Both Levien and Koppelman were surprised by the trade group's reaction. "We find it amusing," said Koppelman.

'WILD SWINGS OF FORTUNE'

Despite their insistence that "Runner Runner" is not strictly a movie about gambling Levien and Koppelman appear to be earning reputations as Hollywood's go-to writers on the subject with credits including the Matt Damon drama "Rounders," TV poker series "Tilt" and 2007's casino heist movie "Ocean's 13."

Koppelman said the world of gambling intrigued both him and Levien for its "hypocrisy" and how gamblers justify their behavior.

"These people take giant risks with wild swings of fortune. It's a rich world to dive into," he said.

Koppelman added that he and Levien hope to one day write a sequel to "Rounders," the critically acclaimed behind-the-scenes look at New York underground poker.

So far, "Runner Runner" has drawn mixed critical reviews. The film has earned just a 23 percent rating on review aggregator RottenTomatoes.com and scored 37 out of 100 on Metacritic.com, which rounds up film critic reviews.

Hollywood Reporter film critic Todd McCarthy said the film was a "vaguely ambitious but tawdry melodrama," adding that it was "lacking both style and insight into the netherworld it seeks to reveal."

Variety's senior feature writer Andrew Barker said "'Runner Runner' adds up to little more than a charmless, paint-by-numbers thriller."

"Runner Runner" will face competition at the box office from Time Warner Inc's Warner Bros. film "Gravity," a deep space drama starring Sandra Bullock, also in theaters on Friday.

Ben Affleck built his own 'Batcave' for $50,000

Smith told Entertainment Weekly in a recent interview that if you need proof the ‘Argo’ star/director was a Batman fan, you just need to check out his old living quarters.

“I live in Affleck’s old house, and he built a panic room and the entrance was built to look like the Batcave entrance,” Smith said.

When Smith discovered the hidden entrance, he asked Affleck how much it cost to build the room.

“50 thousand bucks. I was like, ‘Worth every f–king penny, man. That’s amazing!’ If you’re going to have Pearl Harbor, Armageddon type money, build a f–king Batcave entrance in your house. So he’s always loved the character.”

Smith and Affleck had been friends for years, having worked on projects together like “Chasing Amy,” but Smith confessed that while he knew Affleck was a big Batman fan, he didn’t think Affleck wanted to work on any more superhero movies.

“It caught me off guard because I too thought he was on this different path. He fought his way back from wherever he was and is now at the top of the mountain. I never would’ve guessed this move. Why wouldn’t he just be like, ‘Argo f–k yourself,’ to any superhero movie at this point,” he said.

Smith did confess that Affleck had told him during one conversation the main reasons Affleck decided to take on the role of “Daredevil” - a movie genre fans have called the worst comic book movie of all time - was to get closer to making a Batman movie.

“One I know for a fact: the guys always wanted to play Batman. He loved Frank Miller’s “Dark Knight Returns”, and one of the reasons he did “Daredevil” was because [he thought] they were never going to do another Batman after the disastrous Batman & Robin. So he was like, ‘[Daredevil] is the closest I’ll ever get to Dark Knight Returns.’”

Even with Smith’s support of his long time friend, it hasn’t been an easy run for Affleck, who’s come under fire from fans expressing their outrage on sites like Twitter and Reddit. Currently, there is a petition circulating around the various forums online to have Affleck removed from the role. At the time this post was written, there were 94, 471 signatures on the official petition.

Affleck first addressed the online comments he had been told by director Zack Snyder (Man of Steel) and producer Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Rises) to not read the comments that would inevitably be posted, on Jimmy Fallon’s late night variety show two weeks ago.

‘Batman vs Superman’ is currently in development and is scheduled to be released sometime in 2015.

For now, fans are stuck with Affleck in the role of the caped crusader, but hey, maybe the Smith’s words will help to settle some of the fears people have.

Seraphina Affleck Pays Homage to Dad Ben with Adorable Tee

While grabbing ice cream in Brentwood, Calif. with mom Jennifer Garner on Wednesday, the 4½-year-old stepped out in a long-sleeved top personalized with a photo of her smiling father.

Not sure where she got it, but we think it’s a sweet way to pay homage to a parent.

Seraphina’s fashionable display of paternal affection comes only a week after brother Samuel, 18 months, wore his Batman tee.

Ben sure is a lucky guy. His kids (and wife!) are definitely his biggest fans.

Sighting

Ben Affleck's Daughter Violet Wears Pirate Costume for Free Krispy Kreme Donuts!

On Thurs, Sept. 19, Jennifer Garner and Ben's 7-year-old daughter was all decked out for Talk Like a Pirate Day. So, naturally, dad and Violet dropped by a Kripsy Kreme location in Santa Monica, Calif., to redeem their 12 free Original Glazed donuts.

While Ben, 41, looked handsome enough in jeans, a button-down and aviator shades, it was his little girl's ensemble that belonged on every best dressed list ever! Violet wore a red-and-white striped vest (with a skull and crossbones!) over her sweet pink dress. She even upped the ante with a pirate's hat and an eye patch.

And while this young lady clearly appreciates a good costume and definitely inherited her parents' good looks, Ben would rather not see her, 4-year-old Seraphina or 1-year-old Samuel making a career in showbiz. "I would do whatever I could to discourage that," he told E! News in January. "My kids have enough issues of being exposed in ways that I don't want them to be exposed, in magazines and shows and stuff."

But should an Affleck child get bitten by the acting bug, there's still hope. "You know, if you're interested in drama," Ben said, "there's great theater classes and stuff and that's what's appropriate."

Wise words from a loving father!

Anthony Mackie on Runner Runner Costar Ben Affleck: He'll Make Batman "Cool Again"

So when E! News caught up exclusively with the 34-year-old actor at Wednesday's premiere of his new thriller, Runner Runner, in Las Vegas, we couldn't resist asking him if he had any advice to give costar Ben Affleck now that the latter is going to be playing Batman in the Man of Steel follow up.

"I said punch harder and he will win every fight," Mackie told E! News.

Not that Affleck needs the input. After all, the Oscar winner has experience in the genre, having starred as the titular hero in 2003's Daredevil. And despite mostly negative reviews for that film, he is not in the least concerned about the controversy over him donning the cape and cowl, telling Jimmy Fallon recently that he's "a big boy" and "very tough."

But if you ask Mackie, he's confident Affleck's going to nail DC Comics' Caped Crusader because he's relatable as a person.

"I think it's great," Anthony said about the casting. "My favorite Batman was Michael Keaton because he made Batman like an everyday guy we can relate to. I feel like the last few [actors playing] Batman have been lost in trepidation that you really can't relate to. So I feel like Ben Affleck—what makes him a star is he has that everyman quality. I feel like he is going to bring that back to Batman and make him cool again."

In Runner Runner, Mackie plays an FBI agent hot on the trail of a gambling mastermind named Ivan Block (Affleck) whose online poker site cheated Princeton student Richie Furst (Justin Timberlake) out of his college tuition. The G-Man tries to use Richie, who has since become Ivan's right-hand man, to infiltrate the latter's offshore operation.

Mackie revealed that during downtime from filming on location in Puerto Rico, he and J.T. got to be pals, though there wasn't much time for the avid golfers to hit the links.

"We did not have time to golf unfortunately. Justin was working on his album at the time of us shooting this movie and he had a thousand other things going on. We just hung out and had a few beers," said the 8 Mile alum. "He is just a really nice guy and works so hard that you want him to succeed and we have become friends because of this movie so I just like to stand back and watch him grow."

Runner Runner hits theaters on Oct. 4.

Ben Affleck talks Batman casting internet backlash

Ben is excited about the movie and says what director Zack Snyder and company have planned is "brilliant." Before they let him sign on though, they made sure Affleck knew what he was getting into. Specifically in terms of internet reactions to previous superhero movie castings.

"I was like, 'I'm a big boy. If I can handle an Emmy snub, I can handle anything.'" Ben says Warner Bros. warned him to just avoid the internet for a couple days after the announcement, but he couldn't do that. "I handle s***," he reasons. So he jumped online to check out the response and it only took one comment to knock him off the computer for a bit.

At the end of the day, Ben can handle it. It's nothing he hasn't been through before. Not only was he a superhero once, he lived through "Gigli."

'Batman vs. Superman': Ben Affleck's wife Jennifer Garner reacts to his casting

Affleck's wife of eight years, Jennifer Garner, can't wait to see him take on the iconic role and don the cape. "You know, I was excited for him," Garner tells MTV News. "I was excited because he had a real take on what he wanted to do. I have to say, my husband is a pretty great storyteller himself, and I'm excited to watch him do it."

Garner may have a bit of a soft spot for watching Affleck play a superhero, considering that the couple first met while filming the 2003 Marvel Comic movie "Daredevil." They began dating after the film was released and were married in 2005, the same year that Garner took on the lead role in the superhero movie "Elektra."

Ben Affleck as Batman: He Should Also Direct Man of Steel Sequel, Says James Franco

"I think he's proved himself now as both a director and an actor, but I will say he's best in the movies he directs," Franco, a veteran of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man franchise, said at the Toronto International Film Festival while promoting Palo Alto and Child of God.

"Maybe he should direct it," he said. "I think he should direct it."

Franco also doesn't think that Affleck deserves all the hate he's getting for his first superhero role.

"Daredevil wasn't my favorite movie, but I don't blame Ben for that," he said. "As an actor, there's this crazy thing where you could be good, you do good work, but then if you're in a movie that's not so good, they blame you…That's just crazy thinking."

The Comic-Con contingent practically imploded when Warner Brothers announced on Aug. 22 that Affleck had signed on to play the Caped Crusader in director Zach Snyder's follow-up to his first Superman flick. Henry Cavill will return as Superman.

"I think he'll be a good Batman," Franco said.

Liam Neeson, who played Ra's al Ghul in Christopher Nolan's Batman movies agrees. "He'll do a good job," he said at the TIFF premiere of Third Person.

"It's great," former television Superman Tom Welling also told me at TIFF. "He's a tremendous actor, he's a wonderful director and I wish him the best."

Ben Affleck's Beefy Arms Look Batman-Ready as Warner Bros. CEO Endorses Him as Caped Crusader

Well, we actually have no idea about his mindset, considering the actor and Oscar-winning filmmaker has yet to comment publicly about winning the role of Caped Crusader in the Man of Steel sequel.

No, we mean literally pumped.

Affleck brought the gun show to a gas station yesterday in L.A., not being able to help but show off his biceps in a T-shirt.

The 43-year-old star has reportedly been working out two hours a day to prepare for what will presumably be the very physical role of Batman alongside Henry Cavill's Superman.

But while the Argo star still has legions of Batman fans, DC Comics purists, Daredevil haters and plain old devil's advocates to convince, he's already got the support of Wayne Enterprises. Er, Warner Bros.

Affleck is "perfect for the vision" the studio has of Batman as "kind of tired and weary and seasoned," Warners CEO Kevin Tsujihara told investors at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Media, Communications and Entertainment Conference, per Deadline. "We think it's going to be huge."

If it's anywhere near as huge as Affleck's arms...box office gold.

Hugh Jackman, who knows from superheroes (albeit the Marvel variety), also recently threw his support behind Affleck in the face of all the casting controversy, telling MTV News that he knows his fellow star will "relish the opportunity to go and crush it. I have no doubt he's going to crush it."

Ben Affleck to Direct Mob Drama Pilot for Fox

The two-time Oscar winner is set to direct the pilot for the Fox period drama The Middle Man, the network announced Friday.

This marks the first TV directing gig for Affleck, who is also executive-producing the project with writer Glenn Gordon Caron.

The Middle Man is set in 1960s Boston and centers on Rudy MacAteer, an FBI agent tasked with taking down the Italian mafia, and his confidential informant, Irish-American mobster Mickey Flood. MacAteer's efforts inadvertently give rise to the Irish mob, as he finds himself beginning to bend the rules he is governed by.

Casting is expected to begin right away, and production will kick off in early 2014. Deadline first reported the news.

Affleck, who recently made headlines when he was cast as Batman in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel, has directed three films, including the Boston-set Gone Baby Gone and The Town. Caron is best known for creating Moonlighting and Medium. Chay Carter will also serve as an executive producer.

Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck's Son Samuel Has Awesome Pajamas

Jennifer Garner and her kids, Seraphina and Samuel, went out for a cute little breakfast outing this morning at the Brentwood Country Mart in Los Angeles, and while the trio were all dressed comfortably—the actress wore a pair of jeans with an ivory sweater while her daughter opted for a dress and leggings—it seemed like her little boy was the most laidback of 'em all, rockin' his pajamas (and looking absolutely adorable while doing it).

Ah, the things you can get away with as a toddler.

Samuel's pajamas were full of different cars, trucks and planes, which is great (obvs), but we're just waiting to see him strut some Batman pj's to support his daddy Ben Affleck's latest role. How cute would that be?!

Meanwhile, when she's not hanging out with her biological kids, Garner is spending time with her onscreen family.

The celeb was recently spotted shooting scenes for her upcoming film Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day in Pasadena, Calif., where she plays the mother of Alexander (Kerris Torsey), a young boy who has the worst day ever when everything goes wrong.

But you may have already gotten that from the title.

Superman on Ben Affleck as Batman: "Why Not?"

Former Smallville star Tom Welling doesn't understand the controversy surrounding Affleck playing Batman in the Man of Steel sequel.

"It's great," Welling told me at the Toronto Film Festival premiere of his new drama, Parkland, director Peter Landesman's powerful ensemble piece about the JFK assassination. "He's a tremendous actor, he's a wonderful director and I wish him the best."

Besides, Welling added, "It's hard to criticize things before they even happen.

"I know they'll endeavor to make the best film they can," he said.

Welling played Clark Kent for 10 seasons on Smallville before truly becoming Superman in the series' final episode in 2011.

Warner Brothers announced on Aug. 22 that Affleck had signed on to play the Caped Crusader in director Zach Snyder's follow-up to his first Superman flick. Henry Cavill will return as Superman.

What followed was a firestorm of controversy surrounding the Affleck casting. Petitions were circulated on the Internet demanding that he be recast.

"Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry's Superman," Snyder said in a statement at the time of the announcement. "He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retains the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can't wait to work with him."

Meanwhile, Josh Brolin confirmed to The Huffington Post earlier today that he was in the running to play Batman.

Saying he's "happy for Ben," Brolin blasted Affleck's critics.

He said, "I want him to kick ass and I want everyone to love it and kind of eat their words."

Hugh Jackman Defends Ben Affleck as Batman: "He's a Tough Guy"

While making the PR rounds for his latest film, Prisoners, at the Toronto Film Festival, Hugh Jackman gave Ben Affleck a big vote of confidence when asked his thoughts about the controversy surrounding the latter being cast as Batman in Zack Snyder's upcoming sequel to Man of Steel.

"He's a Boston Kid, right? He's a tough guy," the X-Men star told MTV News.

Of course, Jackman would know a thing or two about anchoring a comic book franchise, having played Marvel's adamantium-infused superhero Wolverine in six installments.

And he has no doubt the Oscar winner has the mettle to follow in the footsteps of previous Batmen Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney and Christian Bale and put his own spin on D.C. Comics' iconic Caped Crusader.

"I think Ben is a great actor," the 44-year-old Aussie said. "I think he's been underrated for a long time. He's obviously a great director. He's a very smart guy. That guy doesn't make decisions that aren't well thought out, that aren't great."

Fanboys have been groaning about Affleck's casting given the mediocre reception he received headlining Marvel's Daredevil in 2003—a part even the 41-year-old actor-director has previously acknowledged wasn't his best work.

But Jackman noted that, if anything, he knows Affleck well enough to believe all the criticism he's taken will only push him to work that much harder to disappoint his detractors.

"I know [Ben] a little bit and I know he's going to relish the opportunity to go and crush it," Hugh added. "I have no doubt he's going to crush it."

After starring in this summer's hit Wolverine, Jackman is slated to reprise his titular role in next year's X-Men: Days of Future Past.

As for Affleck, he's due to start shooting the Superman/Batman flick next year for a release scheduled for July 17, 2015.

Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck's Runner, Runner Official Trailer Released-Watch Now!

The first official trailer was released Wednesday, giving a glimpse at the fast-paced action thriller that's based on real events.

In it, Affleck plays a wealthy businessman, thanks to his successful (and less-than-legal) online poker companies. Timberlake takes on the role of a Princeton student who takes a bite out of the competitive online gambling world.

After learning that Affleck is more enemy than friend, and that he's in serious trouble with the law, JT is left fighting for what's left of his fortune.

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The two battle it out in what appears to be the movie to see this fall.

The flick also stars Anthony Mackie and Gemma Arterton. Runner, Runner hits theaters Sept. 27.

And while Affleck is taking his turn at playing the bad guy, it's only a matter of time before he's donning a batsuit for his role as Batman. It was announced last month that the hunky Hollywood actor would be taking on the coveted character for the Man of Steel sequel alongside Henry Cavill's portrayal of Superman.

During an interview on Fresh 102.7's Jim and Kim Show Timberlake spoke out in support of his Runner costar's ability to take on the bat role, despite tons of casting criticism.

"I worked with Ben last summer and I've seen his process. I think he's a brilliant filmmaker. I think he's an extreme talent, so he could surprise a lot of people."

But when Justin was asked if he'd want to play Robin, he answered with a laugh, "Not a chance in hell," clarifying, "I ain't playin' Robin. I have no aspiration to ever be a superhero in a movie. Now villain? I'll tell you the villain I want to play more than anything because I grew up loving Batman, funny enough, is the Riddler. The Riddler is my favorite villain."

"The Riddler was like a sociopath," he added. "He was proper crazy. So if I'm gonna play crazy, I'm wanna play proper crazy."

"I'm ready," he said. "The Riddler. Gimme a call."

Now that would be awesome!

Check out Affleck and Timberlake onscreen together in the full movie trailer above!

Michael Keaton -- Ben Affleck Gets My Bat-Blessing

Keaton -- who famously danced with the devil in the pale moonlight back in 1989 -- was leaving Toscana in Brentwood last night when he sang Ben's praises ... telling TMZ, "He's gonna be great."

FYI -- Warner Bros. just announced that the untitled Batman & Superman joint movie (starring Affleck) is scheduled to hit theaters on July 17, 2015 ... so, we've got about 2 years until we can see if Keaton is right.

Warner Bros' 'Man Of Steel' Sequel Scores $35M Michigan Tax Credit For Detroit Shoot

With the state estimating 426 full-time jobs, $5.1 million in hotels and 500 local vendors being use for the film, the Warner Bros production is another big get for the economically ravaged city and state. Disney’s Oz The Great and Powerful was shot at Pontiac’s Michigan Motion Studios and Detroit is standing in for Tokyo in Transformers 4. Once one of the leading production locations in the country after California and New York, Michigan had slipped in recent years over amid the political uncertainty surrounding its film incentives and the lucrative offerings of other states like of Georgia and Louisiana. The first Man Oof Steel, which has made more than $290 million domestically since its June 14 release, was shot primarily in Vancouver, with additional production in Illinois and California. Part of the move to Michigan for the superhero sequel could be in part because Vancouver saw uncertainty of its own in recent months as the provincial government resisted calls from Hollywood to increase its incentive program. Man Of Steel 2 is expected to shoot in Toronto as well.

Matt Damon defends Ben Affleck: 'It's Batman, not King Lear'

Director Zack Snyder announced on Friday he wants the Good Will Hunting star to play the Caped Crusader in a sequel to Superman movie Man of Steel.

The surprising news sparked fury among many fans of the franchise, and an online petition to reverse the move had attracted more than 80,000 signatures by Wednesday.

Now Affleck's close pal Damon has spoken out to silence critics, insisting the role is not a taxing one and is well within his friend's "skill set".

He tells The Times of India, "I think it will be great. It will be terrific. I know there are a lot of people grousing on the Internet. I just think it's kind of funny. You know, he's not playing King Lear. It's Batman! Certainly within his skill set.

"If anybody saw Argo or The Town and all the work he's been doing lately, it's way more nuanced and interesting and way more difficult than Batman! Batman just sits there with his cowl over his head and whispers in a kinda gruff voice at people.

"Bruce Wayne is the more challenging part of the role, and Ben will be great at that... But it's safe to say I won't be Robin."

First Look: Ben Affleck as Batman in Fan-Made Man of Steel Sequel Trailer

YouTube user solyentbrak1 posted a highly produced mock-trailer to give viewers a taste of what the much-anticipated sequel might look like when it is released in 2015.

This trailer comes on the heels of the massive reaction to Ben Affleck's casting as Batman, which included a Change.org petition calling for Affleck's role to be re-cast to "deliver to the fans what they want."

The director of the two-minute clip said in his description that he had started making the teaser with another actor featured as Batman, but that he is warming to Affleck for the role.

In addition to Affleck, Bryan Cranston is revealed as Lex Luthor and Henry Cavill reprises his role as Clark Kent/Superman.

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Most of the trailer is quick clips, including Affleck in previous roles and as the superhero Daredevil, Cranston from Breaking Bad and Cavill in his Superman suit. Pieces from composer Hans Zimmer set the dramatic tone for teaser.

The fan's version is proving to be popular: as of Tuesday afternoon, it has garnered nearly 250,000 views.

Production on the sequel, which has no official title yet, is scheduled to kick off next year and the film is due in theaters July 17, 2015. Zack Snyder is returning to direct the follow-up to his first Superman flick, starring Henry Cavill as the titular superhero, which has made more than $649 million worldwide.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt talks Ben Affleck as Batman in 'Man of Steel' sequel

While walking the red carpet at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, Levitt, who played Detective John Blake in "The Dark Knight Rises," was asked about Affleck's casting by E! News. "That's gonna be great," he says. Levitt is unfazed by the criticism surrounding the choice, reassuring, "It's gonna be good. I think it's gonna be good."

Levitt himself was touted by fans as a possibility to take on the cape and cowl, before Affleck was announced. It was implied at the end of "The Dark Knight Rises" that his character would replace Batman in that universe, as the hero of Gotham.

Morgan Freeman surprised by Batman announcement

Morgan Freeman, who played Bruce Wayne's wise business partner in three Dark Knight movies, was surprised by the casting when speaking to USA TODAY on Monday morning.

"This is the first I am hearing of it," said Freeman. "My first reactions are 'Wow' and 'Good luck.'"

Freeman said he was surprised because the Dark Knight trilogy only ended in 2012 with The Dark Knight Rises.

"After the trilogy, I thought that no one would try it again for a few years more to let this whole thing die down," said Freeman. "Because it's still there. So I don't know, I hope Ben does well."

On Thursday, Man of Steel director Zack Snyder announced that Affleck would join Henry Cavill, who starred as Superman, in a Batman-Superman movie out July 17, 2015.

Snyder said in a statement that Affleck "has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retains the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne."

When asked what he thought Affleck would bring to the part, Freeman signaled that he needed more time: "It's a good question, I have no idea."

Freeman said he was not necessarily waiting for a casting call to reprise his role as Lucius Fox.

"If the new movie does have a Lucius Fox I don't think it's going to be me," said Freeman. "It doesn't seem to work to mix characters in the movies. If you are going to change the lead character, you're probably going to change all the characters."

But Freeman definitely enjoyed working with Michael Caine, who also starred in the Dark Knight trilogy, in Now You See Me (which comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray Sept 3 and is available on digital Aug. 30).

The two veteran actors even square off in a menacing, threatening scene in the spring box office hit about four magician bank robbers (also starring Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg).

"We worked together in Batman, but as characters who didn't have much to say to each other," says Freeman of Caine. "I had a great time going face-to-face with him here. That was fun."

What new Batman Ben Affleck brings to Dark Knight legacy

A flurry of activity on social media and in pop-culture circles ignited Thursday night when Warner Bros. announced Oscar-winning actor Ben Affleck as the newest guy to take the cape, cowl and mantle of the Dark Knight and his billionaire secret identity as Bruce Wayne.

Affleck will make his first appearance in the Man of Steel sequel opposite Henry Cavill as Superman, slated to open July 17, 2015.

Fans in favor of the move used hashtags such as "#Batfleck" to voice their approval of Affleck joining the list of Batman actors, which includes (most recently) Christian Bale, George Clooney, Val Kilmer, Michael Keaton and, on TV, Adam West. Others were more snarky about the casting, opining with "#BetterBatmanThanBenAffleck."

According to social-media research film Fizziology, 71% of the 96,088 tweets in the first hour after the news broke were negative. Of those, 12% wanted Bale to return as the Dark Knight and 10% referenced Affleck's previous superhero role in 2003'sDaredevil.

But Affleck played the blind Marvel Comics superhero in "a superhero-moviemaking mind-set we've moved light years beyond," says Scott Beggs, managing editor of the film website FilmSchoolRejects.com. "Ultimately, it was a bad movie for a lot of reasons. Fans should not resort to decade-old Hollywood math to assume that Affleck can't pull off wearing a cape."

Earlier this summer, eagle-eyed moviegoers had a clue where Man of Steel director Zack Snyder was taking things with the blink-and-you'll-miss-it inclusion of a Wayne Industries satellite in a scene above the Earth. And at Comic-Con in July, Snyder announced that the Caped Crusader would be in the Man of Steel follow-up, adding that the antagonistic Batman/Superman relationship from Frank Miller's seminal comic The Dark Knight Returns would inform the new film.

"Ben provides an interesting counterbalance to Henry's Superman," Snyder says. "He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crimefighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne."

Peter Sciretta, editor-in-chief of the movie site slashfilm.com, thinks it's telling that Snyder chose a 41-year-old for his Batman. Chances are the character will be much different from the one in the Christopher Nolan and Tim Burton movies, Sciretta says, and Affleck could thrive in the role of an older, more conflicted vigilante millionaire.

"In Man of Steel, Superman was so careless in that final battle, letting much of Metropolis end in ruin, allowing so many civilian casualties," Sciretta says. "The fate of Metropolis was a big problem a lot of fans had with the film, and I expect that that destruction will be a huge part of why Batman will be hunting down Superman in this next film."

From a business perspective for Warner Bros., "it makes a lot of sense to have Affleck in that fold not only as an actor but possibly as a director in future installments," says Jeff Bock, senior box-office analyst for Exhibitor Relations. "When you look at the big picture, it's exactly the right choice."

Affleck was an "unsurprising shock" to Beggs. He thought Warner Bros. would go younger for a new take on the 74-year-old DC Comics icon. But it made sense, Beggs says, and Affleck's performances in Argo,The Town,Company Men and Boiler Room show that he at least has the acting chops for the role.

"They're enough to make us believe he'll do a strong job in the role, which is one that requires he play both a square-jawed billionaire playboy — which I think no one is going to argue that he doesn't have down, since he is a square-jawed millionaire playboy at least — and also a brooding crime-fighter with a rodent-shaped chip on his shoulder," Beggs says.

He feels Affleck will fall somewhere between Keaton and Bale in the legacy of Batman thespians.

"He can pull off the emotion of the father issues and the loss issues and the isolation without coming off like a jerk the way that Bale's Bruce Wayne tended to come off," Beggs says. "That was a huge dichotomy and a big gulf between the Batman and the Bruce Wayne characters there, and I see Affleck able to pull off a tighter balance between debonair and then also formidable as a fighter."

There is also a lot of goodwill in Hollywood and positive vibes off of Affleck's recent career resurgence, Bock says. That night earlier this year when the Argo director ended the Academy Awards ceremony with a best-picture Oscar in his hands, "he was the most popular man in town and in some respects still is the hottest director in town. If you put him in your film, it's going to make it that much better.''

His ascendence mirrors in a way what Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. has done in the movies of Marvel Studios. While DC and Warner Bros.' superhero rivals still have the upper hand in terms of box office and influence — Man of Steel did well this summer, but Iron Man 3 did better — adding Affleck as a building block to the foundation of a DC cinematic universe and not rushing to a multi-superhero Justice League movie is the right decision, Beggs says.

What could be interesting, though, is that the sequel will be a Superman-centric movie. Yet Batman is arguably a more popular character and the guy under the cowl is a lot more recognizable worldwide than the guy with the "S" on his chest.

"It'll be undeniably a challenge for Cavill onscreen to do the scene work with Affleck," Beggs says. "But Affleck's also proven that he's an actor's actor and an actor's director. He can bring a lot of knowledge and storytelling wisdom."

Affleck's notoriety, however, is a drawback for Jill Pantozzi, an associate editor for geek-culture site TheMarySue.com.

"He's too big a name and too recognizable as 'Ben Affleck.' How many iconic roles has he actually brought to life?" she asks. "All I see is him onscreen instead of the character he's playing. That's not always a bad thing, but in this case I'm worried it will hurt the film. He'll probably pull off Bruce Wayne's public persona well, but I'm not so sure about his private one, or Batman."

Affleck's fellow celebs shared their reactions on social media, including Affleck's' longtime pal — and Batman fanatic himself — Kevin Smith. "Do you what this means? It means that I've seen Batman naked!!!" tweeted the filmmaker and Affleck's director on Chasing Amy,Mallrats and Jersey Girl.

Richard Dreyfuss joked, "You read for a part, you feel good about it, you feel confident, then they cast Ben Affleck." Comedian Patton Oswalt said he hopes Affleck "fights the Joke-ah! #wickedpissah," referring to the actor's penchant for on-screen Boston accents. And 30 Rock star Judah Friedlander remarked that "I cannot play Batman. I beat up Batman so badly, he applied for a transfer to Marvel Comics."

Even "The Batman" on Twitter chimed in. And he was not kind: "Ben Affleck officially cast as Batman in the Man of Steel sequel. For the first time in history, I kind of want Superman to win."

Heidi MacDonald of the comics-culture site The Beat says that, "like many internet casting outcries, this one will die down in the intervening two years. He certainly has the good looks, height and strong chin required for wearing the cowl.

"I mean, it could have been Nicolas Cage."

Ben Affleck as Batman: Why Is Everyone Going Crazy? And Would the Studio Actually Recast the Role?!

Warner Bros. had already revealed that the Caped Crusader would be joining Superman in director Zack Snyder's follow-up to Man of Steel, so all that was left was to find the actor who could pull off both a tux and a cowl.

The studio must have thought it was a no-brainer casting Affleck, who couldn't be hotter thanks to Argo and all the good will he drummed up by not being nominated for a Best Director Oscar.

But judging by how fast #BetterBatmanThanBenAffleck started trending on Twitter after the big reveal last night, someone who makes a whole lot of money must be somewhat confused as to why some people are so incensed over the idea of Affleck playing Batman.

Will the backlash—including a Change.org petition with, ahem, nearly 25,000 signatures stating that he's "inappropriate" for the role—actually affect anything?

"Absolutely not," says Matthew Belloni, executive editor at The Hollywood Reporter, which has been closely monitoring the craziness. "This is happening. He's signed on, they put out a press release, he's in this movie."

But while Belloni tells E! News that Warner Bros. will not recast another actor, the studio may be drawing up a contingency plan as far as publicity and marketing goes, to present Affleck "in the best way possible."

"This happens all the time," he says. "Fans go crazy when there's a casting that they don't agree with. Then as the movie comes out they kinda switch their feelings. I think this is a very, very early time to say this is a disaster."

It would perhaps be a record for premature disaster-labeling.

But, Belloni acknowledges, there is "something like 70 percent disapproval of this decision" on Twitter and "people are going crazy...Overall, the reaction has been negative."

"That said," he adds, "on a lot of these big movies the casting is initially negative and then people kinda change their minds as they see how things play out," Belloni says. "But initially they've got a little bit of a problem here."

"First and foremost," he explains, "there's people going on Twitter and talking about he's not right for the role. He already played Daredevil, which some people see as a crossover, and they can't really get it into their heads. To a lot of fans, once you've played a superhero you can't go and play another superhero."

Of course, social media isn't always an exact arbiter of public tastes. For instance, major buzz doesn't always equal major box office.

"I think this movie is going to be a hit," Belloni tells us. "I think ultimately, when people see the product, they will come around and Ben Affleck ultimately will be a good Batman."

Yet with #BetterBatmanThanBenAffleck continuing to trend, the man himself remains silent.

"I don't think it's that odd" that Affleck hasn't said anything, Belloni says.

"The studios like to manage these announcements and these press releases get written very carefully," he adds. "He'll do an interview with some favorable magazine where he'll talk about it. What's interesting is that he does have this movie [Runner Runner] coming out...and the first question out of everyone's mouth will be, 'What about Batman?'"

Runner Runner is due in theaters Oct. 4. Here's hoping the Bat Signal lures Ben out in the open long before then.

Joss Whedon Tweets Support For Ben Affleck As Batman, Says He'll "Crush It"

Ben Affleck Is the Perfect Batman: Here Are 5 Reasons Why

On Thursday, Aug. 23, Warner Bros. announced the Oscar winner would be playing the iconic superhero in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel. But before Batman Benny could so much as grab a cape, critics were throwing some serious shade at the Dark Knight and what his casting meant for the franchise.

From a Change.org petition with over 10,000 signatures to #BetterBatmanThanBenAffleck trending on Twitter for most of Friday, the majority of reactions have been not exactly positive. So, wait, Ben is the misunderstood outcast for the role already, and director Zach Snyder made the choice no one else could make—the right choice? Interesting. Sound a little like anyone else you know?

Thought so. But the backlash that's probably making Ben feel a bit like his Caped Crusader character isn't the only reason he's perfect for the role. Here are five reasons why Ben's the perfect choice to wear the Batsuit.

1. He's Already Saved the World: Yes, Armageddon totally counts. If it weren't for Ben—and yes, Bruce Willis—that asteroid totally would've hit the earth back in 1998. And what about Argo? Had it not been for Mr. Affleck, those American diplomats might still be in Iran.

2. He's Learned How to Improve His Superhero Game: Back in 2003, Ben starred as Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, in the film of the same title. It was not his best-received work, and some people are trying to use it as an example why he's not the right fit for Batman.

"Well, I think we missed a lot in that movie…before they really kind of figured out how to do [superhero movies] right " he told MTV News in 2010. "Now they've become 'A' movies, and they've been embraced in a way that they weren't totally. Audiences have really have come out. And they demand a level of quality from them, as well they should, that is no less than the very best."

3. He Will Learn From George Clooney: Ben's pal and fellow Argo producer played the superhero in 1997's Batman & Robin. It was—to put it nicely—not exactly a cinematic masterpiece. "It was a difficult film to be good in," Clooney told Total Film in 2011. "With hindsight it's easy to look back at this and go 'Woah, that was really s--t and I was really bad in it.'"

Fortunately, as Ben said, the superhero genre has really improved in the past decade—giving actors a lot more to work with. Plus, he can go straight to George for pro tips on what not to when he's saving Gotham City.

4. He's Already Gotten That Superhero Physique: One of the complaints about Ben as Batman as that he doesn't have that quintessential, broad-shouldered bulky build. Take a look at the 41-year-old in 2010's The Town. Mr. Affleck got so fit for his role as a Boston thief, his hunky costar Jon Hamm was even intimidated! "I just leave my shirt on when I'm around that guy," he told Access Hollywood. "He was in amazing shape and he worked very hard on it and I know it was a discipline."

And that discipline will kick right back in for Ben's latest role, too.

5. He's a Good Actor: Can you put on your Bennifer T-shirt and laugh at Gigli? Yes, if that's your thing. But whether or not you choose to admit it, Ben has proven himself as a talented actor time and time again in a multitude of roles. He's also a good actor in the sense that he's a professional, well-behaved adult. Not naming any names, but we probably won't be seeing any viral videos of Ben freaking out on set. Plus he's happily married to Jennifer Garner with three beautiful children, so he's not the kind of guy whose hard partying and crazy late nights will throw off production.

So, yeah. Batman Benny FTW!

Ben Affleck as Batman ignites fan backlash

Ben Affleck, 41, will replace Christian Bale as the dark knight in its Man of Steel sequel, Warner Bros Pictures announced Thursday.

The news ended weeks of speculation about who would follow Bale after Christopher Nolan's hugely-popular Dark Knight trilogy, which grossed more than $2 billion worldwide.

And before you could exclaim "Holy backlash!" the Internet erupted with the hashtag #BetterBatmanThanBenAffleck trending on Twitter.

Among the people suggested as more suitable for the role than Affleck? Vanilla Ice, Betty White, Carrot Top and Oprah Winfrey.

Tweets hurled Hollywood's way included:

- "Ben Affleck as Batman? ... Wow Hollywood, you idiots."

- "Ben Affleck as the new Batman...no just no."

- "Ben Affleck as batman?! Just when you thought that film wasnt going to be a big enough disaster..."

Actor Wil Wheaton of Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Big Bang Theory entered the fray, tweeting: "Really looking forward to seeing Affleck bring the depth and gravitas to Batman that he brought to Daredevil and Gigli."

There's even a petition on Charge.org asking the studio to "remove Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne in the Superman/Batman movie ... He's not built, nor is he intimidating enough for the role of Batman ... He's not remotely close to an action star."

Still, the backlash is unlikely to convince the studio or director Zack Snyder to change their minds.

"We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics' most enduringly popular super heroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill, and then some. His outstanding career is a testament to his talent and we know he and Zack will bring new dimension to the duality of this character," Greg Silverman, president of creative development at Warner Bros Pictures said.

The Man of Steel sequel, which will star Henry Cavill as Superman, is set to open in July 2015. Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane will also return for the follow-up.

Man of Steel earned $650 million worldwide.

Scott Cooper Replacing Ben Affleck As Director Of Stephen King's 'The Stand'

Warner Bros is teamed on the project with CBS Films, which is co-producing and co-presenting and possibly financing the project together.

Published in 1978, the mammoth novel covered a biological apocalyptic disaster that decimated the population. The survivors then had to try and piece together a new form of humanity and it became a good vs evil struggle, with elements of the supernatural thrown in for good measure. King was at his best, both in creating depictions of the demise of civilization and in the arcs of characters good and bad who became important in a new order. The novel is so sprawling that I always wondered how it could be compressed into a feature, and it was turned into a solid miniseries. Now, Cooper will try to mount what for Warner Bros continues to be a big priority project.

Roy Lee and Mosaic are producing for Warners and Jon Berg is the studio exec. Cooper is currently developing Creek with Leonardo DiCaprio, and his next film, Out Of The Furnace, is released December 6. That one was produced by Appian Way and Scott Free. Cooper, the actor-turned-filmmaker who made his breakthrough with the Jeff Bridges-starrer Crazy Heart, is represented by CAA and attorney Darren Trattner.

Casinos to spin Timberlake, Affleck poker film as cautionary tale

They are the stars of a new film about the murky world of unauthorized online poker that could cast an unwelcome spotlight on a fledgling legal market that Sin City's biggest players are betting on.

Timberlake and Affleck are set to walk the red carpet with other celebrities at Caesars Palace next month for the premiere of Twenty-First Century Fox Inc's "Runner, Runner."

In the movie, Affleck plays an online gambling tycoon in Costa Rica confronted by Timberlake, a graduate student who believes he's been swindled by the gaming site.

It is a departure from the run of films like the "Hangover" series and "Ocean's 11" that glamorized casinos and the Las Vegas Strip.

"People very well could get the wrong idea," said John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance. "Not all offshore operators are unregulated bad guys. This is a dramatization, let's be clear about that. It shows what could be happening in a worst-case scenario."

Industry groups like the American Gaming Association are preparing advertising and discussion screenings around the film's release, to draw a distinction between its portrayal of the seedy trappings of global online poker, and a federally regulated market they're trying to plug.

A legal, well-supervised market safeguards against fraud and cheating, and increases revenues, its proponents argue.

Vegas' biggest players see online poker as a new market that can offset slowing growth from table-gambling on the Strip. It is a market expected to grow by more than $10 billion in coming years from about $4 billion bet through unauthorized sites as of 2011.

A few states have already begun legalizing Web poker, eyeing the tax revenues the games will bring.

Yet the 2011 U.S. Department of Justice crackdown on foreign operators has left a sour taste in the mouths of many.

"The specifics of the film are not what we're associating ourselves with," said Joe Versaci, chief marketing officer for Station Casino Inc's Ultimate Gaming, the first company to take online bets in the U.S. in the state of Nevada in April. It has applied for a Web gaming license in New Jersey, which is expected to launch online betting in November.

SPIN DOCTORS

The problem for most Vegas operators is they have teamed up with more-experienced poker-game operators overseas, which the film portrays in a sordid light. Caesars tied up with London-listed 888 Holdings Plc. MGM Resorts has aligned with Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment Plc, to name a few.

Offshore poker websites like PokerStars were the forces behind the last online poker boom, starting around 2003. That all changed on April 15, 2011, known in the industry as "Black Friday," when the U.S. Department of Justice indicted the founders of these sites on charges of bank fraud, money laundering and illegal gambling.

The sites were closed to U.S. players, but now tax-hungry states like Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware are passing online gambling laws, re-opening the market.

The American Gaming Association, trade group for the world's big casinos, has decided to spin the movie as part of its lobbying platform for expanded online gaming regulation.

AGA President Geoff Freeman, in an email sent to its board last week obtained by Reuters, plans to argue that the film underscores the risk of a poorly-regulated market.

Both the AGA and Poker Players Alliance have long advocated for a federal online gambling bill allowing for a larger, more uniform market, but efforts in Congress have stalled. Two new federal bills have recently been introduced in Congress as states move ahead to pass their own laws.

Twenty-First Century Fox had no comment on the AGA letter.

"Hollywood has a way of glamorizing everything up to and including vampires. This is a movie that highlights a part of the Internet that has real downside unless governments act," said MGM spokesman Alan Feldman.

Caesars thought long and hard about the risk of being associated with the film. The company plans to soon go live with an online poker site in Nevada and is awaiting approval in New Jersey.

"There was a lot of discussion of whether we wanted to be part of 'Runner, Runner,' but we decided we could draw a nice distinction between the illegal, unregulated world and the regulated market we are advocating," said Tariq Shaukat, chief marketing officer for Caesars.

It was also hard to turn away a chance to have Timberlake on a red carpet, he added.

Ben Affleck is the new Batman

Warner Bros. made the announcement on Thursday.

From the press release announcing the casting:

"Ending weeks of speculation, Ben Affleck has been set to star as Batman, a.k.a. Bruce Wayne. Affleck and filmmaker Zack Snyder will create an entirely new incarnation of the character in Snyder's as-yet-untitled project—bringing Batman and Superman together for the first time on the big screen and continuing the director's vision of their universe, which he established in Man of Steel. The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

"Affleck will star opposite Henry Cavill, who will reprise the role of Superman/Clark Kent. The film will also reunite "Man of Steel" stars Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane.

"In the announcement, Silverman stated, 'We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics' most enduringly popular Super Heroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill, and then some. His outstanding career is a testament to his talent and we know he and Zack will bring new dimension to the duality of this character.'

"Snyder also expressed his excitement about the casting of Affleck, noting, 'Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry's Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can't wait to work with him.'

"Kroll added, 'We are so thrilled that Ben is continuing Warner Bros.' remarkable legacy with the character of Batman. He is a tremendously gifted actor who will make this role his own in this already much-anticipated pairing of these two beloved heroes.'

Affleck has previous experience as a superhero -- he played Daredevil in the 2003 film of the same name.

Jennifer Garner: I Wouldn't Be Surprised If Ben Affleck Went Into Politics

"Sometimes it's a pain because my heels are so high and it would be really nice to have his arm," she says in September's Allure, available Aug. 20. "And he's such a great date! But it can be too much. I think especially for women, they can really lose their identity and just become 'wife of,' " she says.

But aside from Affleck being an Oscar-winning-actor-turned-director, Garner, 41, says becoming involved in politics may eventually be next for her husband.

"Right now [Ben] feels like he can do more good for people politically from outside the system," she says. Affleck, 40, founded the Eastern Congo Initiative in 2010. The organization works to raise funds and public awareness about the region.

"Would I be surprised if one day he did go into politics? No. But not now," she says, adding that she supports the idea. "I'm along for the ride."

Even if Affleck opts for a major career change, Garner says she's focused on her role as mother to Violet, 7½, Seraphina, 4½, and Samuel, 17 months.

Growing up, Garner says she "had a baby doll tucked under my arm everywhere I went." Later, when she became a teenager, "my friend and I ran a babysitting service, C&J Babysitting. I think we made $2 an hour. If you'd said to me, 'You could be a mom or you could be anything else in the world,' I would have been a mom."

Ben Affleck visited Lindsay Lohan while she was in rehab

Radar Online spoke to a former patient of Cliffside Malibu who was at the rehabilitation center when Lohan was. That patient says, "Ben came to visit Lindsay while she was at Cliffside to talk about the possibility of a role in his movie. Lindsay was excited about the opportunity, telling me that she was going to have dark hair in the movie and would have an Irish accent."

Lohan's potential involvement in "Live by Night" was reported when she got out of rehab at the end of July, but was quickly shut down by Us Weekly. It doesn't seem like the role will actually pan out, but thus far no one has denied that Affleck visited Cliffside.

The Radar Online insider says Affleck and his assistant came to visit Lohan at the end of June and "stayed for about an hour." "A former substance abuser himself, Lindsay said he was there to check on her and see how she was doing," the source says.

Meanwhile, it still seems to be the case that Lohan isn't actually up for the role that Affleck reportedly was talking about. "First off, no one has been cast. [Lohan] will not be cast in any role in the movie. She is not being considered for any role in the movie. She won't be in the movie," a source told Us Weekly at the end of July.

Ben Affleck & Jen Garner's 'Fun' Double Date with Rose Byrne & Bobby Cannavale

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner managed to sneak in time for a couples outing on Tuesday night.

The lovey-dovey duo joined fellow pair Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale at Hinoki & the Bird in Los Angeles, where the quartet shared oysters, wine and several of the eatery's other signature dishes.

"They were very nice and cordial," an onlooker tells PEOPLE of the Academy Award winner and his wife. "It sounds like Jen is the one who always picks the restaurants when they go out together. They seemed to be having a fun double date night, and Jen told the server they'll definitely be back."

Ben Affleck and Daughter Violet Are Too Cute Together-See Their Adorable Gas Station Pic!

Just kidding. But the 40-year-old actor and his 7-year-old girl are too adorable to handle in this car wash photo taken of the twosome in Brentwood, Calif., earlier today.

In the pic, Affleck and Violet are all smiles while washing the front windshield of his red Chevy Malibu SS with a squeegee together at a local gas station. Little Violet was wearing a pink dress and glasses during the outing while her dad sported jeans and a dark T-shirt.

Afterward, Affleck and Violet stopped by Krispy Kreme for some doughnuts. When the duo tried to leave however, they reportedly had some car trouble and needed help getting his Chevy started.

But don't worry, the car problems didn't interrupt Affleck's family day out with Violet.

Keep up the cuteness, you two!

2013 ESPYs: Ben Affleck salutes city's 'spirit' after Boston Marathon bombing

At Wednesday's sports-award event, the Oscar-winning director of "Argo" and co-writer (with close pal Matt Damon) of "Good Will Hunting" saluted the area where he was raised. He noted that most people are asked at some point, "Where are you from?" He then added, "I'm extremely proud of my answer: Boston."

As footage of April's Boston Marathon bombing and its immediate aftermath then was shown, Affleck said in his narration, "The spirit of a city isn't found among buildings. It's found in the people who claim the city as their own."

He then introduced two such people, the recipients of this year's Jimmy V Perseverance Award, named for the late college basketball coach Jim Valvano. Dick and Rick Hoyt are father-and-son runners who have been longtime regulars in the marathon, with Dick pushing the wheelchair of cerebral-palsy-afflicted Rick for the length of the course.

After the filmed package about them, the Hoyts took the stage at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE to a sustained ovation -- with Dick stating, "I don't think you could find two guys more proud to represent Boston." Rick confirmed that, using his voice box to echo one of Valvano's mantras, "Don't give up ... don't ever give up."

Dick also advocated for compassion for "those who may walk or talk a little different," with Affleck closing the segment by giving both Hoyts warm embraces: several Bostonians, gathered in tribute to the city that nurtured them, and the city they clearly love.

Ben Affleck in talks to star in 'Gone Girl' adaptation

The "Argo" director-star is in negotiations to play Nick Dunne in the film, with David Fincher attached to direct, Deadline reports. The character is a man suspected of foul play when his wife, Amy, disappears on their fifth wedding anniversary. Flynn has written a draft of a screenplay for the movie.

Reese Witherspoon will be a producer of "Gone Girl," but she's not expected to star in the film. According to The Wrap, Charlize Theron, Natalie Portman and Emily Blunt are in the running to play Amy.

Affleck would take on the project before his next directing gig, an adaptation of Dennis Lehane's 1920s-set crime novel "Live by Night."

Ben Affleck to Present Top Award at 2013 ESPYS to Boston Marathoner With Cerebral Palsy and His Teammate/Father

The award will go to Dick and Rick Hoyt, a father-and-son team who have been racing together for more than 30 years. Rick, 51, was born with cerebral palsy and is unable to use his hands and legs; his father, 73, has pushed his son in a custom-made running chair in more than 1,000 endurance events, including triathlons and marathons.

This past Boston Marathon was to be their last, but as Team Hoyt was one mile away from the finish line, the tragic bombings occurred. They have vowed to run again next year.

The other top award of the evening, the "Arthur Ashe Courage Award," will be presented by LeBron James to Robin Roberts. Roberts is a former athlete and trailblazer in journalism who has now overcome life-threatening illnesses twice.

Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner Celebrate Baptism, Anniversary

In town for their son Samuel's baptism, which took place at Garner's family's parish, Christ Church United Methodist, on Sunday, the pair also celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary on Saturday night.

Affleck, 40, Garner, 41, and their daughters – Violet, 7½, and Seraphina, 4 – joined Garner's parents and her sister at an 11 a.m. service, where 16-month-old Samuel was baptized.

"He's really cute. He was wearing little blue overalls," a parishioner tells PEOPLE. "He kept trying to high-five the pastor as he was getting baptized."

As for Samuel's sisters, "Violet was very well-behaved," the parishioner says, while "Seraphina was funny – she was running around, and Ben had to keep getting up to run after [her]."

Dressed in their Sunday best – Affleck in a fitted suit, Garner in a white dress – "they looked really happy," the source adds.

They were in equally good spirits the night before at local pizza joint Pies & Pints, where the couple celebrated their anniversary with a low-key dinner of beer, pizza, salad – and a side of PDA.

"They were so cute, holding hands and kissing each other. She had her hand on his leg," says fellow diner Robyn Brammer. "They were really affectionate."

Pies & Pints owner Rob Lindeman says that the two are regulars. "Ben and Jen like to drop in when they're in town," says Lindeman. "They're just really solid people. They seemed like they were having a great time.

After dinner, the pair headed to Ellen's Homemade Ice Cream for dessert, where a source says Affleck tipped the five or six employees working at the time generously, "like $100 each."

Affleck at ease

Gay Rights Ruling: Celebs React on Twitter to Supreme Court Striking Down Defense of Marriage Act

Best moments backstage at the Guys Choice Awards

Bubba, Ben rock

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Enjoy Family Dinner With Kids and Grandma

This weekend, Oscar winner Ben Affleck and his wife Jennifer Garner decided to enjoy a dinner out as one giant family.

Hollywood's beloved couple arrived at Toscana in Brentwood, Calif., with their kids Seraphina and Violet.

The Argo actor went casual with a plaid shirt and blue tennis shoes, Garner followed suit with a simple white shirt and denim jeans.

Sunday's Italian dinner also had a special guest. Affleck's mom, Christine Anne Boldt, joined in on the family festivities.

It certainly looks like a nice and tasty way to finish off the weekend!

Ben Affleck Receives Honorary Doctorate From Brown University!

Ben Affleck received an honorary degree from Brown University today. The Argo star attended the graduation ceremony and was lauded for his work as a director, actor, writer and producer.

Maybe we'll have to call him Dr. Affleck now, since the Rhode Island school awarded him a Doctor of Fine Arts degree.

But it looks like he's not the only one who graduated from an Ivy League school.

Longtime pal Matt Damon received the 2013 Harvard Arts Medal late last month.

These guys have come a long way since their early days in Boston!

Teen Choice Awards 2013 Nominees

Choice Movie Actor: Drama
Ben Affleck, "Argo"
Bradley Cooper, "The Words"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Great Gatsby"
Hugh Jackman, "Les Misérables"
Logan Lerman, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"

Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner Joke About Their Marriage on Saturday Night Live

On Saturday, he tried to make light of the moment while hosting Saturday Night Live – and even brought Garner on stage during his monologue to help.

"I thanked my wife while saying the essence of marriage is work," he said during the monologue, noting that giving an Oscar speech is "completely terrifying."

"Some uncharitable souls on the Internet took that to mean our marriage is some kind of manual labor," Affleck continued. "That's not it. You define what's important to you by what you dedicate your time to."

Garner then came on stage as her husband explained that by using the word "work" he meant to signify how they "talk privately" about their commitment as husband and wife.

"I'm not sure why you had to share it live to a billion people," Garner joked, adding that she wished he had called their marriage "a gift."

Growing sincere, Affleck told his wife, "I want to tell you how I wish I had ended that speech: I couldn't do any of the things I do without you, without your support. You're my angel, my life, my world."

And then the camera panned back – as Garner looked nonplussed – to reveal Affleck had been reading off a cue card the whole time.

Ben Affleck -- Victim of Poker Scandal, Losses GREATLY Exaggerated

According to a new report, Ben was one of hundreds of players who lost money on a website called Ultimate Bet during their infamous cheating scandal a few years back.

The scandal went like this -- one of the owners of the site would play in high stakes games and use the ability to see other players' cards to help him win. Millions of dollars were refunded to players as a result.

The report, which comes from leaked files from another of the site's former owner claims Affleck lost close to half a million dollars to the site ... but sources close to Affleck tell TMZ that is nowhere near the case.

We're told Affleck did "lose" some money back in 2003, but since the money was "won" through cheating, it was refunded.

Ben Affleck And Warner Bros Set Next Film: Dennis Lehane Crime Novel 'Live By Night'

Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner and Violet Cheer Seraphina to the Finish Line-See the Pic!

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner couldn't have been any prouder of little Seraphina Sunday! The famous parents (and big sister Violet, 7) cheered on the 4-year-old girl as she made her way to the finish line at the track in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Dad Ben, 40, put both his fists up in the air as he cheered for Seraphina, while mom Jen, 41, captured the moment on her phone. Violet stood between her parents watching on, looking adorable in her Wayfarers.

The Afflecks are clearly big time in Hollywood, but it's their kids (including 1-year-old son Samuel) that take center stage in real life. Case in point? Before Ben accepted his Academy Award, he was cheering on Violet at her spelling bee!

"I was more nervous at the spelling bee than I am now, I don't know what that says," the proud dad revealed, prior to Argo's win. "There was a lot of words. Let me tell you something, you and me might have been in trouble. We belong in the stands."

Oh, sweet Ben, you belong everywhere!

Ben Affleck to Receive Honorary Doctorate Degree From Brown University

Along with novelist Junot Díaz and four other luminaries, the Oscar winner will be receiving an honorary doctorate degree from Brown University during their 245th Commencement on May 26, E! News confirms.

According to the college's website, the actor and director will be awarded an honorary doctorate in fine arts.

Although Affleck is one heck of a speech-giver—as proven by his emotional delivery during the Academy Awards—the school states he won't be the commencement speaker.

The celeb's most recent work includes directing, producing and starring in the award-winning film Argo, a historical drama based on the mission to rescue six Americans trapped in Iran during the hostage crisis in the 1980s.

Ben Affleck Vows to Live on $1.50 for One Day

For at least one day, Affleck will keep all his food and drink costs below $1.50 to raise money for The Global Poverty Project. Joining the Argo star in the campaign are Sophia Bush, Josh Groban, Debi Mazar and Hunter Biden.

According to Live Below the Line's website, the purpose of the project is "to give a glimpse into the lives of 1.4 billion people who have no choice but to live below the line every day — and who have to make $1.50 cover a lot more than food."

Those participating are expected to tweet their experiences throughout next week on their personal Twitter accounts and on Live Below the Line's account (@LBLUS).

Boston Marathon Tragedy: Ben Affleck Sends Message to His "Beloved and Resilient" City

Ben Affleck, who grew up in the area and has made the city the setting for his films The Town and Gone Baby Gone, responded to the events on Facebook, saying, "Such a senseless and tragic day. My family and I send our love to our beloved and resilient Boston."

And the Oscar winner was just one of many celebs with ties to the city that reacted to the heartbreaking disaster that occurred this afternoon.

To the Wonder: 5 Things to Know Before Wandering in to Terrence Malick's New Movie

1. The Unkindest Cut of All: Malick has a history of excising actors from his films during editing. Gary Oldman, Martin Sheen, Mickey Rourke and Billy Bob Thornton were all involved in The Thin Red Line, but did not appear in the final cut. He trimmed Adrien Brody's Red Line role down to almost nothing, but Brody didn't find out until he was publicizing the film. Ouch. For To the Wonder, Malick shot scenes with Rachel Weisz, Michael Sheen, Amanda Peet and Jessica Chastain, but they all ended up on the cutting room floor.

2. Pretty Pictures and People: Malick's films are known for transcendentally gorgeous cinematography and lyrical images of nature. The director ups the glamour factor by casting ravishing actors—from Richard Gere in Days of Heaven to Colin Farrell in The New World to Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain in The Tree of Life. To the Wonder continues that beauty trend: Affleck, Kurylenko and McAdams are all easy on the eyes, while Javier Bardem as a conflicted priest makes having a crisis of faith look muy caliente.

3. More Than Just Learning Lines: To prepare for To the Wonder, Affleck read works by Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. He also watched movies starring Gary Cooper to help shape the earnest character of Neil, whom Affleck calls "the silent center" of the film. Perhaps if he had more dialogue, miscast Affleck wouldn't look so uncomfortable in the role. Bardem fares better as the brooding Father, and his research involved talking with actual priests, prisoners, and Bartlesville residents, who shared their tales of hardship, including drug addiction and poverty.

4. We Don't Need No Stinking Stories: If you thought The Tree of Life was too jam-packed with plot, then this is the flick for you. As Affleck reportedly quipped, To the Wonder "makes The Tree of Life look like Transformers." More visual poem than standard narrative, Wonder bears the trademark Malick touches—beautiful visuals, experimental structure and philosophical voiceovers. It may also be the reclusive auteur's most personal film yet, as Malick grew up in Bartlesville, lived in Paris, and married and divorced a Frenchwoman. Perhaps To the Malick would've been too obvious.

5. What's in a Name? At the beginning of Wonder, Neil and Marina are at the height of their amour. They frolic on the rocky beaches of Mont St. Michel, the island abbey off the coast of Normandy. A top destination for pilgrims and tourists, Mont St. Michel is known in France as the Merveille or "Wonder." The old-world setting not only provides the film's title—it's also thematic to Malick's explorations of God, spirituality and love. After seeing Wonder, you'll want to put Mont St. Michel on your travel bucket list—Bartlesville, not so much.

Matt Damon to Renew Wedding Vows at Caribbean Resort: Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner on Guest List

The actor and his wife of eight years, Luciana, plan to renew their wedding vows this weekend in the Caribbean and they have rented out the entire Sugar Beach resort on the isle of Saint Lucia to the tune of $600,000, E! News exclusively confirms.

A caravan of SUVs was seen ferrying people from a private airfield to the hotel, where, according to local authorities, there is an increased security presence.

The guest list includes best Damon bud Ben Affleck and his wife, Jennifer Garner, and there are whisperings that George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie possible received invites as well (though Brad's due at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday, so he may have had to regretfully decline).

A private plane linked to Catherine Zeta-Jones, whose hubby Michael Douglas stars with Damon in the upcoming HBO film Behind the Candelabra, has arrived on the island. Stanley Tucci, whose sister-in-law is close Damon pal Emily Blunt, is also in the area.

Reports that the local beach has been closed due to the festivities are not true, Officer Defreitas of the St. Lucia Police Station in Soufriere tells E! News. But he says, "the hotel is what is closed down" for an event that will continue through midday Sunday.

We're told the entire party is booked under the name "Mr. Naff."

"In a case like with Matt Damon, you will see that even our Marine Police gets involved to ensure that no unauthorized boats can approach the resort beach," Karolin Troubetzkoy, president of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association and owner with her husband of Jade Mountain, another luxury resort near Sugar Beach.

"Naturally in this day and age you never know who has a cell phone and who make take unauthorized photographs but I would imagine the resorts would have very strict rules in place. It will be a matter of great pride to the St. Lucian staff here to look after the Matt Damon renewal-of-vows party. Considering that pretty much everyone has a friend or relative working in the various resorts, it is amazing how very little gets out."

Damon's rep has remained mum regarding the imminent retying of the knot.

Laughing matter

'To the Wonder' is a beautiful blunder

Director Terrence Malick presents great beauty on the screen, but that doesn't save this pretentious, incoherent mess (*½ out of four; rated R; opens Friday in select cities) from insufferable tedium. Straining to be poetic and profound, Wonder emerges protracted and vapid, like a parody of an art film.

Case in point: dialogue such as "What is this love that loves us," uttered in a whispery French voice-over narration by Olga Kurylenko. She plays Marina and she's musing about her romance with Neil (Ben Affleck).

Dialogue is kept to a minimum. Tremulous voice-overs hint vaguely at inner lives, as Marina gambols and frolics while Neil trudges.

Marina is a Ukrainian divorcée living in Paris with a 10-year-old daughter. Neil is an American who meets Marina while traveling in Europe.

Neil asks Marina and daughter Tatiana (Tatiana Chiline) to move back with him to Oklahoma. Once there, he is morose for no discernible reason. But the free-spirited Marina makes the best of it by going around twirling and spinning and jumping on beds.

There's only so much anyone can take of someone endlessly romping and half dancing through fields. By the same token, watching Affleck plod around wordlessly is hardly riveting. And for some reason his face is rarely on camera. Mostly, we see his back. His part could easily have been played by an extra.

This is Malick's follow-up to the brilliant The Tree of Lifefrom 2011, which resonated as a dreamy meditation on memory and the origins of existence.

Despite its title, wonder is in short supply here. Malick squanders cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki's gorgeous visuals by not allowing them to be in service of a compelling story.

The relationship between Marina and Neil flounders as inexplicably as it blossomed. Marina still jumps on the bed, but her frolicking has grown somber. It's time for her to return to France. At this point nearly an hour has passed and the viewer is beginning to despair that anything of interest will ever happen.

With Marina gone, Neil reconnects with Jane (Rachel McAdams), a rancher and equestrian he ostensibly already knew, though no context is provided. Jane pops up in the middle of the movie and is around for only a few minutes. She sticks around long enough to say that she has always been one for "chasing moonbeams." Could that be what Marina was doing in all her frolicking? Do we care?

Marina returns for reasons that are unclear. But things still don't go well between the couple. Marina consults Father Quintana (Javier Bardem), who is too distracted to provide much counsel. Like Affleck's character, he's big on trudging. But Bardem's expressive face makes him intrinsically more intriguing. The priest makes regular visits to the poor and infirm, looking ever-baleful. He's facing his own crisis of faith.

There's a strange little scene in which a woman who speaks Italian bursts into the story, ostensibly a friend of Marina's. This woman prattles away and has a rant or two about humanity, then we never see her again. Not that we miss her. But it provided a lively Fellini-esque moment.

While very little happens, the hypnotic unfolding of this quasi-story has a relentless quality.

In an early scene, Marina and Neil, in the first blush of love, are mesmerized by the feel of their bare feet sinking into sticky wet sand. It's an apt metaphor for a film that slogs around without purpose, mired by its own fascination with itself.

With 'To the Wonder,' Has Terrence Malick Gotten Too Terrence Malicky?

Instead, "To the Wonder," which opens in a limited release and on VOD on Friday, seems likely to be known because it was the last movie Roger Ebert ever reviewed, in a kind and thoughtful notice that was posted two days after Ebert's death last week.

But as a movie itself, the film seems unlikely to end up a Best Picture nominee the way "The Tree of Life" was two years ago, and unlikely to earn the $36.4 million of Malick's top-grossing film, "The Thin Red Line."

Instead, it seems to be raising an impertinent question directed at one of the most acclaimed, cerebral filmmakers of our time: Is it possible for a Terrence Malick movie to be too Terrence Malicky?

"There will be many who find ‘To the Wonder' elusive and too effervescent," Ebert wrote. "They'll be dissatisfied by a film that would rather evoke than supply. I understand that, and I think Terrence Malick does, too. But here he has attempted to reach more deeply than that: to reach beneath the surface, and find the soul in need."

"To the Wonder" has all the Malick trademarks: gorgeous cinematography illuminating windswept plains of swaying grass, conversational fragments that only hint at what people are really talking about, and philosophical voiceovers that play while the characters walk around and cast soulful glances at the ground.

In "The Tree of Life," where those elements were in the service of a (relatively) coherent story, it worked brilliantly well. (Like Ebert, I thought it was the best film of 2011.) But "To the Wonder" is at times magnificent, at times infuriating, and often magnificently infuriating.

It was booed when it premiered at last fall's Venice Film Festival, and received a wildly mixed reaction at the Toronto Film Festival a few days later.

After seeing it there, I called it "a loose memory fantasia that dispenses with extraneous things like dialogue and narrative," and said it took place in "Malick-land, a parallel universe ... people walk slowly and gaze soulfully and never speak to each other when they can convey their thoughts in voiceover instead."

It also, in typical Malick fashion, leaves actors on the cutting room floor. Jessica Chastain, Rachel Weisz, Barry Pepper, Amanda Peet and Michael Sheen all went to Oklahoma, filmed scenes, and then vanished in the edit. Ben Affleck, the male lead, reportedly shot hours of dialogue, including a number of fiery arguments with Olga Kurylenko, ended up with fewer than two dozen lines in the entire movie.

"I don't have any idea what it's going to be like," Javier Bardem told TheWrap after shooting his role. "I might be in it, or I might not be in it.

Who knows?" As it turned out, Bardem has more lines than Affleck, though significantly less screen time.

Actors always speak rapturously of their experience making a Malick movie - "He is the greatest teacher I have ever known and will ever know," Chastain told TheWrap - but when Kurylenko and Rachel McAdams appeared for a post-screening Q&A in Toronto, they both seemed surprised by what they'd seen.

"He could make a much darker movie from everything in his possession," said Kurylenko, whose character was more destructive and emotionally disturbed in scenes, many of them arguments with Affleck's character, that were shot but not used. "There's a completely different story out there, too."

As somebody who has loved most of Malick's films, I found "To the Wonder" gorgeous and haunting but also dissatisfying. And I had to wonder if the Malick style had reached a point of diminishing returns.

The collected critics at Rotten Tomatoes have the film at a 41 percent positive rating, by far the lowest of any Malick movie. ("Badlands" is the highest at 98 percent positive, followed by "Days of Heaven" at 94 percent, "The Tree of Life" at 84 percent and "The Thin Red Line" at 78 percent.)

Some critics have responded, from Ebert to Time's Richard Corliss, who admiringly called it "the most formally radical post-narrative American film ever to be released."

But most have found the ultra-Malicky style a bit much this time around; NPR's Linda Holmes admitted that it was beautiful, and then added, "unfortunately … it is in other respects insufferable."

And in New York magazine, David Edelstein summed up an uncomfortable consensus: "'To the Wonder' feels like generalized woo-woo - and self-parody."

After spending an average of nine-and-a-half years between his first five movies, maybe Malick wasn't meant to release a new film only two years after his last one. (But he shot two more movies back-to-back last year.)

Still, it's dangerous to act as if you've figured out Terrence Malick. While he was shooting "To the Wonder," Ben Affleck gave what might stand as a pointed warning to those of us inclined to dismiss "To the Wonder" and its director:

"Most of us mortal people adhere to the conventional wisdom that we have to do it this way, because that's how everybody does it," said Affleck in an interview with TheWrap while he was promoting "The Town" and had yet to make "Argo."

"So we all plod dutifully along obeying that decree from the ether. And Terry is a guy who challenges that, and continues to redefine how he wants to make his movies and what he's doing. It's an incredible gift to listen in to his creative process."

PDA of the Day: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Kiss Before Picking Up the Kids

The pair was spotted kissing in a Santa Monica, Calif., parking lot on Wednesday after driving around in Ben's classic red 1967 Chevy Chevelle.

And you can't blame 'em—the parents squeezed in a bit of alone time before picking up their kids from school. After a sweet smooch, Ben and Jen drove their daughter Violet to martial arts class, where the ambitious 7-year-old earned herself an orange belt.

And after a busy award season, life is looking pretty peachy for the Argo actor and director.

While he gave an emotional acceptance speech for the Best Picture nab, the actor is aiming to spend more time with his loving wife: "I've been able to really just enjoy my good fortune in the last couple of weeks and sit back and kind of just take it in and not do anything, just eat ice cream on the couch," Ben told reporters at John Varvatos Stuart House Benefit. "It's been a really nice time to hang out with my wife and that sort of thing, so we're just enjoying it."

Jen is a lucky, lucky, gal.

Affleck reflects on Oscar speech

"I barely remember the Oscar speech," the actor-director said when asked about it at Tuesday's premiere of his latest film. "Certainly, the most important thing for me, in a way, was to honor my wife and to let people know how much I love her."

During his speech Affleck choked up while thanking his wife, Jennifer Garner, for working on their "marriage for 10 Christmases."

"I think you can tell what people care about really by their actions — by what they invest in, by what they work on," he explained. "It's hard to tell somebody that you care about them when you're never around them and you don't see them and talk to them. So that was what I was trying to get across. Although I don't know how articulate I was."

Affleck was joined by co-stars Olga Kurylenko and Rachel McAdams for the Los Angeles premiere of Terrence Malick's romantic rumination "To the Wonder," which opens Friday.

Affleck, 40, admitted that seeing the celebrated director in action was indeed a wonder to behold.

"I think that you know he's a director who does really unusual stuff, really interesting stuff, and somebody who works outside the typical Hollywood norm. And that's interesting to other directors, certainly to me, because you go like 'wow, what would happen of you experiment with this?'"

The film stars Affleck as an American whose relationship with a woman he met overseas turns cold, leaving him drifting back toward a childhood love.

"To the Wonder" was the last review written by celebrated film critic Roger Ebert, who died Tuesday, and it sent "shivers" down Affleck's spine.

"I thought it was a profound honor," he said. "To have this be the last movie that he reviewed and to have it viewed through this sort of transcendental lens of a man at the end of his life is as important as anything that's ever happened around movies in my career."

Ben Affleck "Jealous" of Matt Damon Kissing Michael Douglas: "I Can't Stand It"

"Pretty jealous, pretty jealous," the Argo Oscar winner cracked last night at the premiere of his new movie, To the Wonder, when we asked if he was envious of Mr. Douglas.

He added, "It burns me up. You know, I feel the envy in my heart. I can't stand it."

Remember, Damon does refer to Affleck as his "hetero life mate."

"I saw Behind the Candelabra," Affleck said last night. "I don't know about the hetero part anymore."

Candelabra, directed by steven soderbergh, is the real-life story of Liberace and his very tumultuous relationship his much younger lover Scott Thorson.

"I've seen it," Affleck said. "It's spectacular to see. Matt is amazing. Michael Douglas is amazing. [Steven] Soderbergh's brilliant."

While the film is "light" and "fun," Affleck said, "It's also quite resonate."

We cannot wait.

Jennifer Garner Sends Ben Affleck Back to the Gym

After conquering Hollywood last year with his Academy Award-winning movie, Argo, the multi-talented Affleck, 40, is taking a step back from his own work to focus a bit more on the family life.

"Jennifer is going to work," a chuckling Affleck, 40, told PEOPLE Monday night. "And she told me to go to the gym."

That reference is aimed directly at Affleck's post-Oscar ice-cream diet that he has enjoyed in his down time after awards season. Affleck will now need his stamina to supervise his brood, including daughters Violet, 7, and Seraphina, 4, and infant son, Samuel, 1.

"I'm preparing myself to take on some more of the burden [at home]," Affleck said at the Los Angeles premiere of To The Wonder. "[Jennifer's] got a couple of movies coming up, so it's going to be a little Mr. Mom action, and I'm going to get back in the ring and we're going to see if I still have it."

Garner, who turns 41 April 17, stars next in the film Dallas Buyers Club with Matthew McConaughey, and will also begin work alongside Kevin Costner in the new film Draft Day about NFL football.

Olga Kurylenko Talks Kissing Ben Affleck

In the former Bond girl's last two projects, her costars happened to be Ben Affleck and Tom Cruise—so we couldn't help but quiz the actress when she stopped by E! News today about what it was like working with two of Hollywood's hottest leading men.

"Those guys are just great and I admire them as actors, and Ben is also a director and he's very successful as a director," she told hosts Terrence Jenkins and Giuliana Rancic.

And when it came to locking lips with Affleck in Terrence Malick's latest opus, To the Wonder, Kurylenko joked, "Yeah, I had to. It's just so awful." (It's true, we feel so bad for her.)

Kurylenko's been busy traveling the world with Cruise to promote their sci-fi film Oblivion, and she admitted that having a guy like Cruise—aka the action-movie man—around makes her feel safe.

"When Tom is next to you, you feel like you're in good hands and nothing bad is gonna happen to you," she said. "Certain things can be quite—all those action scenes and when you're dealing with machines and speed and a lot of spinning—could be a bit terrifying but…I look and I thought, 'Tom Cruise is sitting right next to me. Nothing is gonna happen.'"

Ray of Sunshine

Ben Affleck Flashes Underwear While Running Errands-See the Pic!

No, it's not a young boy-bander like Harry Styles, who was spotted posing in a thong, or a veteran in the modeling industry like Twilight starKellan Lutz.

It's 40-year-old Ben Affleck.

While running errands with his 7-year-old daughter, Violet, the Oscar winner was spotted wearing the iconic undergarments beneath his denim jeans and blue button-down.

At least Affleck isn't following Justin Bieber's fashion sense with his pants falling down. That might not be the best look for a father of three.

Jennifer Garner Explains Ben Affleck's Oscar Speech: "I Knew He Meant It as the Hugest, Warmest Compliment"

Some questioned whether the Hollywood couple were having some rocky times because of Affleck's acceptance speech at the Oscars, where he stated, "I want to thank you for working on our marriage for 10 Christmases. It's good. It is work, but the best kind of work and there's no one I'd rather work with."

But Jen wasn't worried, even if her loved ones were. "I know,'" Garner told The Telegraph about people interpreting Ben's speech a certain way. "I had a friend call and say, 'Are you OK?'"

"I know Ben, I knew he meant it as the hugest, warmest compliment in the world," she continued. "I think he was saying, 'Look, what we have is really real and I value it above all and I'm in it with you and I know you are in it with me.' That's the way I took it."

The actress and mother of three added, "Poor guy. It's so horrible to put yourself out there. He didn't have to worry about it from my point of view."

And really, her point of view is the only one that matters.

Ben Affleck and Daughter Seraphina Grab Coffee in Matching Outfits

Ben Affleck was spotted on a coffee run in Brentwood, Calif., yesterday with his 4-year-old daughter, Seraphina. The cutest part? They were in almost identical ensembles!

The adorable daddy-daughter pair both rocked the gray-on-black look, as Affleck wore a sharp gray overcoat with black slacks and little Seraphina kept it funky in a black jumpsuit under a gray cardi (topped off with a pair of flashy pink shoes!)

The 40-year-old father of three left the Brentwood Country Mart with a coffee and sweet treat.

Young Seraphina followed suit, clutching a large brewed cup in her arms while holding daddy's hand.

Melts your heart.

'Argo's Ben Affleck At Center Of Warner Bros Deal For Nathaniel Philbrick Book 'Bunker Hill'

Philbrick is the author of Mayflower and the National Book Award-winning In The Heart Of The Sea, the real story beyond the white whale that informed Moby Dick, and the struggle of the whalers to survive after the giant whale split their ship in half. That book has long been at Warner Bros and looks like it is finally getting made later this year with Ron Howard directing and Thor’s Chris Hemsworth starring.

Resolution’s Rich Green brokered the movie deal for Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency, and Pearl Street president Jennifer Todd moving aggressively to bring the book into the fold, with Sarah Schechter overseeing for the studio.

Affleck, who until Argo had directed movies in the Boston backdrop where he grew up, is going home again as Bunker Hill is hailed as the battle that lit the fuse for the American Revolution in 1775.

The unease between Bostonians and British troops turned violent after the Boston Tea Party, when violent sieges erupted in Lexington and Concord and a British blockade led to outright war in the Battle of Bunker Hill, a bloody clash that united the colonies and started the war for independence. The story is told from a group of participants, including a 33-year-old physician named Joseph Warren, who becomes a leader of the Patriot cause; Paul Revere, George Washington, British General Thomas Gage, and others.

Jennifer Garner loves pictures of bearded Affleck

"It's not good for my self-esteem," she said Wednesday while in New York to open the Neutrogena Sun Summit.

The exception was after the Oscars last month. Garner's violet-colored, custom-made Gucci gown was a winner — but that wasn't what she was looking for after husband Ben Affleck's film "Argo" won best picture. "I reveled in all those good pictures of him," she said.

Garner, a Neutrogena spokeswoman, practices what she preaches when it comes to sun safety. Her children make sure of it.

In her household, sunscreen is like seat belts: non-negotiable. Garner said while she was away Wednesday, the kids surely would remind their dad if he dropped them at school without their daily slathering.

"I think I once told my kids it was against the law not to wear sunscreen," she said.

Garner's appearance was followed by a panel discussion that included dermatologists, a NASA scientist and Mexican actress Sandra Echeverria.

An eager science student growing up, Garner, 40, said the conference's terminology — and warnings — about the ozone layer and ultraviolet rays isn't lost on her. She joked, though, that she wouldn't want to be quoted on exactly what the Helioplex formulation is or what vitamin C can do for the skin.

But she had her "a-ha" moment about sun damage in her 20s, when she was out with friends. "They all had big hats on, and I didn't."

"Suddenly you look one day and the sun damage is there ... and then you see it increase exponentially."

She'll take little credit for that Oscar night look — calling it a team effort led by Rachel Zoe. The partnership between Zoe and Garner goes back more than a decade, with Garner as the stylist's first big Hollywood client.

"She knows I'm not going to wear super-crazy fashion," said Garner. Where Garner leans toward comfort, Zoe goes for fancy — and "she usually wins."

Garner's outfit Wednesday — an Oscar de la Renta sheath dress and pointy-toe pumps in black patent leather — hit the right balance. In her casual style, Garner, wearing a smile, described the look as "just a little purple Oscar number."

Ben Affleck Is Eating Ice Cream on the Couch After Oscar Win

"Just sit back and take it in, not do anything, eat ice cream on the couch," Affleck, 40, said at Sunday's 10th Annual Stuart House Benefit for child sexual assault victims, at the John Varvatos Boutique in West Hollywood. "It's been a nice time hanging out with my wife, that sort of thing. We're enjoying it."

After the thrill of the awards season that saw Affleck earn critical praise and many trophies, including Golden Globe and Director's Guild wins for his political thriller Argo, he's happy to enjoy a little family time with his three children, including his newest, baby Samuel, who turned 1 earlier this month.

Affleck told PEOPLE that while he was glad to put in the effort to support his movie, he's happy to move on to more balance and to engage in other meaningful work, which includes charities.

Part of his newfound relaxation look includes sporting a new starter beard after shaving his previous scruff off on Oscar night at Craig's restaurant. And although Fashion Star's Varvatos had plenty of great clothes at his store, Affleck said during the charity event that he wouldn't be shopping for a new look without the approval of his wife, Jennifer Garner – who remains director of his fashion life.

"You have the wrong idea about who is the boss in our house," he said kiddingly. "I just follow her around asking, 'How much? How much was that?' "

Ben Affleck on Jennifer Garner, Life After Oscars: "It's Been a Really Nice Time to Hang Out With My Wife"

"I've been able to really just enjoy my good fortune in the last couple of weeks and sit back and kind of just take it in and not do anything, just eat ice cream on the couch," Ben told reporters at today's 10th Annual John Varvatos Stuart House Benefit about life post-Oscar. "It's been a really nice time to hang out with my wife and that sort of thing, so we're just enjoying it."

Doesn't sound very rocky to us. Both Ben and Jennifer stepped out as honorary co-chairs for the fundraiser in support of the Rape Treatment Center.

"There's a good period of time that I see as an extension of the movie and the work that you put into the movie continues through that time and it's great in a lot of different ways. And then it ends," Ben told us about things returning to normal after the chaos of awards season.

He continued, "And now when I spend my time coming out to do events, I choose events like this that have some cause or some benefit other than just trying to go after something for my movie or what have you. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's also important to balance it with this kind of activity too. It just feels good."

In fact, Ben wasn't just supporting the Stuart House today, but also his wife, who was the reason he got involved with the organization in the first place and who, for the record, he gushed is "great":

"This is an organization that my wife got involved with. She hosted this event eight years ago. She told me about it and what she saw at Stuart House," he explained. "That really stuck with me and I wanted to support it. Particularly, because these kind of causes are thought of largely as women's issues…If it is just women that stay supporting that and they don't get any support from men it will always be a little bit marginalized as a women's thing. And violence, sexual or otherwise, against our fellow human beings is a crime against all of us."

New 'To The Wonder' trailer has Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams

The film, which won an award at the 69th Venice Film Festival in 2012, is about a man (Affleck) torn between two women; a European woman who moved to the United States to be with him (Kurylenko), and a woman from his hometown he reconnects with when his relationship begins to fall apart (McAdams).

The trailer doesn't give away many details about the plot, but instead focuses on Malick's unique visuals, with quick shots of the film's characters, and scenery, narrated by small bits of dialogue. "To The Wonder" is scheduled for a limited release April 12

MTV Movie Awards 2013 nominees

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
--Ben Affleck - Argo (Warner Bros. Pictures)
--Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook (The Weinstein Company)
--Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
--Jamie Foxx - Django Unchained (The Weinstein Company)
--Channing Tatum - Magic Mike (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Ben Affleck -- I Didn't Kick the Paps ... They Were Scaring My Daughter!

Ben was holding 4-year-old Seraphina yesterday when they encountered a large mass of paps. According to our sources, the photogs got too close for comfort and little Seraphina started crying because she was afraid.

According to our sources, Ben asked the paps (none of whom work for TMZ) twice to back off and when that didn't work ... he said "You need to be this far away" and swung his leg to demonstrate.

Our source says Ben never had any intention of kicking anyone and he was merely trying to protect his daughter from the paps ... who he feels have been getting more and more aggressive.

He should have just said "Argo f**k yourself" ... but they probably haven't seen the movie.

Ben Affleck Makes Post-Oscars Appearance at TED2013, Talks Helping Out in Eastern Congo

The Best Picture winner took the stage at TED2013 Thursday and kicked off Session 10, "Secret Voices," where he discussed his plans to aid Eastern Congo and called others to action.

"At the Academy Awards, I mentioned my wife, and I said: The people we love, we have to work on those relationships," the Academy Award winner said. "The other thing that I work on is Eastern Congo."

"I felt like I wasn't doing enough to give back to the world. So I found one of the most damaged, suffering places in the world, where 1 in 5 children die before the age of 5. It's a place where a million people are displaced, regularly, inside the country. Where there's the worst gender-based violence in the world…There are a lot of things to lament, particularly in the last 15 years when 5.5 million people died from conflict-related violence."

Jennifer Garner's husband continued, explaining the public has failed to respond to the crisis in Eastern Congo because "we feel it's too big" and "it's too different to look at."

"I can understand my aunt who passed away, but 3 million deaths I can't understand," the father of three explained. "I don't want to understand—it's just too painful, so I disengage."

Finally, Affleck also responded to those who claim the situation in Congo can't be changed:

"I don't believe that's true," the Argo director stated. "I've seen and met people doing incredible things, mending the fabric of their lives—their family's lives—brick by brick, stitch by stitch. It's changed my views on what's possible."

What a stand-up star.

Ben Affleck -- Smoother than Ever

With some scruff starting to grow back, the 40-year-old rocked a 5 o'clock shadow as he arrived for a TED conference in Long Beach on Thursday.

TMZ broke the story --- one of the first things Ben did after "Argo" won Best Picture was take a razor to his critically-acclaimed beard in the bathroom hallway at Craig's restaurant.

Now he really is as slick as everybody says.

Clooney celebrates Oscar win

Ben Affleck's Close Shave!

The beard must have been Ben's good luck charm, because he jettisoned it at the "Argo" after-party at Craig's restaurant ... in the hallway right outside the bathroom. As for why he shaved in the hallway ... it had a convenient plug.

We're told a bunch of people took a whack at the beard.

As for why Ben felt the beard was good luck ... we're told Ben had facial hair when he re-emerged as a major Hollywood player.

How long till eBay?

Ben Affleck Tweets Thanks Following Oscar Win, Iranian Media Slams Argo Victory

The now two-time Academy Award winner later took to Twitter to say a few kind words.

"Thank you Academy, Tony, the cast and crew. What a ride #Argo has been for us all!" Affleck wrote upon posting the above Instagram photo.

In fact, even before winning on Sunday night, the Argo director/coproducer was sharing his thoughts and feelings prior to entering the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

"The last leg of an unbelievable journey. Thanks to the amazing cast, crew and fans that got us here," he tweeted along with a shot from the red carpet.

However, not everyone is exactly happy that Argo took the top prize. In particular, the Iranian media.

The Washington Post reports the Asriran News website wrote, "Argo is a movie against Iran and it seems that [the deputy for cinema in Iran's Ministry of Islamic Culture and Guidance] Javad Shamghadri was not able to use his lobby to prevent an anti-Iran movie from winning."

Meanwhile, Fars News criticized the decision to have Michelle Obama present the award.

"In a rare occasion in Oscar history, the First Lady announced the winner for Best Picture for the anti-Iran film, Argo, which is produced by the Zionist company Warner Bros."

They said what?: Oscar edition

Ben's big night: "Anyone who had anything to do with this movie gets thanks," says a visibly shaken Ben Affleck after Argo wins best picture. "I want to thank Canada, I want to thank our friends in Iran who are living in terrible circumstances right now. I want to thank my wife, who I don't normally associate with Iran." Recalling his first Oscar win for co-writing Good Will Hunting, Affleck adds, "I was here years ago and I had no idea what I was doing, standing out here in front of you all. I really was just a kid. I never thought that I'd be back here and I am because of so many you here tonight."

Obligatory 'Argo' joke: "Argo is the story of a classified CIA mission to rescue American diplomats from Iran. In fact, the project was so secret that the director is unknown to the academy." Acknowledging Ben Affleck, who won the Director's Guild award and the Golden Globe but missed out on an Oscar nomination, MacFarlane tells him, "They know they screwed up."

William Morris Endeavor's Oscar party has power overload

Ex-Canada ambassador pleased Affleck thanks Canada

"Argo" came under criticism from some Canadians, including former ambassador Ken Taylor, who said he felt slighted by the movie because it makes Canada look like a meek observer to CIA heroics. Taylor says it minimizes Canada's role in the Americans' rescue.

Taylor criticized Affleck on Friday and said he hoped Affleck would acknowledge Canada's role. Affleck briefly thanked Canada in his acceptance speech Sunday.

"Finally, he mentioned Canada," Taylor said. "Under the circumstances, I think that was fine. It certainly acknowledged Canada. I think certainly the movie was about CIA agent Tony Mendez. I think that President Carter's remarks put everything in proportion."

Carter appeared on television last week and said, "90 percent of the contributions to the ideas and the consummation of the plan was Canadian," but the film "gives almost full credit to the American CIA."

Taylor kept the Americans hidden at his residence and at the home of his deputy, John Sheardown, in Tehran and facilitated their escape by arranging plane tickets and persuading the Ottawa government to issue fake passports. He also agreed to go along with the CIA's film production cover story to get the Americans out of Iran.

Taylor became a hero in Canada and the United States.

Taylor said the movie makes it seem like the Canadians were just along for the ride. Taylor and Carter said that Mendez, played by Affleck in the film, was only in Iran for a day and a half.

"The movie is done. President Carter expressed his views, and that's where we sit. I think, being realistic, there's not much at this point that can be realized," Taylor said.

"Argo" also makes no mention of Sheardown, the First Secretary at the embassy. Taylor said it was Sheardown who took the first call from the American diplomats who had evaded capture when Iranian militants seized the U.S. Embassy in November 1979 and agreed right away to take the Americans in. Sheardown died on Dec. 30, and his wife, Zena, called the movie disappointing.

"Argo" screenwriter Chris Terrio, who won best adapted screenplay prize Sunday night, mentioned Taylor and Sheardown in his speech after saluting Mendez.

"Thirty-three years ago Tony, using nothing but his creativity and his intelligence, got six people out of a very bad situation," said Terrio, who based his script on Mendez's book "The Master of Disguise" and a Wired magazine article by Joshuah Bearman.

"And so I want to dedicate this to him and the Taylors and the Sheardowns and people all over the world in the U.S., in Canada, in Iran, who use creativity and intelligence to solve problems non-violently."

Taylor appreciated that Terrio mentioned Sheardown, Sheardown's wife and Taylor's wife.

"He dedicated it to Tony Mendez. That was what his script was about, it so that's understandable. I think that recognition of both Pat and myself and John and Zena was in a sense welcomed," he said.

During a recent talk in Toronto, Taylor took issue with a myriad of creative liberties in "Argo" and said Terrio "had no idea" what he was talking about.

Friends of Taylor were outraged last September when "Argo" debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival. The original postscript of the movie said that Taylor received 112 citations and awards for his work in freeing the hostages and suggested Taylor didn't deserve them because the movie ends with the CIA deciding to let Canada have the credit for helping the Americans escape.

Taylor called the postscript lines "disgraceful and insulting" and said it would have caused outrage in Canada if the lines were not changed. Affleck flew Taylor to Los Angeles after the Toronto debut and allowed him to insert a postscript that gave Canada some credit.

In a statement released on Friday, Affleck said he admired Taylor very much but said he was surprised Taylor still had an issue with the film. Affleck also said he agreed narrate a documentary that Taylor is involved with, about Canada's role in the Iran hostage crisis.

Taylor said it was news to him that Affleck had agreed to narrate the documentary and said he looked forward to working on it with him.

Let's 'Argo' to rehearsal

Argo director Ben Affleck takes a long, savoring look into the sea of empty chairs, many lined with place cards featuring the names and faces of Hollywood's biggest stars.

"I need to know where I'm sitting, over there? And there are the Argo people. And there's Naomi Watts. "This is the most memorable aspect of the Oscars," he says as a stage manager leads him around Saturday. "You see all these place cards and then you come back and they're all here."

Wearing jeans and a jacket, Affleck places his cup of coffee down to rehearse his portion of the show.

"I can do that," he says confidently after hearing his instructions. Affleck nails the delivery and gives a flourish when announcing the only-in-rehearsal winner. Then he walks off. Just like the real Oscars.

Except that as Affleck calmly exits, he realizes he's forgotten something. He scurries back to the stage and grabs the Starbucks that he left behind.

"Argo" beats "Lincoln" to Best Picture Oscar

"There are eight great films that have as much right to be up here as we do," said "Argo" producer and director Ben Affleck.

The not-so-unexpected win for "Argo" was announced in one of the biggest surprises in the history of Oscar telecasts as first lady Michelle Obama made an unprecedented appearance from the White House to declare the film the top winner of the evening.

It was the first time since "Driving Miss Daisy" in 1990 that a film won the top prize at the Oscars without its director also being nominated.

Daniel Day-Lewis made Oscar history and won a long standing ovation on becoming the first man to win three Best Actor Oscars. He collected the golden statuette for his intense performance as U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in "Lincoln."

"I really don't know how any of this happened," said Day-Lewis, who has dual Anglo-Irish citizenship. Jennifer Lawrence was named Best Actress for playing a feisty young widow in comedy "Silver Linings Playbook", tripping up on her dress while approaching the stage. She beat Jessica Chastain and France's Emmanuelle Riva, 86, in one of the closest Oscar contests this year.

Taiwanese director Lee beat front-runner Steven Spielberg in the directing race, in a controversial year that saw four of Hollywood's leading names omitted from the Academy Award directing shortlist.

Spielberg's account of President Lincoln's battle to abolish slavery and end the U.S. civil war went into Sunday's three-hour plus ceremony with a leading 12 nominations. But it ended up winning just two.

"Argo" also won best film editing and best adapted screenplay for its gripping and often comedic tale of the CIA mission to rescue six U.S. diplomats from Tehran shortly after the Islamic Revolution

QUICKQUOTE: BEN AFFLECK

Ben Affleck on Michelle Obama's Argo Best Picture Moment: "I Was Sort of Hallucinating"

Of course, the Argo winner was out of his head at the time.

"I was sort of hallucinating when that was happening," Affleck told reporters at the 85th Annual Academy Awards. "...It just seem[ed] so natural because the whole thing is so unnatural."

Affleck's film won three Oscars, including the Obama-announced Best Picture.

Affleck was flanked in the press-conference room by his fellow Argo-winning producers, George Clooney and Grant Heslov. When the questions inevitably turned to the Best Director category, and Affleck's non-nomination in it, Clooney interjected on Affleck's behalf, "You were in very good company to not be nominated."

Affleck agreed, noting that the likes of Zero Dark Thirty's Kathryn Bigalow and Les Miserables' Tom Hooper also went unnominated.

Said Affleck, "It was just a very tough year."

And, for the actor-filmmaker, a very surreal night.

"The whole thing kind of overwhelmed me at the time," he concluded of the Obama surprise. "It was very cool."

Jennifer Garner Reveals Ben Affleck's Pre-Oscars "Mayhem": He Took His Daughter to the Spelling Bee!

"It was mayhem at our house. Our daughter was in a spelling bee at the local rec center," Jennifer told E! News on the red carpet. "I was in hair and makeup so I couldn't take her, so Ben took her in the middle of everything."

She happily continued, "She won! Our family has already had a great day, so congratulations to our sweetie. And then she had a basketball game. Life goes on. No one really cares! It's just all about trying to keep the dogs and kids from getting stuff on the stuff."

"I was more nervous at the spelling bee than I am now, I don't know what that says," Ben revealed when Ryan Seacrest asked him about the bee. "There was a lot of words. Let me tell you something, you and me might have been in trouble. We belong in the stands."

And for one final awww: "This is the only show that my kids are watching. Violet, Sara and Sam, I love you so much!" Ben shouted them out. "Thank you so much! Your mother loves you. Even Ryan Seacrest loves you!"

As for his big night (Argo is a frontrunner for Best Picture), Ben explained, "It is excitement, it's nerves! I'm old enough now where I can view this as, no one is going to put me in the World Series of baseball or put me on a football team, this is the shot that I have to be part of a World Series-like event."

2013 Oscar Winners

Argo Wins Best Motion Picture Oscar

The unveiling of Sunday's final award began with Jack Nicholson introducing the one and only Michelle Obama, live from the White House.

With envelope in hand, the first lady of the United States announced the drama won its third award of the night.

Coproducer and director Ben Affleck thanked his wife Jennifer Garner for all of her support during the hectic award season.

"I want to thank you for working on our marriage," Affleck said. "It's work but it's the best kind of work and there's no one I'd rather work with."

Getting emotional, the 40-year-old also shared important lessons he has learned from his peers in Hollywood.

"You have to work harder than you think you possibly can," Affleck said. "It doesn't matter how you get knocked down in life because that's going to happen. All that matters is you have to get up."

Affleck couldn't end his thank you speech without a precious shout out to his three young kids who continued the tradition of writing heart-felt messages on his hands. "Violet, Sam and Seraphina, I love you," he said. "This is for you."

Betting on 'Argo'

Ben Affleck's First "Atrocious" Short Shows Up Online

As Argo continues its seemingly inevitable march to a Best Picture win at Sunday's Academy Awards despite the thesp missing out a Best Director Oscar nod, Affleck's first film, the clunkily titled I Killed My Lesbian Wife, Hung Her on a Meathook & Now I Have a Three-Picture Deal With Disney, is not so coincidentally getting a second look online.

No doubt because the flick, which Ben himself called "atrocious," is managing to inspire young filmmakers who assume their low-budget disaster can't be any worse.

The 1993 short, which Affleck directed, tells the tale of a B-grade director who auditions actresses for a movie while berating his bound and gagged wife.

At the time I Killed My Lesbian Wife first surfaced on the Internet in 2010, it drew harsh criticism from the actor himself who admitted to Entertainment Weekly it was beyond bad.

"It's a 13-minute film and stars a friend of mine, Jay Lacopo, who's now a writer. It's horrible. It's atrocious," Affleck told the magazine then. "I knew I wanted to be a director, and I did a couple of short films, and this is the only one that haunts me. I'm not proud of it. It looks like it was made by someone who has no prospects, no promise."

Of course, Jennifer Garner's husband eventually went on to prove himself a capable helmer with his first two features behind the camera—2007's Gone Baby Gone and 2010's The Town—both critically acclaimed which helped earn him the respect of fellow actor-director-producer George Clooney who entrusted him with the Argo assignment.

And with Argo taking home Best Director trophies for Affleck at the British Academy Film Awards, Critics Choice Awards, and the Golden Globes among others, he's more than vindicated himself.

You can check out Ben's short below in two parts.

And for all the naysayers who think Affleck hasn't progressed much artistically from those neophyte days, all we can say is: "Argo f--k yourself." (Video: Part 1, Part 2)

Saturn Awards Nominations

Argo

The Cabin in the Woods

The Impossible

Seven Psychopaths

The Woman in Black

Zero Dark Thirty

How Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner Are Making a Hollywood Marriage Work

Well, almost: "He's just like a child!" Garner lovingly joked to a friend as she tugged her still-schmoozing husband–who won the night's two biggest honors for his film Argo – toward the exit. Could an Oscar for Best Picture be his next stop? "This is a second act for me," he said in his London acceptance speech. "I am so grateful and proud." As he told PEOPLE recently, "I am very lucky. I have to knock on wood about my life."

Especially about the woman who's a lock for Best Supporting Spouse. After seven years of marriage and three kids–Violet, 7, Seraphina, 4, and Samuel, who turns 1 on Feb. 27–Affleck and Garner, both 40, seem to have struck that rarest of things for a Hollywood couple: balance. It's an old-fashioned arrangement, with Garner handling most of the day-to-day responsibility for keeping the children's schedules humming while Affleck rides his Argo hot streak – including Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe wins, despite a snub for the Oscar directing category.

"I've got a great family; I'm really inspired by where my career is," Affleck says. "I've seen a lot of different things rambling around in this business, and I'm just really, really happy to find myself where I am."

Several sources who know the couple well say that both stars are at ease in their "quite traditional roles," as a Garner friend puts it. Garner dialed back on her own career to commit herself to making the ballet-karate-playdate rounds.

"She blows my mind," says Affleck's Argo costar Clea Duvall. "She's such an amazing mom and such an amazing wife and so supportive of him. It's just . . . they're kind of the ideal." Although Affleck has made his share of school runs during a busy awards season, in many ways he's an old-fashioned dad.

Says a source who knows the couple: "Have you ever seen Mad Men? That's how he approaches [marriage and kids] – providing for your family is your priority, and raising the kids day-to-day is the wife's priority." But when he's not working, he's plenty hands-on, reading to the girls at bookstores and taking them to the farmers' market. "His wife and family are the best things that ever happened to him," says an Affleck pal. "They have always come first and always will."

"Argo," Warner Brothers capitalizing on awards at box office

Ben Affleck's Iran hostage thriller has been in release since October 12, but following the Oscar nominations on January 10 - and subsequent honors from the Producers Guild, Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild and BAFTA - the box-office grosses have risen in four of the last five weeks. It's domestic total is $123.7 million, and nearly $14 million of that has come since the nominations - in weeks 14 through 18.

"Argo" established itself as a hit when it opened in 3,232 theaters, its largest distribution to date, to $19 million and two weeks later took the No. 1 weekend spot in its third week. It cemented that status in late November when it crossed the $100 million mark, but that was quite a while ago. And in the first week of 2013, "Argo" nearly dropped out of sight. It was down to 302 theaters, grossed less than $800,000 and fell out of the top 20 films.

But this past weekend, it grossed $2.5 million after Warner Bros. added 470 theaters to raise the location count to 1,405, and returned to the top ten for the first time since Thanksgiving. For some exhibitors, this is the second booking for "Argo," and that's unusual.

"It's an extraordinary situation," Warner Bros. executive vice president of domestic distribution Jeff Goldstein told TheWrap, "but then this has been an extraordinary ride for an extraordinary film."

Since its seven Oscar nominations, with Warner Bros. steadily upping its screen count, "Argo" has posted week-to-week percentage gains of 59, 80, 12 and, this past weekend, 23 percent.

Goldstein said that he would like to add more screens this week, but it could be tough because of the four openers crowding the market. On Valentine's Day, his studio is rolling out the drama "Beautiful Creatures," Relativity debuts its romance "Safe Haven," the Weinstein Company has its animated "Escape From Planet Earth" and Fox has "Good Day to Die Hard."

"Argo" comes out on DVD on February 19, so the post-nominations box-office run for the movie, which cost about $45 million to make, will likely slow. But there is, of course, one more chance for a bump with the Oscars on February 24, and Warner Bros. has shown it knows how to capitalize on hardware.

"Lincoln" is still leading the Best Picture nominee pack at the box office, with $174 million, followed by "Django Unchained," "Les Miserables," "Argo" and "Life of Pi." The international grosses of several of the films - "Pi" with $455 million, "Les Miz" with $215 million and "Django" with $187 million - top their domestic totals. "Argo" has made $75 million abroad.

There is no direct correlation between box office and Oscar success. Kathryn Bigelow's 2009 movie "The Hurt Locker" is Exhibit A. It beat out "Avatar" for Best Picture despite a domestic total of $17 million, compared to the $750 million total for James Cameron's 3D epic.

On the other hand, plenty of blockbusters - "Forrest Gump," "Titanic" and "Lord of the Rings" - have taken home the big prize. And 20 of the past 34 Best Picture winners have made $100 million or more at the box office, suggesting Academy voters can appreciate a film that resonates with a mass audience.

2013 BAFTA Awards complete winners

DIRECTOR: ARGO - Ben Affleck

Humble Damon cheers Oscar hopeful, friend Ben Affleck

Damon shared a screenplay Academy Award with Affleck for the 1997 film "Good Will Hunting" and has gone on to become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, with blockbusters including the "Ocean's Eleven" and "Bourne Identity" series.

He was in Berlin on Friday for the festival premiere of "Promised Land", a tale set in rural America that tackles the controversial gas extraction technique known as "fracking".

At a news conference following the press screening, the 42-year-old did not have to wait long for a question about Affleck, and, once again, he lavished praise on an actor who he said had endured his share of tough times.

"His life is so interesting that I kind of never get tired of talking (about it)," Damon joked.

Of the critical acclaim and string of awards for "Argo," he said: "I'm really happy for him. He certainly deserves it."

"He's worked so hard and he's taken it on the chin for years from the press and just from everywhere. He was really in a rough spot 10 years ago," Damon told reporters, referring to the ridicule Affleck suffered during his romance with Jennifer Lopez and their 2003 movie flop "Gigli."

The actor recalled Affleck once telling him he was "in the worst place you could be career-wise: I sell magazines and I don't sell movie tickets'."

Damon singled out some "fantastic" performances by Affleck in recent years: "Hollywoodland," "The Town" and "Argo" itself, the last two of which he also directed.

He would not, however, be drawn on the chances of "Argo" landing the big prize at the Oscars on February 24.

PROMISED LAND "BOMBS"

Less successful has been "Promised Land," which Damon readily admitted had "bombed" in the United States. It opens across Europe in February, March and April.

According to Boxofficemojo.com, the movie earned just $7.6 million at the North American box office.

"I'm leery of becoming one of those people who lives so much in a bubble that I just think everything I do is great," he said. "I try to be mindful of that and listen.

"I've had a lot of movies that ... haven't been well received by an audience and I'm realistic about that, but with this one I just really love it and a big part of my heart is in it and I don't understand what I'm hearing back."

He said it was possible that "Promised Land," also starring Frances McDormand and directed by "Good Will Hunting" filmmaker Gus Van Sant, would be appreciated more in the future.

"I've had movies bomb worse than this one and then actually make their money back."

"Promised Land" is one of 19 movies in the main competition at the Berlin film festival running from Thursday to February 17.

Also screening on Friday were Polish entry "In the Name of" and Austrian director Ulrich Seidl's "Paradise: Hope," the final part in a trilogy looking at the lives of a single family, in this case an overweight teenager sent to a diet camp.

Oscar Odds: Ben Affleck's Argo on Top as Voting Begins

But here's the thing: Final Oscar voting begins today, as in, not a single ballot was cast during Argo's sweep of the Directors Guild, Producers Guild and Screen Actors Guild awards.

A sliver of hope for Steven Spielberg's Lincoln? Nah, not really.

A rundown of the latest odds in some of the top races:

Best Picture: Oddsmakers like the U.K. gaming site Sky Bet aren't seeing this race as all that close anymore—it has Argo as a solid 1-to-4 favorite (meaning you'd have to bet $4 to win just $1), and Lincoln as a distinct 3-to-1 runner-up. If there is something for Lincoln to cling to right now, it's this question: What if the Affleck Oscar snub (for Best Director) swung sympathy in his favor during guild voting? What if, having satisfied their need to give Affleck his due, favor swings back to Lincoln just in time for the big finish?

Best Actress: A still-tight contest, no matter how much Jennifer Lawrence is winning the talk-show circuit and no matter how much Jessica Chastain's Zero Dark Thirty is generally losing steam. As has been the case in recent weeks, the Silver Linings Playbook star is being given the edge over Chastain.

Best Director: Say, did you hear Affleck wasn't nominated? Probably. But did you know some oddsmakers don't think the contest is in the bag for Affleck's perceived No. 1 rival? On some gaming boards at least, Life of Pi's Ang Lee is making a run at Spielberg. (Others, however, don't have Lee so close.)

Best Original Song: If Adele's "Skyfall" is the only nominee you can hum, you're in luck, as it's the only nominee being given serious front-runner odds.

Best Supporting Actor: According to oddsmakers, the big surprise here would be if Silver Linings Playbook's Robert De Niro or Argo's Alan Arkin won. Right now, it's viewed as a essential tossup between Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln), Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master).

Snoop Dogg Gets the Party Started with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lawrence

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lawrence both attended the Hollywood Reporter's Nominees' Night 2013 at Spago in Beverly Hills on Monday.

It was a low-key affair at first, with Affleck holding court in a central area of the soiree, where he was animated while chatting with people and seemed excited and genuinely happy.

The Argo star and director, looking handsome in a suit, also obliged guests who approached him for photos.

Lawrence was spotted embracing her Silver Linings Playbook costar Julia Stiles. "You're so stunning!" Stiles told Lawrence just before taking a snapshot together.

As the evening continued, it was clear that Lawrence was the darling of event. Fellow guests were going up and telling her she is beautiful and they're so proud of her and Lawrence was ever the gracious guest, chatting with anyone who approached her.

But it wasn't until Snoop Lion (Dogg) arrived, who went by the deejay name Snoopadelic, that the party really went into full gear. After a lengthy intro that included a clip-filled video, Snoop emerged, gave an intro of his own – he praised Argo and shouted for Affleck to come take a photo with him before the night's end – and began playing an eclectic mix of songs, which included everything from Pat Benatar to 2 Chainz.

Ben Affleck Wins Directors Guild Award, But Doesn't Consider Himself a 'Real Director'

Ben Affleck took home the top prize Saturday night at the 65th Annual Directors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, where he once again reigned supreme following a snub from the Academy Awards.

It was a celebratory evening for Affleck – and it was also date night with his doting wife, Jennifer Garner, by his side (and often with her hand on his back).

"I have to just thank my wife for being the best person in the world. I love you," Affleck, 40, told the audience as he accepted the award for outstanding directorial achievement for Argo. "I don't need to look at the teleprompter to know why I want to thank you. I want to thank you because I love you."

He added: "I want our daughters to break boundaries."

He also tipped his hat to fellow nominee Steven Spielberg, telling the Lincoln director, "Steven, there is nothing to even say about a guy whose got 11 of these ... This is the guy whose face is in Wikipedia when you type in director."

That wasn't Spielberg's only shout-out of the night. As Girls mastermind Lena Dunham, also a first-time winner, accepted honors for television comedy directing, she playfully warned, "Steven Spielberg, I am coming for you. Ben Affleck, I already came for you."

Not that Affleck considers himself a tried-and-true director.

"I worked really, really hard to try to become the best director that I could be," he said. "I don't think that this makes me a real director, but I think it means I'm on my way."

Affleck's 'Argo' wins Directors Guild top honor

Saturday's prize also normally would make Affleck a near shoo-in to win best-director at the Feb. 24 Oscars, since the Directors Guild recipient nearly always goes on to claim the same prize at Hollywood's biggest night.

But Affleck surprisingly missed out on an Oscar directing nomination, along with several other key favorites, including fellow Directors Guild contenders Kathryn Bigelow for "Zero Dark Thirty" and Tom Hooper for "Les Miserables."

Affleck's Oscar snub has not hurt "Argo" and may even have earned it some favor among awards voters as an underdog favorite. "Argo" has dominated other awards since the Oscar nominations.

DGA: Another big night for Affleck's 'Argo'?

The Directors Guild of America hands out prizes Saturday night in Los Angeles in what typically is a final blessing for the film that goes on to win best-picture and director at the Academy Awards.

Affleck can go only one-for-two at the Oscars, though. He's up for the film honor at the guild awards, and "Argo" is looking like the best-picture favorite at the Oscars on Feb. 24. But the director's branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences overlooked him and several other key filmmakers for an Oscar directing slot.

The guild and Oscar directing lineups usually match up closely, but they have little in common this season, with only Steven Spielberg for "Lincoln" and Ang Lee for "Life of Pi" nominated at both shows.

Along with them and Affleck, the guild nominated Kathryn Bigelow for "Zero Dark Thirty" and Tom Hooper for "Les Miserables." At the Oscars, Spielberg and Lee are joined in the directing category by Michael Haneke for "Amour," David O. Russell for "Silver Linings Playbook" and Benh Zeitlin for "Beasts of the Southern Wild."

With 12 Oscar nominations, Spielberg's Civil War saga initially looked like the Oscar favorite over such other potential favorites as "Argo," ''Les Miserables" and "Zero Dark Thirty," since films generally have little chance of winning best picture if they are not nominated for best director. Only three films have done it in 84 years, most recently 1989's best-picture champ "Driving Miss Daisy," which failed to earn a directing nomination for Bruce Beresford.

But Affleck's "Argo," in which he also stars as a CIA operative who hatches a bold plan to rescue six Americans during the hostage crisis in Iran, has been sweeping up all the major awards since the Oscar nominations. "Argo" won best drama and director at the Golden Globes and top film honors from the Screen Actors Guild and the Producers Guild of America.

Many of the same film professionals who vote in guild awards also cast ballots for the Oscars. If Affleck wins at the Directors Guild awards, it will be a strong sign that "Argo" has the inside track for the best-picture Oscar.

Saturday's honors aren't all about "Argo," though. Milos Forman ("One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," ''Amadeus") will receive the guild's lifetime-achievement award, and the director's union also will hand out prizes for television, documentary and commercials. Kelsey Grammer returns as host for the second-straight year.

Affleck may have a bit of newcomer's edge at the guild, where he's the only first-time nominee. Spielberg has won the guild prize a record three times, for "The Color Purple," ''Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan." Lee has won twice, for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Brokeback Mountain," while Bigelow won three years ago for "The Hurt Locker" and Hooper won two years ago for "The King's Speech."

A win for Affleck would nick the guild's record as a strong forecast for the eventual directing recipient at the Oscars. Only six times in the 64-year history of the guild awards has the winner there failed to follow up with an Oscar. It would be No. 7 if Affleck wins Saturday, since he's not up for best director at the Oscars.

Peer loyalty might play in Affleck's favor at the Oscars. The acting branch in particular, the largest block of the academy's 5,900 members, might really throw its weight behind "Argo" because of Affleck's directing snub. Actors love it when one of their own moves into a successful directing career, and Affleck — who's rarely earned raves for his dramatic chops — also delivers one of his best performances in "Argo."

Affleck has had no traction in acting honors this season, and he's joked that no one considered it a snub when he wasn't nominated for best actor. So a best-picture vote for "Argo" might be viewed as making right his omission from the directing lineup and acknowledging what a double-threat talent he's become in front of and behind the camera.

A best-picture prize also would send Affleck home with an Oscar. The award would go to the producers of "Argo": George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Affleck.

But it's not as though Affleck has never gotten his due at Hollywood awards before. He and Matt Damon jump-started their careers with 1997's "Good Will Hunting," for which they shared a screenplay Oscar.

Super Bowl: Stars Weigh In on the Big Game

"The wound is too fresh," the Argo director and star says. "I just hated that loss, hated it. So I'm probably not going to watch it. I'm going to boycott."

Affleck isn't the only A-lister we got talking football. Read on to find out what some more of your fave celebs told us about the big game.

Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper in Vanity Fair's Hollywood Issue

The big top-themed bonanza features all sorts of wild, crazy, unpredictable beasts—and we're just talking about the actors featured inside.

And what a bevy of A-listers they are: You've got cover trio Emma Stone, Ben Affleck and Bradley Cooper, the latter two yukking it up as a bear and gorilla. (It's the wilds of Hollywood!)

The mag certainly pulled out all the stops for this one: The portfolio, shot by ringmaster Bruce Weber, includes 75 stars comprising veterans and newcomers, upstarts and old guards.

Oscar winners Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Alan Arkin up the prestige factor, while Selena Gomez, Eddie Redmayne (as a magician—presto!) and Jonah Hill rep the next gen of promising stars.

Newly engaged Olivia Wilde slinks by as a sultry showgirl, while 9-year-old Beasts of the Southern Wild wunderkind Quvenzhané Wallis bangs up a storm as a drummer.

A three-ring-circus, indeed.

SAG Awards Best & Worst

SAG Awards 2013: Ben Affleck Talks Argo's Oscar Future: "I Don't Know What Will Happen"

Except to Affleck.

In his mind, the actor-director told backstage reporters at the SAG Awards, "there was absolutely no way we were going to win this award."

But win the motion-picture cast honor Argo did, beating oddsmaker favorite Lincoln, and for the second straight day, no less.

Asked if he thought Saturday's PGA and Sunday's SAG honors would spell Best Picture at next month's Oscars, Affleck demurred: "I think I'm very lucky to have this job."

Last month, Argo's Best Picture hopes looked dashed when Affleck failed to secure an accompanying Best Director nod, a near-prerequisite for the Academy's top prize.

"I didn't get nominated as a director, and [thought], well, that's that," Affleck said.

But now Affleck is tasked with the toughest awards-season job of all—not thinking too far ahead. So far, he's seems up for the job.

"I don't know what's going to happen," Affleck said. "Maybe nothing will happen."

2013 SAG Awards Winners

Ben Affleck Doesn't Want His Kids in Showbiz: "I Would Do Whatever I Could to Discourage That!"

"I would do whatever I could to discourage that," the Argo director and star told me last night at the Producers Guild of America Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. "My kids have enough issues of being exposed in ways that I don't want them to be exposed, in magazines and shows and stuff."

Daughter Violet is seven years old, Seraphina is four and their third, son Samuel, turns 1 on Feb. 27.

When they get older, it may be another story. "You know, if you're interested in drama, there's great theater classes and stuff and that's what's appropriate," Affeck said.

And even if Affleck doesn't bring his kids along to the many awards shows he's been honored at over the last couple of weeks or so, they're definitely with him in spirit. The little ones started a tradition earlier this month just before the Critics Choice Movie Awards of writing on their dad's hands for good luck.

After showing the doodles on his hands last night, Affleck said he wasn't sure if this would continue to be a regular thing. "Probably not all the time," he laughed. "They might get tired of it. They're just doing it all day long."

2013 Producers Guild Award winners

Ben Affleck, Seraphina and Violet Spend Time Together at Local Farmers' Market

The 40-year-old actor was spotted out with his two daughters, 7-year-old Violet and 4-year-old Seraphina, at a Los Angeles farmers' market Saturday, looking all the part of doting dad.

The actor had his hand full with bags of goodies and a bouquet of flowers presumably for wife Jennifer Garner.

Along with winning our approval as an adorable dad, Affleck also won quite a few at the Golden Globes.

The actor took home the title of Best Director and Best Motion Picture, Drama at the awards last Sunday evening where he thanked the most important woman in his life—Jennifer.

Affleck shared: "I want to thank my wife who is the reason why I'm standing here. I adore you. I love you so much. Thanks for sitting through this. You are my everything. Thank you."

Swoon much?!

Jennifer Lopez "Really Happy" for Ex Ben Affleck: Golden Globes Win Was a "Nice Moment"

"We run in the same circles," she reminded Ellen DeGeneres, in an interview airing tomorrow on Ellen, of how not unusual it is for her to cross paths with Sean "Diddy" Combs and, to a lesser extent, Ben Affleck.

But count Lopez among the many who gave Affleck a standing ovation when he won Best Director for Argo.

"It was a great movie," Lopez said. "And, we [her and Affleck] got you know, a lot of...They were really hard on us in the press when we dated back in the day, on movies and things like that.

"So, it was a nice moment. It was a nice to see him have that moment. I was really happy for him."

Believe us, J.Lo, it's been nice for all of us to see that Gigli wasn't the end for either of you.

As for Lopez, she didn't elaborate when DeGeneres (also an ex-American Idol judge) asked if she thought Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey would be at least "interesting to watch" on Idol this season.

"I don't know," Lopez said demurely.

"No comment?" DeGeneres asked.

"I think I shall not," Lopez replied.

Matt Damon "thrilled" for Ben Affleck's movie awards triumphs

"Argo," which Affleck directed, produced and stars in, won best drama movie and best director awards at both the Golden Globes on Sunday and the Critics Choice last week. It is also nominated for seven Oscars.

The story of the rescue of U.S. diplomats from Tehran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has put Affleck back in the spotlight after a grueling period 10 years ago when he became tabloid fodder while dating Jennifer Lopez, and the couple starred in 2003 romantic comedy flop "Gigli."

Damon, with whom Affleck shared a screenplay Oscar for the 1997 film "Good Will Hunting," talked with Reuters about his friend's success.

Q: You must be so proud of Affleck.

A: "I'm just thrilled for him. I'm really happy. I'm not at all surprised, because I've known him for so long and I know how talented he is."

Q: Ben went through a rough patch in the early 2000s when the media was merciless with him, his career and his personal life. Was it rough to watch from the sidelines?

A: "It was tough to watch him get kicked in the teeth for all those years because the perception of him was so not who he actually was. I always felt a knee-jerk need to defend him. It was just upsetting. It was upsetting for a lot of his friends because he's the smartest, funnest, nicest, kindest, incredibly talented guy. And the perception of him was the opposite. So that was tough."

Q: When did that perception change for better?

A: "It's taken him a long time. It wasn't one thing that got him out of the penalty box. He had to dig. He did a lot of really good work over a long amount of time. The last movie he did ("The Town") was a great movie. And the movie before was a great too ("Gone Baby Gone"). Finally people now are ready to go, 'Wow, he's at the very top of the food chain.'"

Q: The two of you came up together in your careers, and won a screenplay Oscar together. How is it that you escaped the media scrutiny and he didn't?

A: "Ten years ago he was in a relationship (with actress Jennifer Lopez) and he was on the cover of Us Weekly magazine every week. Nobody was more aware of it than him. I talked to him about it back then. He said, 'I am in the absolute worse place you can be; I sell magazines not movie tickets.' I remember our agent called up the editor of Us Weekly, begging her not to put him on the cover any more: Please stop. Just stop! And she said, 'My hands are tied. He's still moving magazines all through the mid-West. Sorry.' So he was aware of what was happening as it was happening."

Q: Do you think "Gigli" deserved to be vilified in that way that it was?

A: "There are a lot of movies that cost more and made less than 'Gigli.' But for some reason, people think 'Gigli' is the biggest bomb of the last decade and it wasn't. There's a narrative that gets attached to all this stuff and Ben knew it. He had a millstone around his neck and that's it."

Q: As Ben goes through this awards season, what are you feeling?

A: "Now I'm just thrilled. I'm watching him go through it and it's great. He deserves everything that he's going to get. Just for going through what he went through, he deserves it. But he deserves it because he made a great movie."

'Argo' stuff yourself on chocolate at the Warners bash

The venue: The theme was vaguely Space Age. Perhaps in keeping with the sci-fi movie that embassy workers were pretending to make in Argo, the room had a purple glow and the ceiling hung with glittery silver decorations dubbed "trippy icicles" by Argo scribe Chris Terio. For a sugar fix during the night, Godiva chocolate was featured at the celebration.

The stars: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Robert De Niro, Kathy Griffin, George Clooney, Sophia Vergara, Ewan McGregor Jodie Foster, Orlando Bloom, Miranda Kerr, John Goodman, Kristen Bell, James Marsden, Jessica Alba, Casey Affleck, Lea Michele, Bryan Cranston, Freida Pinto Joe Manganiello, Malin Ackerman, Dev Patel, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kristen Bell, Aaron Paul, Nathan Fillion, Emile Hirsch, Jack McBrayer, hip hop artist Kid Cudi and celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Giada Di Laurentiis.

Scene and heard: Freida Pinto and Dev Patel and Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr danced to the strains of Taio Cruz's Dynamite and Jessica Alba busted a move with a gal pal as they wended their way through the crowded party. But at least one A-list couple hunkered down in a corner to receive well-wishers. Golden Globes best-director winner Ben Affleck and wife Jennifer Garner held court in a tucked-away booth.

Then there were members of couples — or at least TV duos — such as James Marsden who couldn't wait to sing the praises of his on-screen better half. Marsden enjoyed the party atmosphere of the Globes, but was especially proud of co-host Tina Fey — since the pair recently tied the knot on 30 Rock.. "It was nice to see my bride up on stage killing it," Marsden said.

Stars of the show: Party guests were frequently heard extolling the hosting skills of TIna Fey and Amy Poehler. "They kind of re-invented it," said Marsden. He predicted they would be asked to host again.

Said Kathy Griffin: "It was a great mix of improv and well-crafted material. A lot of dudes are wrong: Chicks are funny." Griffin also lauded Jodie Foster's speech after receiving the Lifetime Achievement award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. She praised Foster's eloquence in addressing her sexual orientation in public for the first time, and said her speech spoke to the country's progress in the area of gay rights.

Marsden also admired Foster's speech. But he couldn't quite get over a case of mistaken identity. He said that Foster came up to him during a break in the show and remarked about seeing him often at her gym. But Marsden insisted it must have been a body double. "I'd know it if I saw her. It wasn't me."

Argo-nuts: A crowd of people gathered near Affleck and Garner and waited as if in line to congratulate the actor/director on his win and also Argo's Golden Globe for best dramatic film. Argo screenwriter Chris Terio said the film, based on an event during 1979's Iran hostage crisis originally classified by the government, and also infused with offbeat humor, was challenging on several levels. "I was terrified we were going to mess it up," Terio said. He lamented that Affleck was not nominated for best director by the Academy, an oft-mentioned slight offset somewhat by his win at the Globes. Terio was nominated for an Oscar for the Argo screenplay. But the nod was bittersweet, he said. "I felt like Robin being nominated without Batman."

Ben Affleck Takes to Twitter After Golden Globes Double Win: Argo Thank Yourself

If nothing else, it was certainly a masterclass in timing, as just days after Oscar snubbed Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner's humbly grateful (if slightly forgetful) hubby managed to take home a shocking not one but two Golden Globes, for both Best Director and Best Motion Picture, Drama, at last night's ceremony.

That's some sweet Bengeance.

In any case, it seems even with his wife's picking up his thank-you thread when she strode to the podium last night, Affleck wasn't quite done sharing the love and took to Twitter early this morning (which very well may have been the tail end of his night), to offer up a bit more gratitude.

And no, he didn't want to thank the Academy. But he did want to thank someone just as powerful: George Clooney.

"To hear your name included among directors I've long admired is incredible," he wrote. "To win? Wow, thank you HFPA. #GoldenGlobes," he wrote.

"Thank you Tony, George, Grant, Chris & the rest of the #Argo cast and crew. We won a #GoldenGlobes! Amazing!"

We're sure that standing ovation he received wasn't too shabby, either.

2013 Golden Globe Award Winners

Director: Ben Affleck, Argo

Golden Globes: Best Red Carpet Quotes

Golden Globes Backstage 2013: Argo's Ben Affleck Too "Elated" to Feel Snubbed

"I also didn't get the acting nomination," Affleck told reporters backstage at the 70th Annual Golden Globes. "I noticed no one was saying i was snubbed there."

It was a good line—and it was a joke. Sunday was a night for celebration as Affleck and his hit political thriller Argo surprised Steven Spielberg and Lincoln with big wins for Best Director and Best Motion Picture Drama.

Affleck's victory was all the more notable as it came three days after the filmmaker failed to rate a long-expected Best Director nod at the Academy Awards.

As he had done earlier at the Critics Choice Awards, Affleck refused to sound anything but a sunny note.

"We got nominated for seven Oscars," reminded a relaxed Affleck, his tuxedo shirt hanging untucked. "I'm thrilled. I'm elated. I'm elated tonight."

George Clooney, who produced Argo along with Affleck and Grant Heslov, allowed he was "disappointed" that Affleck was shut out of Oscar's Best Director field, but likewise remained upbeat, especially about the film's Best Picture chances.

"We're not dead," Clooney said.

Ben Affleck at the Golden Globes: Will His Kids Write on His Hands Again for Good Luck?

At the Critics' Choice Movie Awards on Thursday, Affleck explained during his acceptance speech for Best Director for Argo why he had scribbles on his hands. "My daughter wrote my name on my hand for luck. I don't know how that works, but I guess it worked," he said.

As for tonight's Golden Globes, he joked with me yesterday at the BAFTA Tea, "She's going to write a paper—800 words single-spaced."

Kidding aside, Affleck said he didn't know if the doodling will become a regular thing. "I'm not a big believer in forcing the stuff or getting too focused on it," he said. "I think the healthiest version of this experience, if there is one, is go have fun, get to run into people you admire in life and tell them you like their movie and then go home and hang out with your kids."

And then maybe let them write on your hands?

Ben Affleck Talks Argo Best Director Oscar Snub, Gushes Over Film's Best Picture Nomination

Pal Bradley Cooper said the esteemed star "got robbed" and should have been recognized for his directorial efforts, and Seth MacFarlane and even Jennifer Garner's ex-husband Scott Foley agreed with the snubbed sentiment.

But what does Ben think of this season's most talked-about snub?

Turns out, he's totally unfazed.

"I also didn't get actor. I also didn't get writer. I didn't write it," the Argo director quipped with a smile to E!'s Marc Malkin when asked how he felt about his failed attempt to nab a Best Director nom. "You know, it's the first time in my life keeping track of the things I didn't get. It's a pretty good day."

Talk about a glass-half-full kinda guy! And Affleck is clearly focusing on his accomplishments, proudly gushing over the film's success and Best Picture nomination:

"I was in bed with my wife and it was just an incredible, spectacular day," he said of learning of the Oscar nom. "Finding out this movie is nominated for Best Picture and all these other nominations…We honestly didn't even think anyone would go see the movie!"

So how did he react when he heard the exciting news?

"You know, it was just sort of tense and waiting, and then we saw 'Argo.' I just sort of relaxed and I don't remember anything after that," he joked.

But just because the Oscars snubbed Affleck doesn't mean the star won't be celebrating his efforts—he took home the award for Best Director at last night's Critics' Choice ceremony (and even made a joke about the Academy in his speech!).

Congrats!

2013 Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best & Worst: Ben Affleck's Redemption, Jennifer Lawrence on Repeat

The super-ceremonial portion of awards season kicked off tonight with the 18th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards, which attracted most of the best and brightest talent that you're only going to being see more of over the next month and a half as the sprightly sprint toward Oscar night switches into marathon mode.

These particular accolades, honoring the overall best achievements in film as well as young talent, comedies, action movies and, tonight, genius Judd Apatow, are handed out by the Broadcast Film Critics' Association.

Which, unlike the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, thinks Ben Affleck is the bee's knees!

Here's the best and worst of what the BFCA wrought at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.:

Best Redemption: Oscar may have flipped him the bird, but the BFCA named Affleck Best Director for Argo and also made a winner out of coproducer George Clooney by naming Argo Best Picture. "I would like to thank the Academy..." Affleck began, hoisting his directing honor. "Just kidding, this is the one that counts!"

Her Again?!: Not that we're complaining—or disagreeing—about all the accolades bestowed on Jennifer Lawrence tonight. The 22-year-old Oscar nominee won Best Actress in an Action Movie for The Hunger Games and both shared in Silver Linings Playbook's win for Best Acting Ensemble and took the title of Best Actress in a Comedy.

Not Just Dreaming the Dream: Anne Hathaway, who started her day with an Oscar nomination, ended up with a Best Supporting Actress win for her sobbing-fit-inducing role of ruined prostitute Fantine in Les Misérables. But, as tended to be the case with moviegoers, only part of the audience participated in the standing ovation.

Penny for Your Thoughts: Lincoln led the field with a leading 13 nominations, but emerged with only three wins, Best Actor for the incomparable Daniel Day-Lewis, Best Adapted Screenplay for the prolific Tony Kushner and Best Original Score for the mighty John Williams.

Zero Dark Almost-Nothing: These awards were presumably in the bag before 5:38 a.m., but the Oscar buzz surrounding Zero Dark Thirty is definitely quieting down, what with the Best Director snub for Kathryn Bigelow. Still holding up her end of the deal, however, is Jessica Chastain, a Best Actress winner tonight. William Goldenberg and Dylan Tichenor were honored for Best Film Editing.

Best Display of Youth/Sign of the Apocalypse: Nine-year-old Beasts of the Southern Wild star Quvenzhané Wallis read her acceptance speech for Best Young Actor/Actress off her iPhone. Hope she didn't delete—she could be replaying that scene on Oscar night.

My Memory's a Little Fuzzy...: Ted lost out to Silver Linings Playbook in the Best Comedy department, but the Seth MacFarlane-voiced bear didn't let that put a damper on his night. Or at least the boozy part of his night.

No Brainer: Which do you think Bradley Cooper will cherish more? The memory of being the Sexiest Man Alive in 2011 or tonight's win for Best Actor in a Comedy for Silver Linings? "You're looking at a very lucky man," said the doubly blessed thesp.

New Reason to Look Forward to Sunday: Adele and writer Paul Epworth were Best Ssong winners tonight for the theme from Best Action Movie winner Skyfall, meaning there's a good chance we'll be getting to hear one of those "lovely!" speeches when Adele returns to the public eye at the Golden Globes, her first event since becoming a mum.

18th annual Critics' Choice Movie Award Winners: Best Movie: Argo
Best Director: Ben Affleck, Argo.

Ben Affleck's Oscars Snub: Bradley Cooper, Seth MacFarlane Think Argo Director Was Robbed

Bradley Cooper, an Academy Awards nominee for his role in Silver Linings Playbook, told the Today show Thursday morning Affleck "got robbed."

And Cooper wasn't the only one to take note of Affleck's Oscar snub. Seth MacFarlane, who is hosting this year's show and is also the writer of Ted's nominated song "Everybody Needs a Best Friend," fully agreed.

The funnyman told Live with Kelly and Michael (via satellite) he would've liked to see Affleck in included in the Best Director category. "He's like the Matt Damon of directing," MacFarlane quipped, referring to Affleck's lifelong BFF, who has also been notably snubbed by the Academy for his roles in years past.

Even Garner's ex-husband, Scott Foley, commented on the snub. He tweeted: "Travesty and injustice?A bit dramatic. But Affleck getting overlooked for a best director nod is just plain silly. That's right, silly."

But hey, even though Affleck won't be winning an Oscar for Best Director, Argo itself is up for Best Picture.

2013 Oscars Nominations

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained
Phillip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Alan Arkin, Argo
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln

Adapted Screenplay
Beasts of the Southern Wild, Lucy Alibar & Benh Zeitlin
Argo, Chris Terrio
Lincoln, Tony Kushner
Silver Linings Playbook, David O. Russell
Life of Pi, David Magee

Original Score
Anna Karenina, Dario Marianelli
Argo, Alexandre Desplat
Life of Pi, Mychael Danna
Lincoln, John Williams
Skyfall, Thomas Newman

Achievement in Film Editing
Argo
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

Achievement in Sound Editing
Argo
Django Unchained
Life of Pi
Skyfall
Zero Dark Thirty

Achievement in Sound Mixing
Argo
Les Misérables
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Skyfall

Oscar Nominations 2013: Snubs and Shockers

And Ben Affleck.

And even Les Misérables.

A quick take on the surprise omissions and otherwise from Thursday's nominations announcement for the 85th Annual Academy Awards:

• Christoph Waltz, not DiCaprio, turned out to be Django Unchained's representative in Best Supporting Actor. This didn't surprise us, but we imagine those nursing a grudge against the Academy on DiCaprio's behalf are especially agrrieved this morning.

• Affleck, a Best Picture nominee for Argo, was shut out of Best Director.

• Tom Hooper, the director of Les Mis, also failed to make Best Director.

• Tritto for Zero Dark Thirty's Kathryn Bigalow. While Argo was viewed as having a more remote shot at Best Picture, Les Mis and Zero Dark Thirty were thought to be right up there. But now with the Hooper and Bigalow snubs, those films are seemingly out as legitimate candidates, leaving only Ang Lee's Life of Pi and maybe David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook with viable shots at denying Steven Spielberg's Lincoln.

• Overall, the usually reliable Directors Guild of America Award did a lousy job at predicting the Best Director race. Of the DGA's five contenders, only Spielberg and Lee are also up for the Academy Award.

• The Screen Actors Guild Awards weren't so perfect, either. John Hawkes (The Sessions), Javier Bardem (Skyfall), Marion Cotillard (Rust and Bone), Helen Mirren (Hitchcock), Nicole Kidman (The Paperboy) and Maggie Smith (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) are all SAG Award nominees who didn't make the leap to the Oscars. The Hawkes omission arguably is the most glaring, although his buzz seemed to have peaked some weeks ago.

• The end of Christopher Nolan's bedeviled Dark Knight trilogy was met with absolute silence. The Dark Knight Rises didn't rate a single nomination, not anywhere, not for anything. Nolan's previous two Batman movies combined for nine nominations, and two wins.

• The Avengers' critical plaudits and box-office domination translated into a lone nomination for Visual Effects.

• Taylor Swift, a Golden Globe nominee for The Hunger Games' "Safe & Sound," was shut out of Original Song, as was Jon Bon Jovi (Stand Up Guys' "Not Running Anymore").

• The no-star Beasts of the Southern Wild, made for under $2 million, came up impossibly big, going four-for-four in the glamour categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay.

• Beasts, which opened in theaters last June, was the only Best Picture nominee released before the fall and holiday movie seasons.

BAFTA nominations

BEST FILM
ARGO - Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck, George Clooney
LES MISÉRABLES - Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward, Cameron Mackintosh
LIFE OF PI - Gil Netter, Ang Lee, David Womark
LINCOLN - Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy
ZERO DARK THIRTY - Mark Boal, Kathryn Bigelow, Megan Ellison

DIRECTOR
AMOUR - Michael Haneke
ARGO - Ben Affleck
DJANGO UNCHAINED - Quentin Tarantino
LIFE OF PI - Ang Lee
ZERO DARK THIRTY - Kathryn Bigelow

LEADING ACTOR
BEN AFFLECK - Argo
BRADLEY COOPER - Silver Linings Playbook
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS - Lincoln
HUGH JACKMAN - Les Misérables
JOAQUIN PHOENIX - The Master

Ben Affleck Reflects on Hollywood Career, Getting Older and Not Caring What Others Think

The 40-year-old Argo star and director is embracing the wisdom and confidence that's come from his many years in the movie business. On Monday at the National Board of Review Awards in NYC, Affleck told E! News why he finally feels like he's able to enjoy his success.

"I think I'm at the point now where I just got older," he said with a smile. "I've got a little gray hair. You develop a perspective. I've been doing this a long time—I've been doing this since I was a kid…I learned a lot of bad lessons and ran into a lot of bad ends, and finally I just got to a point in my life where I thought, 'I'm just going to do what I want to do and express myself as a director and an actor' and hope for the best, but not worry too much about what other people say."

Affleck is looking forward to taking his wife, Jennifer Garner, to awards shows this season. He said that while Violet, Seraphina and baby Samuel "are a little young" to realize where mom and dad are going, "they know, like, the idea that we're going on a date, but they don't know that we're doing a show where they give awards out and that kind of thing."

Listen up, kids: You've got really cool parents.

Directors Guild of America Awards Nominations 2013: Lincoln, Les Mis-and Ben Affleck

Unless, that is, you're a fan of Django Unchained, The Master or Silver Linings Playbook, in which case there were unhappy surprises.

Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson and David O. Russell were among those who failed to rate in the most critical of Oscar tuneups.

The DGA class of 2013 runs the gamut of past winners to Affleck, who has his first-ever nod from the filmmaking group.

All five nominees and their films have long been counted as safe bets for the Academy Awards. Nominations for the big show of big shows are due out Thursday.

The DGA Awards is unsurpassed as an Oscar predictor: It's been more than a decade since a DGA winner didn't rate the same prize from the Academy.

The exclusions of Tarantino, Anderson and Russell are notable, but not necessarily surprising, with only Russell's Silver Linings Playbook considered a top-tier Best Picture candidate.

If the DGA field holds at the Oscars, then the road gets even longer for those on the outside looking in. The last film to win Best Picture without a nominated director was 1989's Driving Miss Daisy.

The 65th DGA Awards are scheduled to be presented Feb. 2.

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Throw 4th Birthday Party for Daughter Seraphina

The A-list couple celebrated their second child's 4th birthday with a big party over the weekend at Kidville USA in L.A.'s Brentwood neighborhood.

Seraphina looked absolutely adorable on her big day in a pink dress, white cardigan and coordinating pink shoes.

Mama Garner looked casual chic in skinny jeans, a gray button-down shirt and a sweater while Affleck, who was spotted carrying a little box into the shindig, looked handsome in a brown coat.

In addition to her proud parents, Seraphina's uncle Casey Affleck and his sons Indiana and Atticus were all in attendance for the occasion.

2013 Palm Springs International Film Festival honorees

'Lincoln,' 'Les Miz,' 'Argo' earn producers honors

Other best-picture contenders are the Iran hostage-crisis thriller "Argo"; the low-budget critical favorite "Beasts of the Southern Wild"; the slave-turned-bounty-hunter saga "Django Unchained"; the shipwreck story "Life of Pi"; the first-love tale "Moonrise Kingdom"; the lost-souls romance "Silver Linings Playbook"; and the James Bond adventure "Skyfall."

Walt Disney dominated the guild's animation category with three of the five nominees: "Brave," ''Frankenweenie" and "Wreck-It Ralph." The other nominees are Focus Features' "ParaNorman" and Paramount's "Rise of the Guardians."

Along with honors from other Hollywood professional groups such as actors, directors and writers guilds, the producer prizes help sort out contenders for the Academy Awards. Those nominations come out Jan. 10.

The guild, an association of Hollywood producers, hands out its 24th annual prizes Jan. 26. The big winner often goes on to claim the best-picture honor at the Oscars, which follow on Feb. 24.

Previously announced nominees by the Producers Guild for best documentary are "A People Uncounted," ''The Gatekeepers," ''The Island President," ''The Other Dream Team" and "Searching for Sugar Man."

Matt Damon Talks Eastwooding, His Renewed Support for Obama and Reuniting With Ben Affleck

Now the full interview is online, including Damon's thoughts about pal Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair at the Republican National Convention, voting for President Obama again despite some very public reservations and whether he'd ever reteam with Ben Affleck, among other tidbits.

It's pretty revealing stuff for a guy who's usually reluctant to discuss his personal life.

When asked about Clint's infamous RNC speech that launched a thousand memes, landed "Eastwooding" in the pop culture lexicon and caused the legendary actor-director a whole lot of flack, Damon demurred out of respect for his elder cinematic collaborator.

"Look, his knowledge of filmmaking is so vast and deep that he can wing it beautifully on the set. What he did at the RNC was an unrehearsed bit he decided to do at the last minute. You can't go onstage and do 12 minutes of stand-up completely unrehearsed," the 42-year-old thesp told the magazine. "But I agree with what Bill Maher said—Clint killed at the convention for 12 minutes, and the audience loved him. I wouldn't do that unless I spent a month rehearsing."

A year ago, Damon famously dissed Obama in a sit-down with Elle when he said he would have liked "a one term president with some balls who actually got stuff done." While he has since acknowledged throwing his support behind the prez's successful reelection bid, he doesn't regret the criticism he threw Obama's way.

"I don't think I said anything a lot of people weren't thinking," he said. "It's easier now more than ever in my life to feel the fix is in, the game is rigged and no matter how hard you work to change things, it just doesn't matter."

That outlook is one of the reasons he's teamed up with John Krasinksi to co-write and star in Promised Land, a story about corporate sales reps who convince economically strapped rural homeowners to sell their natural gas drilling rights to allow the controversial and environmentally damaging practice of fracking on their land.

Initially, Damon was going to make his helming debut on the project, but fearing burnout after acting in back-to-back films, he opted out and brought in longtime friend and collaborator Gus Van Sant.

"We're at a point where politicians don't really get any benefit from engaging with long-term issues. Instead, it's all about the next election cycle," he notes.

When questioned whether he'd ever consider running for office himself, Matt offered an emphatic dismissal.

"No, no, no," he said.

Instead Damon is content with the life he's made for himself. Whether or not that will include working again with fellow Bostonian, BFF, and fellow Oscar winner Affleck, only time will tell, though the two are rumored to be teaming up for a biopic on Bean Town gangster Whitey Bulger.

"We're working on stuff yeah," Damon replied.

Star surprise

Cute Alert! Ben Affleck Takes Daughters Christmas Shopping

Ben Affleck hit Los Angeles with his two daughters Seraphina, 3, and Violet, 7, Saturday picking up some last minute Christmas gifts at Williams-Sonoma while he was at it.

Looking spiffy in a suit and tie topped with an overcoat, the Argo star held his daughters' hands as they made their way from the store with a shopping bag in tow.

Perhaps the trio was shopping for Affleck's wife, Jennifer Garner, who was absent from the trip.

The Oscar-winning thesp continued his shopping extravaganza Sunday, holding Seraphina in his arms as he walked around Brentwood.

Meanwhile, Garner was out and about with the couple's other daughter, Violet, the same day, picking up gifts at Fred Segal in Santa Monica.

Ben Affleck Considering a Senate Run? "One Never Knows," Actor Says

In Washington, D.C,. to testify before Congress about the humanitarian crisis in the Congo, the Argo star and director sat down to talk politics with Bob Schieffer in an interview airing Sunday on Face the Nation.

And, like Clooney and Baldwin, Affleck appears quite comfortable playing the role of Hollywood-star-and-activist, no official title necessary.

"For one thing, the state of Massachusetts currently has two extraordinary senators, so there is no vacancy," Affleck replied when Schieffer asked if he had thought about running for an empty seat in his home state if Sen. John Kerry was picked to be Hillary Clinton's replacement as Secretary of State.

"There could be," Schieffer pointed out.

"Well, one never knows," Affleck continued. "I'm not one to get into conjecture. I have a great fondness and admiration for the political process in this country. It's a big deal for me to come down here and be on your show...but I'm not going to get into speculation about my political future."

"Right now," he added, "I'm really happy being involved from the outside in government, advocating for the Congolese, taking this movie that I made, Argo, that's really become a springboard for dialogue about our relationship with Iran, which, as Hillary Clinton said, is the most pressing foreign policy issue today, so...I got a lot on my plate."

Not to mention, awards season is just heating up!

Argo is nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards and five Golden Globes, including best director for Affleck. Then the Oscar noms will be announced on Jan. 10—and we've got a feeling he's going to have a different kind of campaign to think about.

Ben Affleck Heads to Capitol Hill -- The Congo Needs Our Help!

Affleck addressed the House Armed Services Committee on the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo this morning, claiming militant rebel groups have destabilized the country for long enough ... and it's time the U.S. put an end to the violence once and for all.

Why is Affleck qualified to talk about the Congo problems? Well, he happens to be the founder of the Eastern Congo Initiative, a humanitarian group that provides funding for local leaders and organizations in the eastern Congo.

Fancy that.

To The Wonder' trailer: Terrence Malick tells tale of love with voice overs

Malick, who also directed "Tree Of Life," debuted "To The Wonder" in September at the Venice Film Festival, where it received mixed reviews.

The film stars Ben Affleck -- who, according to Deadline.com, has less than 10 lines -- as an American who falls in love with a woman (Olga Kurylenko) in Paris. They marry and she follows him back to the United States with her daughter. When the two run into some marital troubles, Affleck's character considers taking up with an old girlfriend (Rachel McAdams). Javier Bardem also stars as a priest contemplating the relationship between God and love.

"You shall love whether you like it or not," Bardem's character says in the trailer's voice over. "Emotions they come and go like clouds. Love is not only a feeling, you show love."

"To The Wonder" hits theaters in the U.K. on Feb. 22, 2013, and the film premieres in the U.S. on April 12, 2013.

Check out the preview here.

Ben Affleck drops out of Warner Bros. "Focus" feature

Kristen Stewart stars in the film for directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, who co-wrote the script.

The story revolves around a grifter who partners with a young woman who's new to the grifting life. The studio is now looking for a replacement.

Affleck has a number of other films in development, including "Live By Night," "The Stand" and the "Whitey Bulger project."

A person familiar with the situation told TheWrap that Affleck's duties promoting "Argo" for its Oscar campaign were also filling up the actor's schedule.

Affleck is repped by WME.

"Bennifer" buried as Ben Affleck's star soars

Affleck, 40, once a tabloid staple who risked becoming a laughingstock during his romance with Jennifer Lopez and their movie flop "Gigli," is back on top in Hollywood, winning accolades for his work both in front of and behind the camera.

Fifteen years after Affleck shared an Oscar with Matt Damon for their first screenplay, "Good Will Hunting," buzz is building over a likely second Academy Award nomination next month. It would be Affleck's first since 1997.

"Finally, people now are ready to go, 'Wow! He's at the very top of the food chain,'" Damon told Reuters.

Affleck's latest film "Argo," a part-thriller, part-comedic tale of the real-life rescue of six American diplomats from Iran in 1980, this week picked up five Golden Globe nominations and a nod from the Screen Actors Guild for its top prize of best ensemble cast.

The film, which Affleck directed, produced and stars in, has also delighted critics and brought in some $160 million at the worldwide box office.

In "Argo," Affleck's clean-cut looks are hidden under a long, shaggy 1970s hair cut and beard as he plays CIA officer Tony Mendez, who devised a fake film project to spirit six hostages out of Tehran after the Islamic revolution.

The kudos Affleck is now receiving follows the embarrassing headlines he attracted over his 2002-2004 romance with Lopez.

"It was tough to watch him get kicked in the teeth for all those years because the perception of him was so not who he actually was," Damon said.

"It was upsetting for a lot of his friends because he's the smartest, funnest, nicest, kindest, incredibly talented guy. ... So that was tough. Now I'm just thrilled. ... He deserves everything that he's going to get," he added.

With a huge, pink diamond engagement ring for Lopez and gossip about matching Rolls Royces, the pair dubbed "Bennifer" starred in the 2003 comedy romance "Gigli," which earned multiple Razzie awards for the worst comedy of the year.

SELLING MAGAZINES NOT MOVIES

Damon, by contrast, was seeing his career surge with "The Bourne Identity," "Syriana" and "The Departed." But he recalls Affleck's pain.

"He said (to me), 'I am in the absolute worst place you can be. I sell magazines, not movie tickets.' I remember our agent called up the editor of Us Weekly, begging her not to put him on the cover any more. Please stop. Just stop," Damon said.

About a year after splitting with Lopez, Affleck married actress Jennifer Garner, had the first of three children with her, and started writing and directing small but admired movies like "Gone Baby Gone" in 2007 and 2010's gritty crime film "The Town."

Last month, Affleck was named Entertainment Weekly's entertainer of the year, largely on the back of "Argo."

The actor-turned-director said that managing the various tones of the film was his hardest challenge.

"I had to synthesize comedic elements and the political stuff and this true-life drama thriller story. ... It was scary and it was daunting," Affleck told Reuters, saying he powered through by "overworking it by a multiple of ten."

A trip to the Oscars ceremony in February is now considered a shoo-in by awards pundits, but Affleck is not convinced that success is sweeter the second time around.

"It's harder. On the one hand, coming from obscurity, you have a neutral starting place. Because of the tabloid press and over exposure, I was starting from a deficit," he said.

"It can be very unpleasant to be in the midst of a lot of ugliness. But I just put my head down and decided ... I was going to work as hard as I could, and I never let the possibility enter my mind that I might fail - at least consciously. Subconsciously, I knew I could fail and I was really scared, so it made me work harder."

Golden Globes 2013: Ben Affleck Reacts

Alan Arkin, Argo: "I am deeply grateful for this honor and particularly moved in being in the company of Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Tommy Lee Jones who I deeply admire. I am also thrilled that Ben is getting the attention he so much deserves, as is Argo."

Golden Globes 2013 Nominations

Best Motion Picture, Drama
Argo
Django Unchained
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Zero Dark Thirty

Best Director
Ben Affleck, Argo
Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained

Screen Actors Guild Awards 2013 Nominations

Cast in a Motion Picture
Argo
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Misérables
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook

Critics' Choice Awards 2013 Nominations

BEST PICTURE
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Les Misérables
Life of PiLincoln
The Master
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
Argo
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Misérables
Lincoln
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook

BEST DIRECTOR
Ben Affleck, Argo
Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty
Tom Hooper, Les Misérables
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln

"Lincoln," "Argo" get jump on awards rivals at Box Office

Disney plans to expand Oscar front-runner "Lincoln" into about 200 more theaters this weekend, after the nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Wednesday and Golden Globes on Thursday.

"Argo," Ben Affleck's Iran hostage thriller, has made $103 million for Warner Bros since opening on October 12. "Lincoln," director Steven Spielberg's saga of the 16th U.S. president's fight to abolish slavery, will pass that mark in the next few days. That means both films are around $40 million above analysts' pre-release projections, and they're still counting.

"It's an achievement," Exhibitor Relations senior analysts Jeff Bock told TheWrap. "Truly adult fare doesn't hit $100 million that often."

Both movies are very well-reviewed and received "A" CinemaScores from moviegoers. The teams the behind "Argo" and "Lincoln" have done a good job of turning awards heat into multiplex business so far, and Disney plans to turn it up this week.

"'Lincoln' is doing bigger business than Disney and DreamWorks could have hoped for," Fandango movie correspondent Dave Karger told TheWrap, noting that "Lincoln" has been among the top three sellers at the online movie ticket site since it went on sale in November.

"And it's no coincidence that they're going wider with the movie immediately after the SAG and Globe nominations. They know the movie is a shoo-in for multiple nods," Karger said. "I bet they've already created mockup newspaper ads saying "Golden Globe nominee for Best Picture!'"

Warner Bros. will stand pat with "Argo" until January, waiting for the Oscar nominations on January 10 before expanding theaters. The difference is that "Argo" has been in theaters for nine weeks, while "Lincoln" is going into its sixth. "Argo" peaked at 3,247 theaters in its second week, on October 19, and is down to 917 theaters now. "Lincoln" has stayed at about 2,015 since Thanksgiving.

And Warner Bros. will swallow up more than 4,000 available theaters when it rolls out Peter Jackson's latest epic "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" on Friday.

Of course several likely Best Picture contenders - Universal's "Les Miserables," the Weinstein Co.'s "Django Unchained" and Sony's Kathryn Bigelow film "Zero Dark Thirty" - have yet to open. Analysts project domestic grosses of more than $100 million for the first two, both of which debut on Christmas Day. Another potential Best Picture nominee, Ang Lee's "Life of Pi," is heading in that direction. It's done more than $60 million at the domestic box office in a little more than three weeks, and is doing even better overseas with $105 million.

It is well-documented that there is no direct correlation between box office and Oscar success. Bigelow's 2009 movie "The Hurt Locker" is Exhibit A.

It beat out "Avatar" for Best Picture despite a domestic total of $17 million, compared to the $750 million total for James Cameron's 3D epic.

Plenty of blockbusters - "Forrest Gump," "Titanic" and "Lord of the Rings" - have taken home the big prize. And 20 of the past 34 Best Picture winners have made $100 million or more at the box office, suggesting Academy voters can appreciate a film that resonates with a mass audience.

AFI Top 10 for 2012 includes 'Lincoln,' 'Zero Dark Thirty' and 'The Dark Knight Rises'

The list includes several hopefuls for best picture at the Oscars, including "Zero Dark Thirty," "Lincoln," "Les Miserables" and "Argo." Christopher Nolan's final Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises," also made the the list, just as its predecessor "The Dark Knight" did four years ago.

The other honorees for 2012 are "Beasts of the Southern Wild," "Django Unchained," "Life of Pi," "Moonrise Kingdom" and "Silver Linings Playbook." The list honors only American-produced films, so a handful of others, including "Skyfall," "Anna Karenina and Oscar hopeful "Amour," weren't eligible.

Kristen Stewart to Costar in Comedy Flick Focus With Ben Affleck

The Breaking Dawn star is set to star with Ben Affleck in the upcoming, sexy comedy Focus, according to the Huffington Post.

"I can confirm that rumor," Stewart told the site, regarding the project. "It's a comedy. I'm really excited about it. We start shooting in April."

After rumors surfaced that K.Stew was in talks to star in the film as a young woman that Affleck's character meets during his travels, we asked the Oscar winner to dish on the possible casting news last month.

"I'm hesitant to get into casting stuff because I don't know what's finished or isn't because people come in and out of things all the time," Affleck told E! News at the GQ Men of the Year party. "But she's terrific and hopefully it will work out."

Looks like Affleck got his wish.

Movie blessings from Ben

"Argo" actors get a Palm Springs Honor to go with their Oscar buzz

The festival release promised that cast members Ben Affleck (who also directed the film), Alan Arkin and Bryan Cranston will attend the gala; the film's cast also includes John Goodman, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, Scoot McNairy, Kyle Chandler, Clea DuVall and others.

"'Argo' features a plethora of colorful characters brought to life by an outstanding acting ensemble," said festival chairman Harold Matzner in a press release announcing the award.

With the Palm Springs honor, Affleck has completed a January film-festival double-play; he is also being honored at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the other early-year fest that pays tribute to the past year's accomplishments and tries to assemble a lineup of potential Oscar nominees.

"Argo" has been considered an Oscar frontrunner since it began screening at the Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals, though in recent weeks it has been overshadowed by more recent contenders like "Lincoln," "Les Miserables" and "Zero Dark Thirty."

The story of a CIA and Canadian rescue operation that used a phony Hollywood movie production to supply cover identities and smuggle six Americans out of Iran during the hostage crisis of 1980, the film has been a slow, steady success at the box office, climbing over the $100 million mark in U.S. grosses in the past week.

Palm Springs has previously announced honors to actresses Naomi Watts and Helen Hunt and director Robert Zemeckis.

The Awards Gala will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2013. It typically takes place in the final days of Oscar nomination voting - but due to the Academy's accelerated schedule, this year's gala will fall two days after the close of voting.

2012 Satellite Awards

Motion Picture
• Argo
• Silver Linings Playbook
• Beasts of the Southern Wild
• Les Misérables
• Skyfall
• Moonrise Kingdom
• The Sessions
• Lincoln
• Life of Pi
• Zero Dark Thirty

Director
• David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
• Ben Affleck, Argo
• Kim Ki-Duk, Pieta
• Ben Lewin, The Sessions
• Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
• Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty

Ben Affleck Grabs a Bite with His Girls

The Argo star popped into Farmshop in Santa Monica, Calif., with his mother Chris and daughter Seraphina in tow. Affleck ordered a large iced coffee for himself, a latte for his mom and water without ice – and a Christmas cookie! – for his little girl. After grabbing their goods, the trio walked back out into the Brentwood Country Mart.

George Clooney Pays Tribute to Ben Affleck: "Argo Puts Him in a Whole Different Echelon"

"We got successful around the same time in the mid-'90s, so I saw him around a lot. I didn't necessarily think about him becoming a director, but I knew he was a good writer, a good-looking kid, and a good actor," Clooney told the magazine in its latest issue regarding Affleck. "Then I watched as he struggled, seven or eight years ago, and got stuck in a world that he wasn't enjoying very much in terms of choices of films. And he directed his way out of it.

"Hollywood loves a comeback, and he's an unbelievable comeback kid. When we saw Gone Baby Gone, we realized Ben had incredible talent. Then The Town reaffirmed it. Argo puts him in a whole different echelon; it moves him into the world of one of the better directors in the game."

Clooney, who coproduced Argo with Affleck and Grant Heslov, added that his fellow Oscar winner could also wind up being successful in the political arena as well.

"He's very smart and astute, and he works hard on issues in the Congo. But when your fallback career is being a world-class director, that's not so bad."

Other famous folks who EW singled out in its new issue include Jennifer Lawrence, Anne Hathaway, Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Affleck is 'entertainer of the year'

The experts selected the father of three for his stand-out performance as an actor in and director of Argo, which chronicles the real-life mission to smuggle six American hostages out of Iran in 1980.

The movie, which was released in October, received rave reviews and has become a favourite to land the Best Picture gold at the 2013 Academy Awards - and Affleck's winning streak has already begun.

Entertainment Weekly editor Jess Cagle says, "He's directed a couple of movies before but he really reached the pinnacle of his career this year; he's going to be right up there as best director with Steven Spielberg and lots of great directors.

"George Clooney wrote the piece on him in the magazine and really talked about how he's become this great, world-class director, and the great thing is we watched him grow up and he has never let failure or success keep him down. He's just a great example of how to live and work."

Clooney actually produced Argo after suggesting Affleck should take on the lead role and direct the film.

Last year's Entertainer of the Year was Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe.

Kristen Stewart Is "Terrific," Says Ben Affleck

In fact, it does sound like Ben Affleck is itching to work with her in Focus, a romantic comedy from Crazy Stupid Love directing duo John Requa and Glenn Ficarra.

It was reported by Variety earlier this month that K. Stew was in talks to costar as a young woman Affleck's character, a veteran grifter, meets in his travels.

We asked Affleck for an update when we caught up with him the other night at the GQ Men of the Year party at Chateau Marmont.

"I'm hesitant to get into casting stuff because I don't know what's finished or isn't because people come in and out of things all the time," he said. "But she's terrific and hopefully it will work out."

Fingers-crossed.

In the meantime, Affleck is having a nice ride with Argo, the political thriller that he not only stars in, but also directed.

He insists it's the real-life people who lived through the Iran crisis who should be praised.

"They all stayed in the foreign service and kept doing their jobs," Affleck said. "One of the guys Joe Stafford, who Scoot McNairy plays in the movie, is in Sudan now—stilling working for the United States! It's amazing. He's gotta be in his sixties. I don't want to go to Sudan, even for a weekend."

New Star Wars Movies: Ben Affleck "Glad" He's Not Directing

'I'm glad I don't have that job," the on-the-rise director told MTV, joking, "I'd be too busy worrying about how the action figures would look for each character to direct the actual movie. I'd be like, 'Oh, we'll just reshoot the movie with the action figures."

Kidding aside, the Argo director couldn't be more amped up, saying that although "there might be purists who are opposed to it, I think it's a very cool thing, and I'm excited to go see the movie."

He's also sending out an early warning to the film's eventual director.

"When it gets made, I'm going to be...calling in favors," he promises. "'Hey, it's Ben. Can me and my kid come to the premiere? Swing by, by any chance?'"

Sounds like someone's ready to jump to lightspeed with that speed dial.

Ben Affleck Reveals Secret to Bromance With Matt Damon: "We Don't Lie to Each Other"

The Boston-raised BFFs, who won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay back in 1999 for their film Good Will Hunting, are teaming up once again for an upcoming flick about mobster James "Whitey" Bulger.

"The nice thing about working with Matt, somebody that you've known a long time, is you don't have to worry about how you're going to get along or what the process is going to be like," Affleck gushed to us at last night's Artios Awards in Beverly Hills.

Affleck will direct the flick with Damon playing Bulger, the notorious Massachusetts fugitive who disappeared for 16 years before being caught in Santa Monica in 2011.

"We've developed a pretty good story over the years and we don't lie to each other," Affleck dished. "If it's not good, we say it's not good. And it makes the whole process a lot easier."

Casey Affleck is also set to star as Bulger's politician brother Billy Bulger.

While we'll have to wait and see if Affleck and Damon's next joint project earns them Oscar gold, Affleck says he isn't holding his breath for any awards for his latest flick Argo.

"Honestly, that's something I really try not to think about at all," the 40-year-old actor smiled. "I've had situations where I've allowed it to creep into my mind. It was always just frustrating and disappointing…so I try to just keep my focus."

'Argo' wins Halloween weekend followed by 'Hotel Transylvania' and 'Cloud Atlas'

The Ben Affleck-directed flick took in $12.3 million dollars the weekend of Oct. 26-28, with "Hotel Transylvania" and new release "Cloud Atlas" coming in second and third with $9.5 million and $9.4 million, respectively. "Paranormal Activity 4" and "Taken 2" rounded out the top five.

Overall, the box office was down more than 12 percent versus the same weekend last year, taking in a total of more than $81 million for the weekend instead of more than $93 million.

The full top 10 is below.

1. "Argo," $12.3 million
2. "Hotel Transylvania," $9.5 million

3. "Cloud Atlas," $9.4 million
4. "Paranormal Activity 4," $8.675 million
5. "Taken 2," $8 million
6. "Silent Hill: Revelation," $8 million
7. "Here Comes the Boom," $5.5 million
8. "Sinister," $5.07 million
9. "Alex Cross," $5.05 million
10. "Fun Size," $4.06

Bromance Alert: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Head to Joint Business Meeting

The Boston boys' bromance has spanned more than three decades now and shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, Ben and Matt were spotted Wednesday in Santa Monica, Calif., heading to a business meeting together.

Ben, 40, and Matt, 42, won a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award in 1999 for Good Will Hunting. They also costarred in the 1999 flick Dogma and, as we all know, have remained BFF as both of their careers continued to take off.

Both men are happily married—Ben to Jennifer Garner, Matt to Luciana Barroso. And although Ben primarily lives in L.A. and Matt in NYC, they always keep in touch.

"He's my hetero-lifemate," Matt joked to Anderson Cooper last year. "We finally realized, in this last year, that working together will be our best chance of seeing each other. We have a company together and have a couple projects we're trying to get going so we can just end up on a movie set and hang out."

We can't wait to see it!

Ben Affleck Looks Super in Shades With His Cutie, Daughter Seraphina

He's a movie star, critically acclaimed director and, to wife Jennifer Garner, a husband who's not afraid to show a little PDA every now and then.

But to his three kids—Violet, Seraphina and Samuel—he's just Daddy.

That last label was certainly on display yesterday as Affleck stepped out with Seraphina.

The two were spotted casually strolling around the Brentwood Country Mart in Los Angeles.

And the 3-year-old easily managed to steal a bit of her proud papa's spotlight thanks to a pair of pink shades.

Of course, being ridiculously adorable definitely doesn't hurt, either.

De Niro, Gere, Affleck feted at early film awards

Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, director David O. Russell and writer-director Quentin Tarantino were among the honorees Monday at the 16th annual Hollywood Film Awards, which bills itself as "the official launch of awards season." The event recognizes films that are likely positioned as awards contenders, such as Tarantino's anticipated "Django Unchained."

In accepting his award for screenwriter of the year, Tarantino remarked that it was strange to get an award for a film he's still working on, but added that he could use it as ammunition to defend long dialogue scenes during the editing process.

"I'll be able to say, hey, you want to take a line out of my AWARD-WINNING screenplay?" he joked.

Seth Rogen presented the comedy award to writer-director Judd Apatow, whose film "This Is 40" opens at Christmastime.

"Perhaps the most amazing thing about this awards show tonight is that none of these movies have come out yet," Rogen said. "I haven't even heard of some of these movies yet. That's how far out they are.

"It's nice because it kind of feels like these are the new Golden Globes," Rogen continued. "No one knows what it is. Who voted for this?"

Festival founders say the awards are based on "bodies of work and/or a film or films released during the calendar year."

"No one has seen my movie," Apatow said as he accepted his trophy. "This is just based on an assumption that it's good."

De Niro, Cooper and Russell were honored for "Silver Linings Playbook," set for release later this year.

Other honorees at the starry dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel included Ben Affleck and the cast of "Argo," Amy Adams, Dustin Hoffman and Marion Cotillard. Richard Gere received a lifetime achievement award.

Ben Affleck Talks Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel Wedding: "I'm Happy for Them"

"I'm very excited for him," Affleck, who costars with J.T. in the upcoming Runner Runner, told me at tonight's Hollywood Film Awards at The Beverly Hilton.

"He's a terrific guy," he continued. "He's a really good actor. There's nothing that guy can't do."

Affleck added with a smile, "Jess is great. I'm happy for them."

For more of our chat with Mr. Affleck, make sure to check out E! News Tuesday at 7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Shop and Dine in Paris

The adorable duo, who recently packed on the PDA in Hollywood, were all smiles as they strolled hand in hand around Paris on Monday.

The two were spotted partaking in some retail therapy by way of a trip to the Chanel store.

Later that evening, the happy husband treated his ladylove to a romantic dinner at La Fontaine de Mars.

Of course, while the two are in Paris—where Affleck is promoting his new film, Argo—we can't help but wonder if it's also a pit stop on the way to Italy, where Garner's good friend Jessica Biel is rumored to be getting married to Justin Timberlake soon.

'Taken 2,' 'Argo' and 'Sinister' top another strong box office weekend

But Ben Affleck's "Argo," the real-life account of six Americans' scheme to escape the Iran hostage crisis by staging production on a fake movie, wasn't close behind, surging to $20 million in its first weekend. Among the other newbies, horror flick "Sinister," starring Ethan Hawke, came in third with $18.2 million, while the Kevin James comedy "Here Comes the Boom" disappointed with $12 million for the No. 5 spot and "Seven Psychopaths" came in ninth with only $4.2 million.

The weekend's Top 10 movies:
1. "Taken 2," $22.5 million
2. "Argo," $20 million
3. "Sinister," $18.2 million
4. "Hotel Transylvania," $17.3 million
5. "Here Comes the Boom," $12 million
6. "Pitch Perfect," $9.3 million
7. "Frankenweenie," $7 million
8. "Looper," $6.3 million
9. "Seven Psychopaths," $4.2 million
10. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," $2.1 million

Ethan Hawke's 'Sinister' scares up surprise win over 'Taken 2' and 'Argo'

Yet "Taken 2," the Liam Neeson action-thriller sequel, is still predicted to win the overall weekend box office with $22.7 million, for a 10-day total of $90 million.

"Sinister," "Argo" and Sony's "Hotel Transylvania" -- Friday's fourth-place film with $4.2 million in its third week -- are all expected to be close behind, with predictions of $17-$19 million for each film.

"Here Comes the Boom," Kevin James' new comedy, opened with only $3.6 million on Friday for a No. 5 spot and isn't expected to take in more than $12 million for the weekend.

"Seven Psychopaths," the dark comedy starring Colin Farrell and Woody Harrelson, grossed $1.4 million for the No. 9 spot, with "Atlas Shrugged: Part II" in 10th place with $692,000.

Oscar Buzz Cheat Sheet: Argo, Ben Affleck's Triple Threat

And even after Argo hits theaters today, he'll stay everywhere.

A look at why Affleck and his new thriller, which he directed, produced and stars in, will be impossible to miss this awards season:

It's Been a Long, Long, Long Time Since Gigli: Argo, which is being sold as the latest "from the director of The Town," is the third straight Oscar vehicle from the risen-from-the-ashes Affleck.

They Took Toronto: Affleck and Argo emerged from the film festival/awards-season-starter with the best notices this side of the upcoming Silver Linings Playbook.

They'll Probably Clean Up at the Critics Awards, Too: At last look, Argo was at a lofty 93 percent at Rotten Tomatoes. Affleck's standing among critics for his work on the film is just as high. "The real accomplishment here is how Affleck…manages to segue from Ocean's Eleven-style repartee to pulse-pounding tension and back again," National Public Radio critic Bob Mondello noted.

They'll Hit All the Sweet Spots: Affleck's story will appeal to voters who like comebacks; Argo will appeal to voters who like movies that are about something (see: the Iranian-hostage crisis), and who especially like movies that are about something Hollywood (see: the top-secret plan to smuggle said hostages out of Iran under the guise they were filmmakers).

They're Up in the Polls: Currently, the awards-show site GoldDerby has Affleck as the favorite for Best Director, while the bookmakers have Argo as a consensus top five pick in the Best Picture race. About the only bad news: Affleck isn't considered a leading contender for Best Actor, thus endangering his bid to go three-for-three.

Affleck Will Talk About Everything: Rehab, Jennifer Lopez, even Daredevil—it's all referenced, if not discussed, in a lengthy Hollywood Reporter profile. Awards season, and the talk shows that promote and rely on it, will not soon forget such generosity.

One Thing to Watch For… Argo's box-office performance this weekend is by no means make or break, provided it doesn't pull a Won't Back Down, which itself pulled an Oogieloves. The tracking firm Exhibitor Relations, for one, is calling for Argo to score a perfectly acceptable $18 million debut.

Actors are Affleck puppets

'Argo' is smart story-telling

Argo concerns the rescue of six American consulate workers trapped in Iran in 1979. They were among those in the U.S. Embassy building in Tehran when it was taken over by Iranian militants. Although dozens of Americans were subsequently held hostage for over a year, these six escaped the building and made their way to the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor.

While Taylor and his wife hid the Americans, a plan was put together to get them out of Iran and safely home to the States. The six were to be issued fake Canadian passports and disguised as a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a sci-fi movie called Argo. It was a hugely risky undertaking that eventually became known as the 'Canadian Caper'.

What Ben Affleck's movie reveals is that there was far more to the story, including the involvement of the CIA and a couple of big Hollywood players.

Affleck directs and stars in the movie as CIA exfiltration expert Tony Mendez, the man who thought up the Argo scheme.

Mendez knows the Iranians will meticulously check every detail, so he enlists the help of a Hollywood producer (Alan Arkin) and a makeup expert (John Goodman) to ensure that Argo looks like a bona fide film production to all concerned. This moves the action in Argo back and forth between the political tension and violence in Iran and the comical make-believe of Hollywood; to be sure, the pen is mightier than the sword, and Affleck makes his point here without hitting anyone over the head with it.

Argo is funny, scary and completely enthralling. And it's smart. Affleck is careful to set the scene historically with a prologue that outlines the fall of the Shah, the rise of the Ayatollah Khomeini and the roots of the U.S./Iranian conflict.

He seamlessly blends archival news footage into the mix, and deftly marries the drama in Iran to the comedy in Hollywood. The film isn't perfect -- it loses momentum in a couple of spots and some of the characters feel underdeveloped -- but it's mighty close. Argo is based on a gobsmacking true incident, and Affleck does an impressive job of bringing it all to life on the big screen. This is a great yarn, well told.

Ben Affleck's direct route to newfound respect

Or, at the very least, refreshed the stale air in a room.

Ben Affleck, however, has managed to refresh his entire career.

Opening today is a cinematic testament to Affleck's powers of redemption: Argo. Set during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, the fact-based thriller recounts how the CIA and the movie industry formed an unlikely partnership to secretly rescue six American diplomats hiding out in the Canadian ambassador's home in Tehran. Their plan? Have the refugees pose as the film crew of a cheesy sci-fi adventure titled Argo.

New York magazine critic David Edelstein is hardly alone when he raves: "Argo is a marvel of cunning, an irresistible blend of cool realism and Hollywood hokum."

The main beneficiary of the abundant praise and awards-season buzz that has been heaped upon Argo ever since it premiered at film festivals is star, producer and director Affleck, whose two other efforts behind the camera -- 2007's Gone Baby Gone and 2010'sThe Town, both gritty crime dramas -- also drew critical hurrahs.

Relevance factors in, given recent events at the Libyan embassy as well as ongoing turmoil in the Middle East. Then there is the fun of revisiting dreary late- '70s fashions, stuck in the gap between disco glam and preppy chic. Were eyeglass lenses really billboard-size, mustaches ever so Smokey and the Bandit and shirt collars so ridiculously expansive?

But the positive reception also is a reflection of Affleck's innate skill at telling an original adult-oriented story -- a rarity these days -- that veers from procedural details to taut action to humorous satire before building to armrest-gripping climax. Many prognosticators wouldn't be too taken aback if Affleck overtakes the likes of Steven Spielberg (Lincoln) and Paul Thomas Anderson (The Master) and joins other dreamboats-turned-serious-artists Robert Redford and Warren Beatty as an Oscar-winning filmmaker.

"I paid off a lot of people," says Affleck, 40, showing off his still-boyish smile.

At that point, Affleck was mostly attracting attention as half of the gossip-obsessed era's first portmanteau super-couple, Bennifer, after he and pop diva Jennifer Lopez were engaged in 2002. The relationship turned into a running gag on late-night talk shows when their reviled big-screen pairing in 2003's Gigli (rhymes with "really") bombed with such aplomb that it was worthy of a Michael Bay-orchestrated disaster flick.

As for the onetime Sexiest Man Alive's appeal as a solo actor, all the Febreze in the world couldn't mask the stink after a string of subpar efforts. Not even a surprisingly sensitive portrait of troubled TV Superman George Reeves in 2006's Hollywoodland could restore his glow.

Affleck, who checked himself into rehab in 2001 when his partying got out of hand, instinctually knew to take a break from the overheated limelight.

"I said, 'Look, I'm not going to be a part of this. This is not how my life gets defined,'" he says. "I decided I wasn't going to work in front of the camera for a while."

Instead, the square-jawed action hero from Armageddon and The Sum of All Fears focused on becoming a director. "I had been waiting for the opportunity for a long time," says Affleck, who in 2005 ended up marrying a more down-to-earth Jennifer -- Garner, his love interest in the 2003 comic-book adventure Daredevil and mother of his three children.

"Matt and I considered co-directing Good Will Hunting,'' he says. "I directed some shorts when I was really young," including the as-bad-as-it-sounds I Killed My Lesbian Wife, Hung Her on a Meat Hook, and Now I Have a Three-Picture Deal at Disney. "But after Good Will Hunting, I had a lot of opportunities as an actor and it ended up on the back burner."

One surefire laugh-getter in Argo is a putdown delivered with genial gusto by John Goodman as real-life makeup artist John Chambers, who assisted Affleck's CIA operative Tony Mendez in pulling off the ruse that Argo was an actual production. When Mendez worries that the diplomats might not be able to be convincing as a movie team, Chambers retorts, "You can teach a rhesus monkey how to be a director in a day."

Affleck, who says it's his favorite line, readily acknowledges, "I'm not quite as quick as a rhesus monkey." In fact, he was terrified initially at the prospect of making Gone Baby Gone. But he also was lucky enough that then-Disney chairman Richard Cook took a chance on his Pearl Harbor star, using the noirish mystery about a kidnapped youngster to rebrand the old Miramax label.

Affleck kept behind the camera and chose his younger brother Casey as the lead with sturdy backup from Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris.

One strength quickly became apparent. Affleck had a knack for assembling terrific casts and encouraging superior performances. Amy Ryan earned her first Oscar nomination as Gone Baby Gone's monstrous mother whose daughter goes missing. Jeremy Renner also was in the running for a gold trophy as Affleck's hotheaded bank-heist buddy in 2010's The Town.

Little wonder Argo attracted such pros as Goodman, 60, and Alan Arkin, 78,who plays producer Lester Siegel, a composite character with the take-no-prisoners bluster of legendary studio moguls of yore. He has one demand before joining the cause: "If I'm doing a fake movie, it's going to be a fake hit."

Says Arkin, "I'd never met Ben, but I had seen his other films. They were wonderfully mature films. But this one for me puts him in a league of his own."

Adds Goodman, "It's so richly detailed and it moves like gangbusters. He had great command of the technical aspects as well. Somebody who knows that much about camera angles and lighting and where to put people usually isn't as good with actors as he is."

As for having Affleck as a boss, Arkin says, "He is surprisingly warm and effusive and meticulous. He knows exactly what he wants. He has a complete command of every aspect of the film and, since I am saying all these things about him, I hope to God he hires me again."

Scoot McNairy, 32, whose nerve-wracked diplomat Joe Stafford must pretend to be a producer, actually worked with Affleck before -- not that his director remembered. "It was a commercial for Axe deodorant that was shot in L.A. but was shown in Europe."

McNairy was duly impressed by Affleck's ability to inspire actors. "He allowed us freedom to be more natural. Sometimes he would ask us to improvise or say whatever we wanted to say. There is a certain level of trust you hand over when you know someone has great taste and makes great movies. I stretched my neck a little further and put myself out there."

Another actor who had to put his trust in Affleck: George Clooney, whose company helped produce Argo. A fellow hybrid talent who has smoothly made the transition to director with movies like Good Night, and Good Luck and The Ides of March, he shared some insight with Affleck.

"Clooney once said to me, 'People blame or credit actors with how the movies are. But really it's a director's medium. It's their credit or blame.' But the actors often get either an undue amount of praise or criticism, and I think I sort of knew that. But he crystallized it in such a smart way."

Affleck plans to continue to perform in other people's films. He appears in Terrence Malick's romantic reverie To the Wonder (no U.S. release date yet) and plays what he describes as the Gordon Gekko of Internet gambling in Runner, Runner next year.

However, Affleck seems more excited by the projects lined up under his and Damon's Warner Bros.-based production banner, Pearl Street Films. They include a couple of directing jobs for him: A remake of Tell No One, a 2006 French thriller and a sleeper hit in this country about a doctor who discovers his long-dead wife might be alive. Damon would take the lead in a biopic about Whitey Bulger, the Boston-based Irish mob boss who was the basis for Jack Nicholson's gangster in The Departed.

But Affleck knows himself well enough to just say no to directing the movie version of Justice League, DC Comics' answer to The Avengers.

"I like comic-book movies myself," he says. "They are incredibly flashy and effective in terms of 3-D effects. But right now, that's not what I'm interested in doing. I'm interested in making movies that are tonally like I've been doing. And $300 million -- that is just too much responsibility for me. I'd be tempted to take the budget and go to Mexico."

'Argo': Suspenseful spy thriller meets Hollywood satire

Argo is the rare nail-biter that's also riotously funny as it focuses on a real-life incident that was not exactly ripped from the headlines.

While the Iran hostage crisis was at the top of nightly newscasts for much of 1980, an outrageously daring covert rescue of a half-dozen American diplomats from the Canadian Embassy went unreported. The story was kept under wraps, deemed classified information until Bill Clinton's presidency over a dozen years later.

The mission reads like far-fetched spy fiction rather than actual political history. The CIA, Canadian government and some small-to-middling Hollywood players joined forces for a big role in the release of six Americans in hiding. Their secret weapon? An oh-so-cheesy, fake sci-fi flick.

When Iranian militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in November 1979,and took 52 Americans hostage, six workers escaped during the commotion. They were given refuge by Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor (Victor Garber) and holed up in his Tehran home for more than two months.

The embassy workers knew it would not be long before they were found out and executed. The CIA turned to operative Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) to hatch a plan for delivering them safely home.

The scheme Mendez concocted involved a veteran Hollywood producer (Alan Arkin) and a make-up artist (John Goodman) lending their names to a phony B movie called Argo. The six American would be part of a film crew scouting locations. The logistics were nothing if not complicated. Turning six foreign-service workers into temporary actors (playing roles like director and cinematographer of the faux film) was a dicey enough proposition. But once their false identities were set, they would have to fool the Revolutionary Guard to board a flight to Switzerland.

While it's hard to imagine anyone today convincing authorities that they are shooting a movie in a country undergoing a revolution, in 1980 this scheme was just crazy enough to work.

Affleck, whose talents as a filmmaker have come to overshadow his acting roles, shines in both categories here. He nails the part of Mendez, the savvy, shaggy-haired rescuer, captures the feel of the era and establishes a thoroughly credible sense of urgency.

Equal parts great escape caper, Hollywood satire, and political commentary, Argo is easily one of the year's best films.

A-list 'Argo' bash

Ben Affleck Talks Wife Jennifer Garner, Bromance with Matt Damon, and Staying in Touch With Ex Jennifer Lopez

The Academy Award-winning actor is currently working hard to cement his transition to esteemed Hollywood director with his latest film, Argo, a political thriller based loosely on the true story of the rescue of six U.S. soldiers during the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis.

Gracing the cover of The Hollywood Reporter this week, Ben sat down with the mag to discuss the good and the bad in Hollywood biz, and it turns out this world-famous face is just your average 40-year-old dad to his three children.

"There are so many decisions to be made, and it's more than you can get to each day," he says of trying to balance work and family life. "There is this underlying anxiety not just about getting the movie done but getting it done really well. It keeps my head spinning—even when I am giving the kids a bath. I can be giving them a bath or feeding them, and sometimes they say, ‘Dad, pay attention!'"

He openly admits that his life is consumed by work and family, and he now chooses to spend his free time with Jen and their children—daughters Violet, 6, and Seraphina, 3, and 7-month-old son Samuel.

"Kids eat up that kind of hobby time," he admits. "I used to ride motorcycles. I used to play basketball. And now basically I'm at home with them, or I work."

Luckily, Ben has a lifelong partner in wife Jennifer Garner to lend a helping hand, and he can't help but gush over his beautiful wife of seven years:

"She truly is kind," he says. "She means no one any harm. She doesn't have ill will for any person. She's not competitive with other people. She's not spiteful," he shares with pride before adding, "It's one of those things where it becomes almost aggravating at times. Every time I go, 'F-- him!' I see in her face that she just thinks that's petty and small."

The filmmaker credits his wife with being a major support system, and it may come as a surprise that he still keeps in touch with ex-Jennifer Lopez, as well as Gwyneth Paltrow and his high school girlfriend, Cheyenne Rothman:

"We don't have the kind of relationship where she relies on me for advice," he says of J.Lo, "but we do have the kind of relationship where there'll be an e-mail saying, ‘Oh, your movie looks great.' I remember when she got American Idol. I said: 'This was really smart. Good luck.' I touch base. I respect her. I like her. She's put up with some stuff that was unfair in her life, and I'm really pleased to see her successful."

Although Ben appears to have aged with a unique Hollywood grace, he does admit that turning 40 was tough (remember, Blake Lively made him feel old!) for the A-list star:

"It was not fun for me," says Affleck of the milestone age. "It's this moment of bifurcation between youth and middle age. One wants to think of oneself as young. One does not want to think, "Wait a minute! How can I be halfway to death?'"

Even though Ben might feel like he's getting old (his looks certainly aren't fading!), we bet his bromance with Matt Damon gives the dude a youthful glow:

"[Matt and I] see each other almost too often," Affleck admits of his friendship with Damon. "I wonder if his wife is thinking, 'Is he really going to come over every night?'"

Aww, talk about one of the coolest Hollywood hunks in the biz! We're officially Ben Affleck lovers for life.

Sam Champion thanks fans, Ben Affleck for their support of his engagement

"The amazing response from folks all over the country was just incredible for us," Champion says in this morning's "GMA." "I felt like we lived in a small town -- I was born in Paducah, Ky. -- and to me that's exactly what it felt like. We walked out on the street and everyone was like, 'Hey, congratulations.'"

But the congratulations didn't stop on the street. People took to Twitter to express their happiness for the newly engaged couple, and even this morning's "GMA" guest, Ben Affleck, let his well-wishes be known.

"I want to congratulate Sam," Affleck says on the show. "It's to our shame that you can't get married in every state in the union, but one day I hope you will be able to. It's very exciting. I was very inspired... a moving, love story."

Robierb was also on "Good Morning America," and Champion took the time to address his husband-to-be for all the nation to hear.

"I never saw any of this coming in my life until I met the most -- and I mean it -- the most wonderful, giving, loving, caring person," Champion says. "I'm lucky. I am so, so lucky to have someone like this in my life."

Ben Affleck Sideswipes Honda

Ben may have been daydreaming about his "thank you" speech at the Oscars, because the distracted driver/star/director of "Argo" side-swiped a parked Honda that was minding its own business -- decapitating its side mirror.

But Ben did the right thing, leaving a note that even had a friendly salutation: "Hi, knocked off your mirror. VERY Sorry. Will cover everything. Ben."

(Photo) He also left his phone number -- which is more valuable than the cost of a mirror.

PDA Alert! Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Share a Kiss on Argo's Red Carpet

At least it certainly looks that way, as not only did George Clooney and Stacy Keibler quiet the breakup rumors that perpetually plague them by strolling arm-in-arm in front of reporters (and, more importantly, photographers), but the movie's star and director, Ben Affleck, exhibited some PDA of his own, puckering up for his leading lady, wife Jennifer Garner.

The duo stole the smooch (and the spotlight) after walking the red carpet for Affleck's new flick, and we can't say that we blame Ben for making a move: Mrs. Affleck was looking red-hot in her Monique Lhuillier gown and Bulgari clutch.

The red carpet never seemed so steamy.

Argo is set for release Oct. 12.

Ben Affleck: Republicans 'had a chance'

But the actor and director, who has been outspoken in support of Democratic causes in the past, also doesn't offer full-throated support for President Barack Obama.

"I voted for Obama last time although he got to be all things to all people then," Affleck said in an interview to promote his new film "Argo." ''And now he's got a record which makes it really different ... I obviously have more complicated feelings."

Affleck says Romney's inability to connect with everyday Americans is reminiscent of past failed candidates.

"I think Republicans really had a chance to win," Affleck said. "And they kind of ended up with like a sort of Mike Dukakis, Al Gore, Bob Dole type — who just couldn't get people to see him as a real person somehow. Romney just had such trouble coming off as just like the kind of person you see at the grocery store. And I truly believe that has cost him the election."

"It seems quite unlikely at least if you look at the statistics that he's going to pull it out. I think something happens in presidential politics where there's negative momentum. You start making mistakes and then all your advisers tell you, 'You've got to raise your arms more!' 'You've got to talk deeper.' So people just get into becoming robotic."

Affleck's "Argo," in theatres Oct. 12, chronicles a joint effort by the CIA and the Canadian government to rescue six Americans from Tehran after the U.S. embassy was taken over by Islamist militants in 1978.

Affleck, who has done lobbying in Washington and visited Africa several times for various causes, doesn't sound much of an optimistic note whatever the outcome in November.

"The world is a very tricky place in terms of foreign affairs. And really, really we're in very bad shape economically," he said. "My worry is less about the presidential election than whether or not we're on a permanent downtrend. That really concerns me. Beyond the Obama administration and whoever the next — the Clinton administration — whoever gets elected next. That's my main concern."

Ben Affleck's Family 'Unanimously Hated' His Shaggy 'Argo' Look

“My family unanimously hated the look,” he told reporters Sunday during an Argo press conference at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Since the film is set in 1979 (it focuses on the Iran hostage crisis of that year), Affleck was required to go with period style — everything from clothing to, yes, hair. “My dad was like, ‘What kind of work would want you to look like that?’” Affleck recalled during the press conference. His answer? “That’s a good question.”

Though the ribbing from his dad was minimal, it was his wife, Jennifer Garner, that was perhaps most appalled by the look. In fact, when one reporter told Affleck she liked his shaggy style, he joked, “You didn’t have to kiss me!”

Young daughters Violet and Seraphina had opinions, too. “I kept trying to tell my littler kids [that this was for work],” the actor said. But “they would say, ‘Why can’t you shave your … prickles? Shave your prickles!’” Thankfully for his family, he (kind of) has. Tell us: Did you like Affleck’s hairier look? And do you plan to see Argo?

Ben Affleck changes "Argo" postscript to appease former Canadian ambassador

The change was made to appease Ken Taylor, Canada's former ambassador to Iran, who plays a key role in crisis depicted in the Affleck-directed movie, a Warner Bros. spokeswoman told TheWrap.

The film was seen by associates of Taylor as falsely giving credit for the release of the hostages to a CIA agent and also suggesting that Canada and Taylor wrongly took credit.

The results: a postscript line onscreen at the end of the movie has been removed and replaced.

The new postscript reads: "The involvement of the CIA complemented efforts of the Canadian embassy to free the six held in Tehran. To this day the story stands as an enduring model of international co-operation between governments."

"Argo" is about how six U.S. diplomats escaped from Iran, after extremists seized control of the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979. The six were sheltered at the Canadian embassy until they made their escape in January 1980.

In the film, Affleck plays a CIA agent who is depicted as the hero responsible for facilitating the escape of the six Americans, when in reality it was the ambassador who enabled their escape.

In Canada, Taylor has long been seen as a hero. He sheltered a half-dozen American diplomats at the Canadian embassy in Iran and then helped them leave the country using fake passports. The six were among 63 people held hostage after extremists seized control of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, the capital, in 1979.

Matt Damon Talks Living Next Door to Best Bud Ben Affleck

In an E! News exclusive interview with The Bourne Identity star, E!'s own Alicia Quarles couldn't help but ask Matt if he enjoyed living next door to his buddy Ben and what it's like hanging out with their little girls. Matt was in NYC for a cooking competition event (where he cooked on live TV with celebrity chef Ming Tsai) in support of the Family Reach Foundation, which helps provide financial relief to families fighting cancer.

"Yeah, it's definitely not the life we had planned for ourselves in that way," Matt says with a smile as he speaks of his life and friendship with Ben. "It's great in a whole different way, like that Garth Brooks song, 'Thank God for Unanswered Prayers.' I never looked up at the sky and asked for this life and I'm very lucky that I got it."

The Good Will Hunting star seems to never have a shortage of humility and appreciation for his lucky life and appeared thrilled to be involved with the Family Reach Foundation. He talks about how eager he was to work with the organization, as the topic hits close to home.

"Our dad's going through it [cancer treatment ] right now, so I think we can just relate to it on a personal level too." Luckily, Matt insists that his father is "really terrific" and "getting phenomenal care up in Boston."

So, the only issue with the celebrity cooking charity celebration?

Matt admits he can't cook!

"Well, I don't think anyone will actually have to eat what I cook," Damon confesses. "I think they will do a little switcheroo."

Note to all: Make Ben do the cooking at the next neighborhood gathering!

Ben Affleck: Blake Lively Made Me Feel Old

Gracing the cover of Details' October issue, the acclaimed actor-director opened up about how Blake Lively, his costar in The Town, made him realize he's not the 25-year-old wunderkind anymore who won an Oscar with Matt Damon for cowriting Good Will Hunting.

While filming the crime drama three years ago in Boston, Affleck took the newly minted Mrs. Ryan Reynolds on a tour of the city and suddenly realized she didn't even know his famous connection with his best friend and old screenwriting partner, with whom he grew up in Beantown before the two took Hollywood by storm.

"When I was doing The Town, I'd tour the actors around Boston. I was with Blake, and I saw Matt's childhood home," Affleck recounted to the magazine. And I said, 'Oh yeah, that's where Matt grew up.' And she said, 'Who?' And I said, 'Matt Damon." And she said, 'Oh my God! You know Jason Bourne?!'"

Then it hit him.

"She really didn't know. And I thought, 'There it is. The first age of people who are adults who missed the whole Matt-and-Ben propaganda campaign!" he added. "Mostly, it just made me feel old."

Well, Ben, you are over the hill now, having just turned 40 last month!

To be fair, the 25-year-old Lively was only 11 back in 1998 when Good Will Hunting came out and made Affleck and Damon household names, so the Gossip Girl star can be forgiven for not knowing about the hoopla over them at the time. (We guess she didn't see Mindy Kaling's spoof of Affleck in the latter's 2003 off-Broadway smash Matt & Ben, either).

In the article, aside from discussing his latest acting and directing project, the period political thriller Argo, Affleck also talked about the challenge of balancing his devotion to his big-screen career with being a good dad to his three kids with actress-wife Jennifer Garner.

"Anytime you think, 'I'm wasting my time here,' the first thought you have is 'I could go home and be with my kids,'" noted the actor. "Now, you may go home and be with your kids and very quickly start thinking, 'I wonder what's on the work front?' Because running around after three kids is very trying. Now everything has to compete with being my family."

Added Affleck, "I don't want to be a stay-at-home dad. Work is very important to me. I like to work. So does my wife. But I need my work to mean something to me in order for me to not be home with them."

Given the rave reviews Argo has been earning in advance of its Oct. 12 release, it sounds like he's got a lot of juggling to do.

PDA of the Day: Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Keepin' the Love Strong

Whether it's the funny face Justin Bieber makes after a fan gets a little too close or seeing the budding romance between soon-to-be newlyweds Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman, little kisses and signs of affection are sweet.

Especially when it's between a married couple of seven years with three kids, like Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck.

Ben and Jen were spotted with their daughter Seraphina in Brentwood having breakfast, and cameras were able to catch the couple as they were just about to give each other a quick smooch.

And they say true love doesn't exist in Hollywood.

Ben Affleck: 'I Don't Want to Be a Stay-at-Home Dad'

“I don’t want to be a stay-at-home dad. Work is very important to me. I like to work. But I need my work to mean something to me in order for me to not be home with them,” the actor, 40, tells Details‘ October issue.

Noting that “running after three kids is very trying,” Affleck — who is dad to Violet, 6½, Seraphina, 3½, and Samuel, 6 months — admits his time away from his family is constantly competing with his work schedule.

“Anytime you think, ‘I’m wasting my time here,’ the first thought you have is, ‘I could go home and be with my kids,’” he says. “Now, you may go home and be with your kids and very quickly start thinking, ‘I wonder what’s on the work front?’”

And although the doting dad makes an effort to find time for his children, when Affleck becomes wrapped up in filming — he directed and stars in his latest movie, Argo — he relies heavily on Garner to pick up the slack.

“I am not very present in the rest of my life. My wife’s very patient. She does everything,” he shares. “If I have time, I try to spend time with the kids, even if just to be a physical presence, the bath, whatever.”

But even in the midst of his brood’s bathtime, Affleck is the first to admit his mind is often elsewhere. “My mind’s always going, ‘How are we going to light that show tomorrow? What’s the master shot for that scene? Is there even going to be a master?’” he says.

“Just ruminating endlessly. Because for me — I wish it was discipline or being a great artist. But it’s just anxiety.”

"Argo," "Silver Linings" lead Toronto buzz; business simmers

Toronto, along with recent festivals in Venice and Telluride, traditionally launches the movie industry's major awards season. Some of the more hyped films heading into the festival have won over critics and audiences, while others have divided film buffs, suggesting possible box office and awards disappointments.

"A bunch of titles go in with hype and then only a couple of them really deliver," said David Laub, co-president of New York based indie film distribution company Oscilloscope.

Laub cited "Argo," and "Silver Linings Playbook" as gaining early awards buzz among the bigger premieres so far. "Now they start their journey to the Oscars - and then some are a bit more muted," he said.

Those that so far haven't quite lived up to their high expectations include several of the eagerly anticipated literary adaptations - "Anna Karenina" and "Midnight's Children" - while "Cloud Atlas," co-directed by Tom Tykwer and "The Matrix Trilogy" sibling team, divided critics with its complex multiple storylines.

OSCAR HOPES

"Argo," starring and directed by Ben Affleck, is considered one of the safer bets for awards nominations, including one of the 10 best film Oscar slots and a possible directing nod for Affleck's third effort in a turn away from previous Boston stories "The Town," and "Gone Baby Gone."

Affleck, 40, whose film tells the true story of how the CIA helped smuggle six American diplomats out of Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis using a fake Hollywood production, declined to speculate about award potential and whether a film that both pokes fun of and celebrates Hollywood might appeal more than usual to Oscar voters.

In making the film, he said, his greatest issues were smooth transitions from the tense Iran scenes to the more humorous moments, which have gained buzz for Alan Arkin playing the role of veteran Hollywood producer.

"How often do you get to make a movie on this subject matter, particularly in a world where some of the war films that had been made had been a little too depressing for audiences over the last 10 years?" Affleck said.

Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master" continued to impress critics and audiences in Toronto, especially for its lead actors Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix, who was last seen by audiences in the mockumentary 2010 "I'm Still Here" which chronicled his supposed "retirement" from acting to pursue a hip-hop career.

Neither Hoffman nor Phoenix showed up to the film's press conference and Anderson deflected questions about whether the film was about Scientology, prompting speculation about how it would be promoted come Oscar time in early 2013.

Bill Murray has also gained attention for his turn as Franklin D. Roosevelt in "Hyde Park on Hudson," while Jennifer Lawrence has stirred talk of a best actress nomination for "Silver Linings Playbook" as a sexually forward widow fighting depression.

The film, by "The Fighter" director David. O. Russell and centered around a mentally ill man played by Bradley Cooper trying to rebuild his life, is being talked about as a possible contender in several categories.

Among smaller films, Noah Baumbach's "Frances Ha" has also won over critics.

BUSINESS PICKING UP

From a strong non-fiction lineup, both "The Gatekeepers," about Israeli security agency Shin Bet, and Alex Gibney's "Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God," about the Catholic church's sex abuse scandals, won enthusiastic audience applause. On the red carpet, Johnny Depp attracted one of the festival's biggest crowds to support "West of Memphis."

Sarah Polley's autobiographical nonfiction film about family secrets "Stories We Tell" was one of the early sales at a festival that saw sluggish business activity in the first half of the festival which started September 6 and ends September 16.

The only early big acquisition title was "The Place Beyond the Pines" by "Blue Valentine" director Derek Cianfrance and starring Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper. It was bought for roughly $2.5 million, according to media reports, and unlike the other films sold the day following its premiere.

Other more recent sales included sex addiction comedy "Thanks for Sharing" starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Ruffalo and singer Pink in a supporting role; "Imogene" starring Kristen Wiig; and "Crying Game" filmmaker Neil Jordan's "Byzantium."

While sales figures for some still remain secret, prices are way down on the highs of the indie market of the mid-2000s when films like "Little Miss Sunshine" posted much higher levels. But observers said they expected business to pick up by the festival's end and in the weeks following that.

"People aren't rushing to close deals the way they once were, which is common in the last few years," said Laub.

Michael Barker, co-president of Sony Pictures Classics, said buyers and sellers are slower to make deals in times of more economic uncertainty and as distribution models including theatrical and video-on-demand have been shaken up.

"There are so many (films) where it is really unclear where they are going to fit in the marketplace. That's one of the reasons there is a delay in a lot of these sales," said Barker. "But by the end of the festival there will be many more."

'Argo' still relevant today

But he does believe the real-life events show why Argo is so relevant, even though it is a dramatization of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis in which Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor helped save the lives of six Americans.

The closing of the embassy is specifically a reaction to Iran's involvement in Syria. But Affleck said it goes further and reflects "the long-standing tensions between Iran and Canada. And it showed, while the movie is 30 years old (in its era), it really is still relevant, both in the sense that it's about the unintended consequences of revolution and in the sense that we're dealing with exactly the same issues now that we were then."

Affleck expects Iranian officials to see Argo. "It's a Stalinist, state-controlled, oppressive government, so there are a lot of restrictions. Ultimately I'm told they'll see it to see who's in there. I'm more worried about other audiences."

The same applies to the Oscar buzz surrounding Argo, Affleck said. At this moment, he could care less. "I'm just worried about getting the movie out, having humans come see it and pay for the tickets."

There was some levity in the press conference, especially when it came down to the coaching of the Americans to pose as Canadians during the 1979 conflict. Affleck said his direction was simple for his American actors: "I just told them to be twice as nice as you actually are."

Argo is not a documentary, Affleck said. It is a dramatic film inspired by real events. "There is a clear divide between documentaries, where you expect a stricter adherence to facts and truth and history, and to our movie where we say: 'Based on a true story.' It's understood and we're allowed to take some dramatic licence. I think there is 'a spirit of truth' and literally what happens." Argo has the spirit but not all of the literal truth from 1979.

But it does serve as "a thank you to Canada" for its critical role in the drama, Affleck said.

‘Zone on Interest’

Ben Affleck may have dropped out of university before he graduated, but at least he paid attention while he was there. Affleck said Saturday at the Toronto filmfest that he studied Middle Eastern history, politics and culture during his studies at the University of Vermont.

So the film Argo, which he directed and stars in, was a natural fit. "This was really in my zone of interest!"

Argo, which is a popular hit at the Toronto filmfest, chronicles events of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis and how Canadians and Americans worked together to harbour and then free six Americans who were under threat because they worked for the U.S. government in Tehran.

Affleck thanks Canada with 'Argo' at Toronto fest

Affleck made his latest return to the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday to premiere his Iran hostage thriller "Argo," for which he does double-duty as star and director.

Opening in theaters Oct. 12, "Argo" chronicles a joint effort by the CIA and the Canadian government to rescue six Americans from Tehran after the U.S. embassy was taken over by Islamist militants in 1978. While 52 others were held hostage at the embassy, the six Americans were hidden by Canadian authorities, who worked with U.S. operatives to concoct an elaborate scheme to get them out of the country.

"The idea they came up with was to pretend they were all on a location scout for a movie," Affleck said in a telephone interview before the festival. "They went to Hollywood and basically put together the back-story for a fake movie. They took out ads, did a read-through, all the real things a real movie would have to do."

Affleck stars as exfiltration specialist Tony Mendez, who teams with a Hollywood producer (Alan Arkin) to dream up a phony Canadian science-fiction flick they want to shoot in Iran, intending to smuggle the six Americans out as part of the film crew. "Argo" also features John Goodman and Bryan Cranston.

"It's really a movie about Canadian heroics and the relationship between Canada and America," Affleck said. "Once you see the movie, you'll see how it resonates, the theme of, 'Thank you, Canada.'"

Affleck has reason to give personal thanks to Canada. His bank-robbery hit "The Town" got a warm welcome from Toronto festival crowds two years ago, and he hopes for the same this time.

Along with "Argo," Affleck stars in a second Toronto festival film, Terrence Malick's romantic rumination "To the Wonder." Featuring Rachel McAdams, Javier Bardem and Olga Kurylenko, the film stars Affleck as an American whose relationship to a woman he met overseas turns cold, leaving him drifting back toward a childhood love.

Affleck had crossed paths with Malick over the years and showed him "The Town" while Malick was working on his family epic "The Tree of Life." Malick was casting "To the Wonder" at the time and offered Affleck the role.

"The Tree of Life" flowed from intimate domestic drama to images of the creation of the cosmos and the age of dinosaurs. Yet Affleck said that in "To the Wonder," Malick is "pushing it kind of further in an avant-garde direction. Even less linear. Though there are no dinosaurs, at least in the last cut that I saw."

Unlike the press-shy Malick, who skips interviews, premiere red carpets and other public appearances, Affleck will be on hand for the early screenings of "Argo." Nerve-wracking as it is to put a film in front of an audience, Affleck said he enjoys studying the crowd's response.

"I like to be part of it and be part of the ebb and flow of feeling an audience seeing it for the first time," Affleck said. "You do all this stuff in a vacuum, write the movie, rehearse it, shoot it. It's like being on stage without an audience. When the audience is finally there, I love to see how they react.

"It's exhilarating and it's satisfying and it's terrifying. Luckily, I'm always distracted by the sort of constant evaluation between my expectation of the audience's reaction and how they actually experience it. 'Oh, that didn't go over the way I thought it would. Why did they laugh there?' The terrible part is you start to want to recut it as you're watching it."

Actors comfy in the director's chair

"Mother Teresa, you have devoted your entire life to serving others -- feeding and sheltering the hungry and homeless," says God. "Now it's your turn. Is there anything left undone that you still wish to accomplish?"

"Well, since you're asking," replies Mother Teresa. "What I really want to do is direct."

Just as it seems as if every waiter, messenger and cab driver in this town carries around a screenplay in their back pocket, most actors, no matter how many kudos they've won or how much money their movies have made, won't be truly happy unless they get to literally call the shots.

From Clint Eastwood and Robert Redford to George Clooney and Jon Favreau, the list of successful actors-turned-directors continues to expand with each coming awards season -- and this one's no exception.

The screening that had all of the Telluride International Film Festival abuzz last Labour Day weekend?

Argo, an Oscar contender of a political thriller directed by Ben Affleck, which also played TIFF this weekend.

That film, set during the Iran hostage crisis and starring Affleck along with Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin and John Goodman, is Affleck's third effort as a director -- after Gone Baby Gone and The Town -- and, by unanimous early account, his most accomplished to date.

Having successfully made the transition from respected actress to acclaimed filmmaker with Away from Her and Take This Waltz, Sarah Polley has been garnering some of her best reviews yet with Stories We Tell.

A documentary featuring members of her family and the revelation of a long-held secret, the film played to terrific response in Venice and Telluride ahead of its Toronto arrival.

Also playing the Toronto fest is Jayne Mansfield's Car, directed by and starring Billy Bob Thornton, along with Robert Duvall and Kevin Bacon.

The period piece, which examines the culture clash between an American and a British family circa 1969 Alabama, is Thornton's fourth behind-the-camera feature since making his memorable debut with 1996's Sling Blade.

Speaking of British, 75-year-old Dustin Hoffman marks his first time wearing a director's cap with Quartet, a UK production about a group of retired opera singers that's being given its world premiere at TIFF.

Considering his English cast is headed by Maggie Smith, it would seem to be a natural for the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel crowd.

Meanwhile, old pro Robert Redford isn't planning to rest on his laurels anytime soon.

He both directed and stars (opposite Shia LaBeouf) in the anticipated political thriller The Company You Keep, screening at Toronto this weekend.

It's the 76-year-old hyphenate's ninth directorial effort in a successful second career that started with the Oscar winning Ordinary People in 1980.

Just some of the illustrious company that 31-year-old Ryan Gosling will be joining when he makes his directorial debut next spring in the surreal drama How to Catch a Monster, about a single mother (Mad Men's Christina Hendricks) whose teenage son discovers a mysterious underwater town.

Here's hoping it turns out to be more The Abyss than Waterworld.

Ben Affleck, Oliver Stone films to screen at Zurich

The festival, which runs September 20 to 30, unveiled its full lineup Thursday morning - at 111, the biggest slate of films ever for the festival.

The Gala Premieres section includes a litany of major international titles, many of them American, such as Rian Johnson's "Looper," Lee Toland Krieger's "Celeste and Jesse Forever" and Nicholas Jarecki's "Arbitrage."

"Savages," also in Gala Premieres, will open the festival. "Argo" is coming off a barn-burning play at Telluride where it jumped into the Oscar conversation. "Amour" won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and was just chosen to be Austria's nominee for the Best Foreign Language Oscar.

The Zurich festival has four competitions sections - International Feature Film, International Documentary Film, German-Language Feature Film and German-Language Documentary Film.

The international feature titles competing include Benh Zeitlin's "Beasts of the Southern Wild," David Ayer's "End of Watch" and Mike Birbiglia's "Sleepwalk with Me."

Frank Darabont leads the jury for that section and is joined by the likes of producer Michael Shamberg and editor Pietro Scalia.

"This year's program reflects all of life's stages: Birth, childhood, teens, heyday, pensioner, death," the festival's artistic director Karl Spoerri said in a statement. "It mirrors change, development, tension and transitoriness. It is not about surrendering to boundless freedom and never-ending possibilities, but to find a smart way by setting clear boundaries."

Argo's secret weapon? An F-bomb catchphrase

The standing ovation that greeted the final act of the true-life account of how the CIA and Hollywood joined forces to rescue three U.S. diplomatic refugees who went into hiding during the 1979 hostage crisis in Iran was another clue.

But the film awards season is long and academy voters' memories tend to be short. What better than a catchphrase to serve as a reminder that Argo is out there?

And the film, which has Affleck's CIA operative teaming with colorful Tinseltown types played by John Goodman and Alan Arkin to pull off the pretense that the diplomats are part of a film crew, has a doozy.

It is first uttered by Arkin as his crusty movie producer attempts to explain the title of Argo, the Star Wars rip-off they are pretending to make: "Argo (bleep) yourself." It is then repeated numerous times to fine comical effect.

Says Affleck, "It is a reference to an older punchline commonly known back then. It is almost a running mantra and it is the reason for our R rating. A costly bit of humor." Look for it to crop up on T-shirts anyday.

For those who care, Argo refers to ship used by Jason and the Argonauts to retrieve the famous golden fleece.

Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lawrence Movies Get Oscar Buzz Going at Toronto Film Fest

Yes, already! I know this because on Thursday the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) blows into Canada, with 372 movies in competition representing some 72 countries. Sure, some of the buzzy movies from Cannes and Venice pop up, but Toronto is where everything starts to shake out. As usual, the biggest of the A-listers will be in town, towing their Oscar-bait projects with them.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis open the festivities with the world premiere of their time-travel mind-bender Looper, about a mob hitman (Gordon-Levitt) hired to kill his own future self (Willis). I'm not sure why you'd take that gig if you were Hitman the Younger, but I'll take it on faith that the film offers a convincing explanation.

Still, the hitmen are hardly the only heavyweights in town. If you're in Toronto doing a little stargazing, keep your head on a swivel for Tom Hanks, Robert Redford, Gwyneth Paltrow, Adam Sandler, Keira Knightley, Penélope Cruz, Jennifer Lawrence, Ryan Gosling, Kristen Stewart, Robert De Niro, Will Smith, and Snoop Dogg—er, Lion, just to drop a few names.

Here's what everyone will be lining up to see:

Argo – Ben Affleck directs himself, John Goodman, Bryan Cranston and Alan Arkin in a film that already has insiders betting it's a lock for an Academy Award best picture nod. After the 1979 storming of the US Embassy in Tehran, a CIA "exfiltration" specialist (Affleck) proposes rescuing six Americans by pretending to be a Hollywood producer on a location shoot for a fake movie. The premise may sound wildly ambitious, but the early buzz is positively sterling.

The Master – With mixed reviews from its debut at the Venice Film Festival last week, director Paul Thomas Anderson's fictional riff on the early days of Scientology is one of TIFF's most controversial entries. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a charismatic sci-fi writer turned cult leader who enthralls Joaquin Phoenix's Navy vet. Phoenix himself enthralled/perplexed the attendees at the film's press conference, when he left and came back repeatedly. Art imitating life imitating art?

Cloud Atlas – Time travel, fantasy, romance and war mix in this epic adventure from the Wachowskis and Run Lola Run director Tom Tykwer, starring Tom Hanks and Halle Berry as lovers who meet again and again through the ages. No one quite knows what to expect from this one, but with the Wachowskis on board, you can bet it'll be visually arresting.

Silver Linings Playbook – Bradley Cooper stars (along with Jennifer Lawrence, Julia Stiles, Robert De Niro and Rush Hour's Chris Tucker) as former teacher freshly sprung from a mental institution, but still struggling with his illness. Don't let it get you down, though – the dramedy from director David O. Russell (The Fighter) looks sharply funny, with Lawrence giving Cooper a fit as a clingy, feisty fellow traveler.

Much Ado About Nothing – Okay, it's not exactly Oscar bait, and it isn't stuffed with big stars, but I'm still jonesing for Joss Whedon's take on Shakespeare's comedy about warring lovebirds and mistaken identity. Alexis Denisof (How I Met Your Mother) and Amy Acker (The Cabin in the Woods) square off and pair off as sharp-tongued Benedick and Beatrice, with Nathan Fillion (insert "squee" here) as the dimwitted Dogberry. If it's anywhere near as good as the Kenneth Branagh/Emma Thompson version from 1993, I'll be delighted.

Hyde Park on Hudson – Bill Murray looks like he's having a ball playing Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the height of his presidency and in the beginning of an affair with his cousin, Margaret Suckley (Laura Linney), all while hosting the British royal family for an historic U.S. visit. By the bye, Eleanor Roosevelt was also a distant FDR cousin (Roosevelt was her married – and maiden – name). I'm just going to leave you with that.

Ben Affleck, Bill Murray, Sarah Polley score at Telluride

At least some of the radiance may have had to do with her status as the 39th Telluride Film Festival's newly anointed favorite daughter, thanks to the rapturous reception for her first documentary, "Stories We Tell."

At the beginning of the festival, Polley's doc was hardly considered one of the must-sees. Even if she'd gotten acclaim for moving from acting to directing features, how likely was it that a true-life family memoir wouldn't be self-indulgent?

But by the time things wrapped up Monday night, the biggest grumbling from passholders - other than how impossibly long the lines were this year - was that they hadn't heard the good buzz about "Stories We Tell" in time to catch the sleeper hit of the festival.

"Brilliant" and "superb" were words popping up to describe Polley's film on Twitter - terms that weren't being necessarily used even to describe Telluride's other popular successes, like "Argo" and "The Sapphires."

"It is not only Sarah Polley's best film, and one of the best films I've ever seen, but it kind of walked away with the festival," said Awards Daily blogger Sasha Stone.

You could add Polley's name to Telluride's unofficial list of big winners, which included Ben Affleck (an It Boy again as "Argo's" director and star), Bill Murray (a widely heralded FDR in "Hyde Park on Hudson"), Marion Cotillard (luminescent in the French "Rust & Bone") and Greta Gerwig (acclaimed for an "Annie Hall"-style breakout turn in "Frances Ha").

Telluride is short - just three and a half days - as well as noncompetitive and highly curated, so outright bombs at the mountain fest are rarer than days without thunderclouds. As a result of that selectivity, it's always easier to catalog the disappointments than the favorites.

So why not get those out of the way? The combination of whimsical politics and serious presidential philandering in "Hyde Park on Hudson" left a lukewarm impression on many, even though Murray's presidential impression won universal praise and profligate Oscar-nom predictions.

Sally Potter's "Ginger and Rosa," though beautifully made in parts, exited with considerably less buzz than it had upon entry, but there was no shortage of major fans for Elle Fanning's major-league adolescent angst. A third entry that inspired best-actor but not best-picture talk was "The Iceman," with rising star Michael Shannon putting the big chill on impressed viewers as a very prolific mob killer.

Among other underwhelmers that had their supporters, but not nearly enough: "At Any Price," with festival guest Dennis Quaid (and absent Zac Efron); "Love, Marilyn," a documentary that has big-name actresses reading from Monroe's diaries; and "Midnight's Children," which screenwriter and frequent Telluride guest Salman Rushdie adapted from his book.

The list of films with positive buzz stretched far longer than any passholder could see in one weekend, even though the film was lacking for obvious Oscar frontrunners like previous Telluride-premiering "Slumdog Millionaire" and "The King's Speech."The festival's directors seemed almost to relish in remarking about how it was a good thing that Telluride was getting back to under-the-radar fare instead of obvious Oscar bellwether stuff.

But if you were looking toward the best foreign film race, you could certainly look here. Cannes winner "Amour" lived up to its impressively bleak rep. Tribute recipient Mads Mikkelsen brought two Danish films, "The Hunt" and "A Royal Affair," and in a perfect world, these wouldn't cancel each other out in any awards race.

"Barbara," which was just a few days ago deemed Germany's entry into the best foreign film race, turned out to be almost universally beloved after a few early declarations that it was "The Lives of Others Lite." "No," about Pinochet-era Chile, got a big yes.

If oppression in 1980s East Germany and Chile didn't seem relevant enough, there were two films implicitly taking modern-day Israel to task: the documentary "The Gatekeepers" and fictional "The Attack," both of which went over well in Telluride but are bound to stir up some dust later on.

It would be easy to pick a best documentary lineup just from Telluride's selections. Besides the Polley film and "The Gatekeepers," passholders were keen on Ken and Sarah Burns' "The Central Park Five," even if it got a few knocks for its talking-heads PBS/"Dateline" approach.

Way on the other end of the scale of documentary conventionality, the Errol Morris-produced "The Act of Killing" let anti-communist Indonesian terror squads brag about and reenact their mass killings for two hours, and those who had the stomach for this polarizing pic were prone to calling it one of the boldest, most must-see docs in years.

But the festival's two biggest popular successes were its two unabashed feel-good films, "Argo" (world-premiering in Telluride) and "The Sapphires" (already buzzed about at Cannes). Noah Baumbach's hilarious and moving "Frances Ha," which is both his best and most mainstream film to date, might also count in that happy-go-lucky category.

It's the festival's not-so-dirty little secret that although it attracts some of the world's most hardcore cineastes, it has probably at least as big a contingent of well-heeled Midwesterners and retirees who come every year not because of the typically dark fare but possibly in spite of it.

These annual attendees are sophisticated enough to at least put up with Michael Haneke devoting two hours to the deterioration of an elderly stroke victim in "Amour," if not embrace it. But something that hits their need for some sweet relief - and can also hit the sweet spot of critics - will leave Telluride with massive buzz.

Ben Affleck is certain benefitting from that with his tense yet hugely upbeat suspense film about Americans escaping from Tehran in 1979. And it doesn't get any happier than the Weinstein Company's aboriginal musical "The Sapphires," which was being described in line as "this year's ‘Slumdog Millionaire,'" even if some industry types were being quick to qualify it as "really more of a Globes picture than an Academy picture."

One thing that didn't have attendees dancing in the aisles this year: longer lines that had passholders feeling they needed to show up two hours in advance for a movie instead of just one, reducing the number of films that anyone could squeeze into one weekend. Telluride veterans were biding their time in line by drafting protest emails they planned to circulate and forward to festival directors.

But next year could be a little easier on that front anyway, as the lineup is being expanded to five days instead of four, in honor of the fest's 40th year. Even so, it wouldn't hurt to start lining up at the Sheridan Opera House in July.

Damon cozies up to Affleck again

The actor and his wife Luciana Barroso’s new spread is one of the Los Angeles area’s most architecturally desired homes, and it’s in the same gated community as pal Ben Affleck’s home.

The seven bedroom mansion features a media room, five-car garage and a gym, according to website RealEstalker.com.

Damon has lived in New York for the past few years.

Malick's 'To The Wonder' premiers in Venice

Actress Olga Kurylenko, who plays the film's central role, said Malick asked her to read three novels from the Russian canon, "The Brothers Karamazov," ''The Idiot," and "Anna Karenina."

"I had a couple of months for that," Kurylenko told a news conference Saturday before the film's world premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival. "It was great to go back and read those books that I read as a child, but probably didn't understand."

But while the preparation was in-depth, what actually appears on the screen in terms of narrative detail and dialogue is very spare.

The viewer sees Marina, a Parisian single mother played by Kurylenko, as she and Neil, an American abroad portrayed by Ben Affleck, fall passionately in love against the backdrop of monumental Paris and among the muddy tidal banks of Mont Saint Michel.

Like Malick's "Tree of Life," which precedes it, much of the emotional narrative is contained in images: a red rose blooming in a snow-covered church garden, booted feet sinking into the muddy tidal pools.

"He would tell me, throw away the words, don't speak, move them," Kurylenko said. "Sometimes silence is stronger than words. I think that is what is remarkable about him. He is able to tell you the story, to give you the emotions, through the body, through the silence. ... You don't need the words. The message is still perceived, you still feel it in your gut."

Known as elusive and press-shy, Malick skipped the premiere in Venice. His producers said is working on new projects that will continue to push boundaries.

"People are hungry for new ideas," said producer Nicholas Gonda. "I think it is clear the appetite is there. We were fortunate to see with 'Tree of Life' that people embraced so many aspects of this story, especially that it was a new form."

From Europe, "To The Wonder" moves to the vast expanses of Oklahoma, where Neil takes Marina and her 10-year-old daughter Tatiana. Mother and daughter swirl with excitement through the vast and clean American supermarket.

But the relationship falters and Tatiana's daughter tires of a town where she has no friends. They go back to Paris, and Neil gets involved with an old flame, Jane, played by Rachel McAdams.

The two love stories are interspersed with that of Padre Quintana, a priest played by Javier Bardem struggling with his faith as he tends to the Oklahoma town's impoverished.

Much of the backstory to the characters remains unspecified to the viewer, but was laid out in great detail to the actors.

Italian actress Romina Mondello plays an Italian woman who regrets moving to the small town and urges Marina to get out while she is still young and beautiful. The scene is a brief burst of energy as the two walk through the empty streets of Bartlesville and ends with Mondello's character Anna screaming, in Italian: "I want someone to surprise me."

Though the part was small, Mondello said she received from Malick a detailed description of her character, including background of her relationship with her husband and children. Malick, she said, even asked if she was OK with the name Anna, though it is never spoken in the film.

"The surprising thing was that I found some deep aspects of my personality in the character I had to perform, and he had just met me once. It was incredible for someone to know me so well after just one meeting. I was astonished," she said.

Affleck and McAdams, like Malick, are working on other projects and did not come to Venice.

While there was a 20-year interval between Malick's 1978 film "Days of Heaven' and "The Thin Red Line" in 1998, the director's production is speeding up. "To The Wonder" is being premiered just a year after "Tree of Life" won the top prize at Cannes, and Malick has finished shooting one film and is about to shoot another.

"He is on a creative roll," said producer Sarah Green.

Malick's latest splits Venice

The movie is the reclusive American director’s second in two years, after “The Tree of Life” won the Palme d’Or for best picture at the 2011 Cannes film festival.

To the Wonder is competing for the equivalent prize in Venice, the Golden Lion, as one of 18 main competition entries, although if it emerges victorious at the closing ceremony on Saturday it would be a major surprise.

The publicity-shy Malick was not in Venice to promote his movie ahead of its red carpet world premiere, but more surprisingly the only lead actor in Italy for interviews and photoshoots was Olga Kurylenko.

Co-stars Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams and Javier Bardem did not make the trip, adding to a sense of anti-climax surrounding one of the most eagerly-anticipated titles of the festival.

To the Wonder centres around Affleck and Kurylenko, the Ukraine-born actress until now best known as Camille in Bond film “Quantum of Solace”, as a couple deeply in love yet unable to live together.

She leaves Paris for a small town in the United States, and after struggling to adapt to her new life, decides to return to France. Affleck’s character has an affair with an old friend, played by McAdams, before his first flame returns.

Spanish actor Bardem appears as a troubled priest facing a crisis of faith, extending the plot into the realm of the spiritual from the physical and emotional.

VOICEOVERS, PIROUETTES

The most controversial aspect of To the Wonder is not the plot, however.

With only a few words of dialogue, it is voiced over by the characters uttering phrases like: “The world so far away, a ghost, ashes,” and “Love makes us one, two, one.”

Affleck is virtually emotionless, the camera circles its subjects, there are many close-up facial images shot into the sunlight, and characters dance, prance and twirl their way across fields, parks and gardens.

Early reviews were mixed.

“However accomplished Malick’s technique might be in some ways, this mostly comes off, especially in the laborious second hour, as visual doodling without focused thematic goals,” wrote Todd McCarthy in The Hollywood Reporter.

“Currently without a distributor domestically, this ultimately enervating film will have trouble rustling up audiences in any market.”

But publication Variety called it “ravishing” and “from a filmmaker who hasn’t lost his capacity to move and surprise.”

Malick may not care too much about what the critics say. According to his producer Sarah Green, who was in Venice, he does not read reviews and is too busy making movies.

The world had to wait 20 years between his 1978 movie “Days of Heaven” and “The Thin Red Line”, and he has still only released six feature films in nearly 40 years, adding to the mystique surrounding the 68-year-old.

“No he’s not here,” Green told a news conference, when asked whether he was in Venice incognito.

“He’s buried in work right now. He’s on a creative roll as some of you may have heard. We’ve just finished shooting another movie, we’re about to start another one. He’s having a very exciting time creatively.”

The British press has focused on Malick’s decision to leave footage of Rachel Weisz on the cutting room floor, a fate that several leading actors have suffered at his hands.

“It seems that my part has been cut, so I had the experience of working with him but I will not have the pleasure of seeing my work,” Italian newspaper La Stampa quoted her as saying.

Ben Affleck a Favorite to Direct Justice League

The superhero movie—which would assemble comic book favorites like Batman and Superman, along with Green Lantern, Flash and Wonder Woman—has long been in the works but was seemingly put on the fast track following the massive success of Marvel's Avengers.

Christopher Nolan, the man behind DC's most successful super-trilogy, the Dark Knight saga, already said that he won't be returning be taking on the League, leaving an opening that Affleck is now the front-runner to fill.

Variety claims that Affleck has "ascended high on the studio's list of filmmakers who can be trusted with prime properties" and that he is "expected to discuss the project with studio brass in the coming days." Allegedly, Affleck is also the only one who has been sent Justice League's script, penned by Gangster Squad's Will Beall.

Affleck has helmed darker fare like Gone Baby Gone and The Town, as well as the upcoming political thriller Argo, all of which might lend themselves towards the grittier, realistic tone that DC's big screen adaptations like Batman Begins and Man of Steel have established.

This wouldn't be Affleck's first run in with cinematic superheroes, having played Matt Murdock and his crime-fighting alter ego in the 2003 film Daredevil. Though, he didn't exactly earn rave reviews for the movie—so a switch from Marvel to DC might be just the change he needs to hit gold.

Ben's onscreen buddy in Daredevil, Jon Favreau, actually went on to reboot Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, which fed in to Joss Whedon's box office juggernaut The Avengers (the sequel for which Joss is returning to direct).

Within the realm of the DC universe, Affleck has also donned the infamous Superman suit, though in nothing as glitzy as a mega-million dollar superhero franchise is sure to be. Ben played actor George Reeves—star of the 1950s small-screen series, Adventures of Superman—in Hollywoodland.

Ben has made a habit of appearing in his own films of late (with starring roles in The Town and Argo), so it isn't too far a stretch to believe he might be suiting up himself. And heck, why not make it a family affair and invite wife Jennifer Garner along for the ride? She's itching to get back in on the action game, after all.

Justice League is expected to be released in summer 2015, which, if timing works out, could pit it against Avengers 2 in the most epic battle of the box office ever. And when the superhero sagas take each other on, we fanboys are all the winners, right?

Jennifer Garner: Yes, Ben Wants More Kids

“The fact that Ben wants another [baby] is true,” the actor’s wife Jennifer Garner told EXTRA Monday, adding that since giving birth to their third child earlier this year — they’re already parents to daughters Violet, 6½, and Seraphina, 3½ — it’s “been absolute chaos” in their home.

Given the apparent madness, it only makes sense that Garner, 40, is in disagreement with her hubby’s hopes.

“I can tell you that would be a pretty uphill battle with me,” she says. “I am not anticipating having any more kids!”

But she does appreciate how Affleck, 39, is there to help out when she’s busy with a movie role, including her most recent one, The Odd Life of Timothy Green.

“Ben took a break,” she says. “He came, he did the school drop-offs and pick-ups and bedtimes.”

Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck Take Baby Samuel to the Beach

Nearly five months after Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck welcomed their new addition, the whole family – including daughters Violet, 6, and Seraphina, 3 – hit the beach in Puerto Rico.

Photographs from earlier this week show Affleck, 39, on break from filming Runner, Runner with Justin Timberlake, cooling off in the waves as Garner, 40, hangs on tight to her baby boy.

Garner "is an incredible, spectacular, world-class mom," Affleck said last May. (Photo)

Daddy's Boy! Ben and Samuel Affleck Cuddle Up in Puerto Rico

Talk about a daddy's boy.

The Affleck boys engaged in their adorable Kodak moment in Puerto Rico, where the entire fam touched down over the weekend in advance of Ben filming his new movie Runner, Runner—also starring Justin Timberlake (could it get any hotter on that island?)—in San Juan.

Along for the trip are wife Jennifer Garner and daughters Violet and Seraphina, all of whom were spotted leaving the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport Saturday after arriving via private plane. Ben was already in town for the film and was spotted making his way out onto the tarmac to welcome his brood to the Caribbean locale.

It's just the latest outing for the increasingly jet-set and not quite 5-month-old Samuel, who made his public debut earlier this month in Los Angeles when the family hit up a local Fourth of July parade.

Talk about red, white and cute.

Samuel Affleck: See First Photo of Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck's Son

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner stepped out to celebrate the Fourth of July in Pacific Palisades, Calif., with all three of their kids in tow – providing the first glimpse of their youngest, son Samuel, 4 months.

The couple was joined by daughters Seraphina, 3½, and Violet, 6½, at Wednesday's patriotic party.

Garner gave birth to Samuel on Feb. 27, and Affleck has since raved about what a wonderful mother she is. In a recent Mother's Day greeting, the actor called his wife "an incredible, spectacular, world-class mom."

At Wednesday's Independence Day parade, Seraphina was treated to some blue cotton candy. She also cheered on the festivities with pompoms in hand. Violet, meanwhile, held on to her dad's hand as she took in the parade.

Ben Affleck glad to be family man, not tab target

He's no longer tailed daily by the paparazzi, as he was when he dated Jennifer Lopez from 2002 to 2004. It was a time when entertainment coverage was starting to explode and the couple were on the cover of every magazine and tabloid, and the top story on TV entertainment shows.

"I definitely was in a tabloid crosshair," he said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. "It mucks up your life."

He described the constant attention as "sort of snarky and venal and kind of overwhelming."

The paparazzi weren't going to change their ways, so Affleck changed his life. He married Jennifer Garner, had three kids, and cut down his "compulsive" work schedule.

But not entirely: Affleck was in Washington D.C. this week to raise awareness for something else he holds dear — his Eastern Congo Initiative to reduce the child mortality rate in the region.

Now, the paparazzi only occasionally take photos of Affleck and Garner when they're out with Violet, 6, Seraphina, 3, and Sam, 4 months.

"I feel like I have a chance to do the most exciting stuff that I've done in my career," he said. "I'm the luckiest guy in the world."

Ben Affleck and Hillary Clinton Team Up for Charity

"We are here today with one vision: to make sure every child, everywhere, lives to see his or her fifth birthday, to eliminate preventable child death in a generation," said Clinton. She, along with celebs like Mandy Moore and Andre Agassi and hundreds of everyday Americans, have posted personal snapshots from when they were 5-years-old to the to promote the child survival initiative.

"When I was 5, I was able to spend quality time with family and friends," Agassi wrote with his photo. "Every child deserves the same opportunity."

Affleck spoke at Thursday's event at Georgetown University right after Clinton. "Now that's what they call in Hollywood a tough act to follow," he joked, after greeting Clinton with a long hug. The actor said that when heard that more than 7 million children across the globe will die before they turn 5, he says he thought of his own three children – Violet, 4; Seraphina, 3; and Samuel, 3 ½ months.

"I have three children who fall into the vulnerable age range," said Affleck, whose son was born in February. "I cannot imagine what it would've been like driving my wife to the hospital pregnant, about to give birth and thinking to myself well there's a 15 percent chance that each of these children won't live to be five years old."

To change that takes just a $30 donation per child for supplies that would fit in a backpack, like a net, nutritional supplements, rehydration solution and a bag mask to help a newborn baby breathe.

"Much of the time, saving a child's life is as simple as ensuring kids sleep under bed nets to avoid malaria," said Affleck, who runs a charity helping women and children in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

By all appearances, Clinton is an unabashed fan of Affleck and of his wife, Jennifer Garner. "I've known this young man for a long time and I have watched him start his own family with three beautiful children and a wife that makes it all work," said Clinton. "I have enjoyed him in person, I have enjoyed him on the screen, but I particularly admire his commitment."

Now that's an endorsement!

Ben Affleck Joins Twitter

The actor/director decided to do so as a way of promoting his appearance with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a conference in Washington D.C. yesterday. The conference was designed to raise awareness for an initiative aimed at ending preventable child deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo and around the world.

Not surprisingly, Jimmy Kimmel couldn't help but express his joy after learning his pal was now part of the social media site.

"Be still my heart...@BenAffleck is on twitter," the late-night talk show host tweeted.

"Thanks @jimmykimmel - be kind. I'm new," replied Affleck.

Ben Affleck, Hillary Clinton Attend Conference on Preventing Childhood Deaths

The Oscar winner turned up in Washington, D.C., today with the Secretary of State to raise awareness for an initiative aimed at preventing children in the Democratic Republic of Congo and around the globe from dying of preventable diseases.

The conference, titled Child Survival: Call to Action, was organized by the non-profit Eastern Congo Initiative, which Affleck founded in 2009 to draw attention to economic and social development in the Congo and help create a sustainable future for the country.

"We wouldn't allow four year-olds to die from preventable diseases in the U.S.—nor should we let it happen in Congo or anywhere else," Affleck tweeted on Tuesday.

The conference hopes to rally support for efforts to reduce the Congo's infant mortality rate.

Affleck next returns to the big screen in the Iran hostage drama Argo, hitting theaters in October.

Ben Affleck joins Hillary Clinton for Congo event

The event, which will also involve USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, is being called Child Survival: Call to Action.

Affleck is not there in his capacity as a Hollywood star, but in his role as the founder of Eastern Congo Initiative, a non-profit group that was formed in 2010 to foster economic and social development for the Congolese people.

Thursday's event will focus on the country's dubious distinction of having the fifth highest mortality rate in the world for children under five years old, the Eastern Congo Initiative said.

"We wouldn't allow four year-olds to die from preventable diseases in the U.S. - nor should we let it happen in Congo or anywhere else," Affleck said in a statement.

Affleck next stars in and directs "Argo," a political thriller about the Iranian Revolution that debuts on October 12.

Ben Affleck & Jen Garner Tip Big During Low-Key Date Night

The happy couple recently stopped by Whiskey Blue inside the W Los Angeles – Westwood hotel, where they sat at the bar and had drinks together.

Garner, who sipped on red wine; and Affleck "were smiling, laughing and very affectionate towards each other," an onlooker tells PEOPLE. "Jen's post-baby body looked amazing!"

Money was apparently no object for the married pair, who left a generous $20 tip for a $30 bill. But there's a chance Affleck had some extra cash laying around after competing in the "Playing for Good" poker tournament benefiting the Geffen Playhouse just a little bit earlier.

When Stars Collide: Halle Berry Bumps Into Ben Affleck and Kids!

While out in Santa Monica on Saturday, Halle Berry and Ben Affleck saw each other in passing on the street and shared a fancy-meeting-you-here hug.

The A-listers weren't alone, either.

Berry was out shopping with fiancé Olivier Martinez, while Affleck had Violet and Seraphina in tow while strolling with his father-in-law, William Garner.

To be a fly on a parking meter when that group ran into each other!

Ben Affleck Shares Mother's Day Tribute, Calls Wife Jennifer Garner a "Spectacular, World-Class Mom"

The Town star hit Facebook to share the special Mother's Day video message, which was dedicated to his wife Jennifer Garner, his mom, Chris, and mothers across the globe.

"Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing Moms in my life," Affleck wrote. "Please share this video for the Mothers and Grandmothers in your lives in honor of their sacrifices, selflessness and courage."

The video, which was shot during Affleck's recent trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, featured footage of moms and children in the Congo.

The 39-year-old thesp founded the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) in 2009, which focuses on helping the residents of eastern Congo develop community-based, local approaches to create a sustainable society.

"I want to say Happy Mother's Day to all the moms in my life--my mom, Chris, and my amazing wife, Jennifer, who is an incredible, spectacular, world-class mom, and I want to thank her," Affleck said in the video.

"And I want to say Happy Mother's Day to all the moms I've met in the Democratic Republic of Congo who are on this video that I hope you watch," he continued. "I urge you to share it, to post it to Facebook, to celebrate all the moms in the world, including the ones in your life, as well as those out there in the world working at the very hardest job there is every single day."

Affleck and Garner have three children together, Violet, 6 Seraphina Rose Elizabeth, 3, and Samuel Garner, 2 ½ months.

How sweet!

Watch Now: Bearded Ben Affleck Goes Retro in New Argo Trailer

And if this new trailer for his upcoming political thriller Argo is any indication, the guy's winning streak behind the camera will definitely continue.

The movie, based on a Wired magazine article revolving around the Iranian hostage crisis, focuses on the successful effort made by the CIA and the Canadian government in 1979 to rescue six U.S. diplomats from Tehran by fabricating a scenario that the six were actually part of a film crew scouting locations for a movie called Argo.

Affleck, sporting a bushy beard (which he has since shaved off) and some retro duds, plays CIA "exfiltration" expert Tony Mendez, who cooked up the idea for the fake sci-fi flick.

In addition to Jennifer Garner's other half, the impressive cast includes Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston, Kyle Chandler, Tate Donovan and Victor Garber.

Argo is scheduled to hit theaters Oct. 12.

Ben Affleck to play cheating politician in "Nathan Decker"

The Dan Fogelman-written comedy -- once seen by Warner Bros. as a potential starring vehicle for Tom Cruise -- tackles the always hilarious topics of politics and marital infidelity.

Affleck will play a rising politician whose career takes a nosedive after news breaks that he had an affair.

No director has been named yet for the project.

If the subject matter of "Decker" seems like less than a laugh riot, rest assured that Fogelman is skilled at balancing humor and pathos. His recent hit, "Crazy, Stupid, Love," mixed in lots of punchlines along with more heartfelt moments.

As for Affleck, he is rapidly becoming Warner Bros.' favorite go-to-guy. After the success of "The Town," the studio has been developing projects for him to direct and star, in a relationship that is a lot like the studio's long association with Clint Eastwood.

This time, Affleck, who is busy finishing "Argo," a thriller he is directing and starring in for Warner's, will focus solely on acting.

Denise Di Novi ("Life as We Know It") is producing.

Ben Affleck Couldn't Be Prouder of His Family

"Jen is feeling good," a source tells PEOPLE. "She's so thrilled to have a little boy, and the girls already love him so much."

Their son Samuel joins big sisters Seraphina, 3, and Violet, 6.

While the actress told Ellen DeGeneres that "it would be so weird to have a boy," Garner seems to be taking it all in stride.

"Jen is such a natural mother," says a source close to the couple.

The proud parents, both 39, have always put family first.

"He couldn't be happier," Affleck's friend tells PEOPLE. "He loves his wife. He loves his family and he's proud – he's legitimately proud – you can just see it."

As for Affleck, who has been acting less to focus on directing lately, his most important role is being a father.

"He's gets to spend a lot of time with his family and the idea that they have three kids right now is something that makes them both feel really good," the source adds.

The couple, who wed in June 2005, announced they were expecting their third child in August.

For more on Affleck and Garner's growing family, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Name Son Samuel

Ben Affleck revealed the name of his and wife Jennifer Garner's newest addition – a son – Wednesday morning on his Facebook timeline.

"We are happy to announce on February 27, Jennifer gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Samuel Garner Affleck," the actor, 39, writes.

The newborn, who arrived Monday, joins his elder sisters, ages 6 and 3 respectively.

"Our girls are working on names. At first they were definitely Disney. It was like, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse Affleck,” the actress, 39, told Jay Leno recently. "And then they've moved on. Then it was Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Smee."

The couple, married since June 2005, announced the pregnancy in August.

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Welcome Their Third Child

Garner gave birth to a baby boy in Santa Monica. No other details have been made public.

The latest addition to their family joins sisters Violet, 6, and Serafina, 3. Garner and Affleck, both 39, have been married for seven years.

A rep for the actress did not immediately respond to TVGuide.com's request for comment.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Take Violet and Seraphina to Disneyland

Earlier this week Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner (who's pregnant with baby number three!) had a Disneyland adventure with their adorable daughters Violet and Seraphina.

The whole family looked like they were enjoying themselves at the theme park, but Violet and Seraphina love Disney so much, they want to name their future sibling after a character!

"Our girls are working on [baby] names," Garner told Jay Leno on The Tonight Show last month. "At first they were definitely Disney. It was like, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse Affleck. And they they've moved on. Then it was Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Smee."

What about Aladdin or Aurora Affleck? We've heard much stranger celebrity baby names!

Ben Affleck: How My Kids Inspire Me

Now you can subscribe to his updates on Facebook! The 39-year-old actor and father of two (soon to be three!) joined the social-media sphere with a Facebook Timeline page showing his nearly three-decade acting career and philanthropic work in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

So just what is Affleck sharing with his extended network of friends?

No family snapshots just yet. But, he has included several touching photos of children benefited by the Eastern Congo Initiative, the U.S. based advocacy and grant-making initiative he founded in 2010 that's focused no working with and for the people of eastern Congo.

He's also included some of his movie milestones, like Gigli in 2003 (Bennifer, anyone?) and of course winning an Academy Award in 1998 for Best Writing – Screenplay with Matt Damon for Good Will Hunting.

Affleck's Facebook Timeline goes all the way back to 1972, when he was born in Boston.

Very cool, Ben—you'll have a million friends in no time.

Ben Affleck: How My Kids Inspire Me

The actor, 39, founded the Eastern Congo Initiative in 2010 and recently got back from his eighth trip to the war-torn region. Affleck says it's his kids, Violet, 6 and Seraphina, 3, who inspire him to do good in the world.

"I got to a point in my life where I felt like I had been very fortunate," Affleck tells PEOPLE in an interview for the Feb. 27 issue, on newsstands now. "And I wanted to do something more with my life than just make movies and try to make money. I wanted to do something that was important to me in other ways and would serve as an example to my kids."

Wednesday, Affleck launched a Facebook page to share pictures and stories from his trips to Africa. His nonprofit helps support Congolese-led organizations helping to rebuild the region, from groups aiding former child soldiers to those supplying health care to the most vulnerable.

"The people there are working as hard as they can to make their lives better," says Affleck. "And that's inspiring."

As for his own kids, Affleck says he shows them where he's going on a map when he travels to Africa. Says the actor: "I tell them it's important to be involved in the world in ways that help others and not just yourself."

Ben Affleck Shaves Off His Beard!

But the actor gave us a pleasant reminder on Monday when he stepped out with his darling daughter, 3-year-old Seraphina, sans the bushy beard he's been sporting for what felt like forever.

Mind you, the guy did have a reason for getting all super-scruffy in the first place. (Not to mention a retro 'do.)

For several months, Affleck has been directing himself in the upcoming political thriller Argo, which revolves around the 1979-1981 Iranian hostage crisis.

Still, we're glad to see him slowly making his way back to 2012.

But maybe that's just us. Do you prefer Ben with his beard?

Bradley Cooper & Ben Affleck: How Sexy Men Do Sushi

Ben Affleck Pulls an Angelina Jolie, Takes Kids to Farmers' Market

OK, probably not.

But the actor did take his two adorable daughters, Violet and Seraphina, to the very same L.A. farmers' market over the weekend that Brad Pitt's better half was spotted at just two weeks earlier with three of her own kids in tow.

In addition to checking out all the pretty produce, the famous fam picked up a bouquet of flowers—no doubt for expectant mom Jennifer Garner, awww!—who opted out of this little excursion.

Hey, with another baby on the way, who can blame her for wanting to make it a lazy Sunday? She certainly deserves it.

Jennifer Garner: Violet and Seraphina's Baby Name Choices 'Definitely Disney'

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are learning this as they prepare for their third child — and are getting an avalanche of suggestions for names from daughters Violet, 6, and Seraphina, 3.

“Our girls are working on names. At first they were definitely Disney. It was like, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse Affleck,” the Butter star, 39, said Wednesday on The Tonight Show.

“And then they’ve moved on. Then it was Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Smee.”

With those character names not really cutting it, the girls moved on to other strategies.

“They’re coming up with lists, and coming in and saying, ‘Let’s have a baby-naming contest! Let’s have a baby-naming poll!’” Garner, who’s due in the spring, says. “They ask everyone, cause they just want to know. But we’re not telling.”

Garner knows the sex of the baby, but declined to reveal it on the show. Asked if her husband wants a boy, Garner — who has said she wants a third girl — said she actually didn’t know.

“I would have thought so. At first I think I really thought so,” she said. “And then he kind of said, ‘Well, we have girls. We know how to do girls. My girls love me. I’m the big guy in the house.’ So, now I’m not sure.”

Jennifer Garner: I 'Would Do Anything' for Ben Affleck

"We both know we couldn't do what we do without each other," the actress says in the January issue of InStyle, on sale Friday. "Ben always says, 'If you love it, we can make it happen.' "

Of course, jewelry helps, too! Affleck, 39, enjoys showering his wife with diamonds. He gave her a pair of pink and white diamond Harry Winston bands, one for each of their two daughters, Violet, 6, and Seraphina, who turns 3 next month.

"He knows when to swoop in with the gesture. He's sweet that way," Garner says. "Honestly, I would do anything for that man, because I know it's not taken for granted."

Also not taken for granted is their growing family. The actress, who is expecting her third child, calls pregnancy at age 39 "a game changer."

Garner admitted to having a difficult first trimester, complete with nausea, exhaustion and junk-food cravings.

"My kids had never seen Doritos before. They would say, 'Mom, where did you get that orange chip? I really want that,' " she says. "I wish I was one of those cute pregnant girls who wear skinny jeans throughout their pregnancies. But I just gain weight."

Guess Which Hollywood A-Lister Is Strutting This Dolphin Tattoo?

Now we're not saying this dolphin tattoo on mystery man is going to be a victim of removal...

But we're also not going to object that it should at least be considered.

This 39-year-old actor, who has also dabbled his talents in writing, producing and directing, was hanging out with his also famous (and pregnant) wife and their daughters, when we caught a glimpse of his hip stamp while loading up the car.

Who could it be?

Well, wouldn't ya know—it's Ben Affleck.

What in the world could have influenced Matt Damon's other half to get such a tragic piece of body art done? And on his hip, nonetheless (kinda girly Benny boy, jus sayin')?

According to The Daily Mail, Jennifer Garner's hubby got the side dolphin tattoo to allegedly cover up an ex-girlfriend's name from high school.

Ah, well that makes perfect sense!

Red carpet report: Clooney, Affleck show their funny side

When: Monday night

Where: The Beverly Hilton, Los Angeles

Guest list:George Clooney, Ben Affleck, Glenn Close, Viola Davis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Allison Janney, Amber Heard, Glenn Close, Michelle Williams, Carey Mulligan

Bad picture: Clooney showed a good director's eye and cracked up the film award audience when he accepted the Hollywood Actor Award onstage. He noticed how bad the screen quality was on the three large monitors around the stage and refused to step up to the microphone to show his face up-close. Even Hollywood's most glam looked terrible on the screens. "I've seen what people look like on this monitor," he said. "I'm going to talk from here. It's killing 20-year-olds, and I'm 50." He couldn't let it die. Later in his speech, when talking about his early career boost from TV's ER, he went back to the terrible screens. "I didn't look like that," he said, jabbing at the image.

Beard brothers: A heavily bearded Affleck (scruff needed for the movie Argo) told the audience of his moment of mis-identity in the Beverly Hilton parking lot earlier in the evening.

"I feel the need to re-introduce myself," he said. "I pulled up in my car, I open the door. The guy sees me, walks right up to me and says, 'Right this way, Mr. Bruckheimer.'" The story brought huge laughs in large part because, well, Affleck looks a lot like producer Jerry Bruckheimer with the beard. Except that he doesn't get the money that Bruckheimer brings in. "I have to renegotiate my producer's deal," said Affleck.

Overdue notice: Hathaway worked up the crowd like a Sunday preacher. Her beef: the Hollywood Film Awards' decision to give Gordon-Levitt the Hollywood Breakthrough Actor Awards. Isn't the 50/50 star kind of a big deal? "I respectfully implore, what are you thinking?" Hathaway thundered from the podium. "In waiting so long to giving Joseph Gordon-Levitt the Breakthrough Award. At what point in the last 20 years has he not been breaking through?" She pointed to his early work on TV's 3rd Rock from the Sun to films such as Inception and (500) Days of Summer. "Congratulations to you, Hollywood Awards, for finally getting it right," she ended. "Better late than never." Gordon-Levitt was downright giddy about the introduction.

Baby on board:The Help's Howard was positively radiant and sublimely pregnant on the red carpet. As she starts her third trimester, Howard said it was key to get glam now and again. Red carpets help. "It's kind of a relief. I feel so big all the time," she said. "It's a wonderful excuse to say I need to wash my hair, put on make-up and put on a dress. At the end of the day it's a good thing for one's self-esteem when one is 55 pounds overweight."

New baby at home:The Help's Davis and husband Julian Tennon were the last to arrive on the red carpet, and with good reason. They have just adopted a baby girl, Genesis. "It's giving me purpose," said a beaming Davis. "After a while, your life cannot be about hair and make-up and what film you're doing next. It's got to be about something bigger and larger. Especially when half your life is already gone and you look back at what are you leaving behind. For me, it's a child. That truly is the key."

BFF duty:Cougar Town actress Busy Philipps was trying to be low-key on the red carpet as her duty was to serve as date/BFF/support for honoree Williams — especially since Williams had to make a speech, which she finds nerve-racking. "I don't know if you can tell, but this is all difficult to me," said a jittery Williams from the carpet as Philipps looked on protectively. After she accepted her award onstage, Williams, who stars in the upcoming My Week With Marilyn, gave Philipps props from the stage. "To my steady girl, Busy," she said, scanning the crowd. "Thanks for holding my hand all the time. I love you."

Scene stealer: Heard positively stole the thunder at The Rum Diary premiere earlier in the month in a stunning Elie Saab gown. Photographers almost forgot that some guy named Johnny Depp was also on the carpet. And she took top honors with another jaw-dropping number Monday night and the right red carpet attitude. "I love it. I have a good time playing dress-up," she said. "I'm from Texas. It's fun. If you don't enjoy it, why would you be here?"

Finally! Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Reteaming for Whitey Bulger Gangster Flick

Nearly 14 years after Ben Affleck and Matt Damon teamed up for Good Will Hunting and some Oscar glory, the two are finally teaming up again to tackle some of the biggest news to hit their hometown in years...

Famed crime boss and fugitive Whitey Bulger is getting the big-screen treatment once again. (He already served as the inspiration for Jack Nicholson's character in Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning pic The Departed.)

Damon's rep confirms to E! News that the star with play Bulger. Affleck will costar as well as direct the pic, pulling double duty as he did for that other critically acclaimed Boston crime drama, The Town. And it sounds like the two are excited to finally be teaming up once again:

"Matt and I have been looking for something to do together for some time," Affleck told Deadline. "We've heard about Whitey Bulger since we were kids, and we are excited by the prospect of putting it on screen."

Bulger was a notorious figure in the South Boston crime scene who fled in 1994 and was one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives for 16 years until he was finally apprehended in June in Santa Monica, Calif—after a former Miss Iceland recognized the pair as her cat-loving neighbors. Per the Deadline report, Damon and Affleck will focus on Bulger's youth, his incarceration at Alcatraz and his rise through the crime world while simultaneously serving as an informant for the Feds.

Who knows, maybe these two will make off with some Oscar gold one more time.

Ben Affleck Enjoys Brotherly Bonding with Casey

Ben Affleck: Halloween Pumpkin Pickin' Champion!

With fall here and Halloween right around the corner, famous folks, just like the rest of us, are popping up at patches in pursuit of the perfect pumpkin.

Such was the case this weekend, when a bearded Ben Affleck grabbed a few gorgeous gourds for his pregnant wife Jennifer Garner and the couple's two kids, Violet and Seraphina, at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica, Calif.

In fact, you might say the actor, who wore a T-shirt graced with the name of Muhammad Ali, was quite the champ in the eyes of his three gals.

Ben Affleck a triple threat in "Line of Sight"

The project will have to wait at least a little while. Production on Warners' "Argo," which Affleck is directing and starring in, began on Monday.

"Line of Sight" has some heavy interest: Joel Silver and Andrew Rona are on board to produce. But the movie hasn't been greenlit yet.

In February, TheWrap reported that writer F. Scott Frazier sold "Line of Sight," which he wrote as a spec script, to Warner's.

Since then, Peter O'Brien has worked on the script.

The movie is about squad of commandos who transport cargo while trying to stop an anti-government uprising.

Affleck is increasingly in demand as a director, and Warners loves him.

He directed and starred in the studio's 2010 thriller "The Town," which had a budget estimated at $37 million and grossed $154 million worldwide. "Argo" is also a Warner Bros. movie.

Affleck, Garner expecting 3rd child

A one-sentence statement released Monday says the actors are "thrilled" to have another baby on the way. The couple has two daughters, 5-year-old Violet and 2-year-old Seraphina Rose Elizabeth Affleck.

No other details were released.

Affleck and Garner, both 39, were married in 2005.

Garner, who rose to fame after starring in the television series "Alias," appeared over the weekend at a Disney expo to promote her upcoming film, "The Odd Life of Timothy Green."

Affleck won an Oscar for co-writing the screenplay to "Good Will Hunting" and recently wrote, directed and starred in the thriller "The Town."

Ben Affleck: Republicans Got It Wrong If They're Inspired by The Town

All he knows is that the a Republican congressman showed a scene from The Town during a meeting of House GOP leaders last night to show that he was onboard with Rep. John Boehner's plan to fix the debt ceiling—which, at this time, is at odds with President Obama's proposed plan.

"I don't know if this is a compliment or the ultimate repudiation," Affleck said in a statement after learning his movie was being used to rally Republicans.

The prominent Democrat had a suggestion, though.

"If they're going to be watching movies, I think The Company Men is more appropriate," Affleck said, referring to his 2010 drama in which he plays a longtime corporate employee who's let go during a round of bottom-line-serving layoffs during the recession.

Hmm, sounds like a burn.

But The Town apparently did the job just fine.

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy played the scene where Affleck's character asks his buddy for help, warning him, "I can't tell you what it is. You can never ask me about it later." (It's for violent revenge, FYI.)

"Whose car are we gonna take?" his friend replies, loyal to the bitter end.

According to the Washington Post, Rep. Allen West of Florida watched the clip and said, "I'm ready to drive the car."

[Cue heartwarming theme music.]

Ben Affleck's Hairy Situation

Discover 'Company Men' on DVD

Writer-director John Wells' message movie earned just $4.9 million worldwide, 91% of that in North America. This is astonishing considering the sterling cast led by Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper and Kevin Costner, all Oscar winners.

But the paltry box office does not make The Company Men irrelevant now as it debuts on home entertainment. Just the opposite. It is waiting to be discovered, plumbed for its dramatic value and debated for the social issues it raises about the tenuous careers of men (and women) in the service of corporate America.

Identical one-disc DVD and Blu-ray editions are available, both with interview clips of all key cast members, plus the articulate Wells (executive producer of E.R. and The West Wing).

For Wells, The Company Men is an intensely personal project inspired by family members. The film tells the fictionalized yet very real story of a high-flying executive (Affleck) plunged into crisis when his company fires him in a corporate restructuring. He is one among many. The company co-founder (Jones) is appalled. Another exec (Cooper) is devastated and broken. Affleck's blue-collar brother-in-law (Costner) is cynical about the culture of materialism.

In that cauldron of misery and confusion, Wells fashions an inspirational tale, taking us on "the journey of discovery that people go on in reclaiming their lives." Before I make it sound dry, it is worth noting The Company Men is also engrossing as human drama. This is a worthy film.

Affleck denies big poker losses

Spider-Man actor Tobey Maguire recently hit headlines after he was sued for allegedly taking more than $300,000 in winnings from bankrupt hedge fund manager Bradley Ruderman, who has been jailed for operating a fraudulent Ponzi scheme.

Maguire was allegedly involved in an illicit poker circuit and rumours suggested fellow actor Affleck was also among those who had taken part in games. However, a spokesman for the Pearl Harbor star has vehemently denied stories that Affleck lost thousands of dollars and still owes a massive $372,000 to Ron Meyer, president of Universal Pictures. Meyer's daughter, Jennifer, is married to Maguire.

Affleck's rep tell Amny.com the story is "complete garbage," adding, "(It is) made up and lacking any real sources."

Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck Celebrate a Family 4th

The couple – along with daughters Violet, 5½, and Seraphina, 2½ – enjoyed the local procession after brunching at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica.

During the festivities, Seraphina sat on her mother's lap and enjoyed a snack while Violet leaned on her father.

Garner, 39, wielded the spray sunscreen for the family, while at one point Affleck, 38, reached over for his wife's hand for a kiss.

Celebrity Poker Circle -- Pay Up or GET OUT!

A regular player in the exclusive poker circle -- which included Leo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Nick Cassavetes and Todd Phillips -- tells TMZ, the poker games took place every Tuesday night for nearly 2 years ... from 2005-2007.

The circle was small -- only 8 or 9 players at a time -- and we're told, the mood was always "super serious" ... no joking, no drinking. The games would start around 10PM and go all night.

It wasn't uncommon for tempers to flare either -- we're told screaming matches happened on the regular ... and on the rare occasion, the table even got tossed over.

There was no official buy-in -- but we're told, hands often got as big as $150,000 a pot. We're told players would regularly lose $500,000 in one sitting ... no big deal.

But these guys weren't carrying briefcases of cash with them -- we're told most of the time, they played on credit ... and if someone didn't pay, that was it ... they were out of the circle forever.

Inside the room, there were dealers, massage girls, lots of security, food, and a full bar ... presumably for the spectators -- which included a list of billionaires ... and one time, the Olsen Twins.

As for who was the ultimate card shark -- we're told that was Tobey, no question.

Tobey Maguire Targeted Over Illicit Poker Ring: Are DiCaprio, Damon and Affleck Next?

Not so for Tobey Maguire, who's been sued after getting outed as one of the A-listers who allegedly took part in a years-long illegal gambling ring that saw millions of dollars change hands in a series of no-limit high-stakes poker games.

In addition to Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Notebook director Nick Cassavetes are among those who allegedly took part in the invitation-only marathon Texas Hold 'Em sessions.

Oh, what a tangled web. So, did the onetime Spidey simply overplay his hand? Here's what got Maguire singled out…

Well, turns out, he's pretty good with a hand of cards. So good, in fact, that between 2007 and 2008, he managed to take $311,200 off of Beverly Hills hedge fund manager Brad Ruderman—with $110,000 of that coming in just one night.

Though these figures aren't noted in the lawsuit, a source told Star that over one three-month period, Maguire averaged $1 million in winnings.

Unfortunately for him, Ruderman anted up more than he had to spare, and as a result orchestrated a Ponzi scheme among his investors to pay off his debts, which included the money he owed to Maguire.

In other words: the actor inadvertently found himself on the receiving end of some hot cash and is now being sued by a trustee for the investors Ruderman embezzled from in an attempt to get back some of their stolen funds.

The suit—filed back in March but only recently uncovered—makes it clear that Maguire was not involved in Ruderman's scheme in any way and was completely unaware of how the businessman, currently serving a 10-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to five criminal counts, came up with the currency. However, the suit alleges that Maguire nevertheless wrongfully accepted the money and should hand it all back over, with interest.

View the lawsuit

According to the lawsuit, the games, which were held twice weekly at "luxury locations" like The Four Seasons, The Peninsula, the Beverly Hills Hotel and the players' own homes, were highly organized affairs. One woman, Molly Bloom, allegedly acted as the chief coordinator of the games, and scheduled the accommodations, amenities (massages and alcohol were heavy features), food, hired the dealers, kept track of the players' wins and losses and arranged for the financial settlements between players.

All of which, in addition to helping keep things civil and organized, made the card sessions "controlled games," which should then have been licensed or otherwise regulated by federal, state or local authorities. Which they weren't. And which is where that whole illegal ring thing comes into play.

So far, Maguire hasn't publicly commented on the suit, but is believed to have heavily lawyered up.

However, lady luck hasn't left the actor completely: as of now, he's not being pursued on any criminal charges—likewise Damon, DiCaprio or Affleck. Though should that change, the legal system may have just hit the jackpot.

Why Is Ben Affleck Sporting a Black Eye?

The actor was spotted out on the town looking pretty scruffy Thursday, and while we're used to that, he was also sporting a huge shiner on his left eye as he and wife Jennifer Garner went to pick up daughter Violet.

What could the 38-year-old erstwhile Daredevil possibly have done to himself?

We've called his rep to fill us in, but we haven't heard back yet.

In the meantime, might we suggest borrowing some of Jen's coverup?

Joel Edgerton joins 'Gatsby' in Ben Affleck's place

Based on the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, Edgerton's character will come toe-to-toe with DiCaprio's Gatsby, who is in love with his wife Daisy (Mulligan). Isla Fisher will fill the role of Buchanon's mistress, Myrtle -- Love triangles galore! Maguire will be playing Daisy's cousin and story narrator, Nick Carraway.

Luhrmann says of the newest addition: "In casting Tom one had to find an actor who could credibly be (as Fitzgerald describes him) 'one of the most powerful ends that ever played football at New Haven,' had five-star acting chops and in the big dramatic showdown scenes between Gatsby and Tom, hold the screen against Leonardo DiCaprio, in the appropriate age group. Any wonder, it has been a long and thorough journey."

Entertainment Weekly has a first look at Edgerton in character.

Edgerton previously held the small role of a young Uncle Owen in "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith," amongst a bevy of smaller film performances. He will star opposite Tom Hardy this September in "Warrior."

What do you think? Does Edgerton have what it takes to give Leo a run for his money?

Affleck eyes 'Great Gatsby' role

The new movie version of the classic novel already boasts an all-star cast including Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, and now the Daredevil actor is being considered for a lead role.

According to Deadline.com, Affleck, who is currently preparing to direct Iranian hostage film Argo, is trying to clear his schedule to take on the role as Tom Buchanan.

Ben Affleck's condom shame

The actor/director contributed a story to a 1990 teen sex guide called Risky Times: How to be AIDS Smart and Stay Healthy written by Jeanne Blake, who was formerly married to Damon's father Kent.

The book, which is now out of print, resurfaced during Damon's recent appearance on Jay Leno's U.S. talk show, with the actor telling the host, "Yes, that's Ben. And all the sex he wasn't getting... There's some good dirt on Ben in there, I'm sure."

Affleck's story about buying condoms from a pharmacy has now surfaced online along with a picture of the actor as a teenager.

The star, who was 18 years old at the time of the encounter, recalled, "I was so scared. I wondered: 'Are they going to call my mom?' I went into the store, walked up to the shelf and grabbed the box. I didn't stand there looking too long. There were two registers. A man was at one, a woman at another. Of course, the woman's register came up first. I felt so self-conscious and idiotic, but it was all over in a second. I put them down and she looked at me with this stoic face and rang them up and put them in a bag, and I ran out of that store really fast!"

Another quote from Affleck reads, "There are so many things I want to do in my life. I want to be given the chance to become someone. I want to see how the story ends."

Step up aid, diplomacy to DRCongo: Affleck

"Austerity demands that we turn a blind eye to Congo, but it would be pennywise and pound foolish to allow the Democratic Republic of Congo to fall again," Affleck told the African affairs subcommittee of the House of Representatives' foreign affairs committee.

"We have to take a hard look at our current commitment, and then we have to do more," said Affleck, who last year founded the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) advocacy group and uses his celebrity to shine a spotlight on continuing violence in the country.

A report issued by ECI in November said that after emerging in 2002 from wars that had raged since the 1990s and claimed 3.5 million lives, DRC was again on the brink of chaos.

But, the report said the country could still be edged forward into recovery with a concerted effort and continued aid from Washington and other donors.

The report urged the United States to spearhead an international effort to bring stability to eastern DRC or risk the entire Great Lakes region becoming "another failure of humanity."

Much of the violence in DRC is fueled by the country's mineral wealth, said Affleck and fellow panelist John Prendergast, another advocate for greater US involvement in Africa to promote and preserve human rights.

"I think we have to focus first and foremost on getting a certification system for conflict minerals," not unlike those used to halt violence driven by "blood diamonds" in West Africa, Prendergast told AFP.

"There are many other issues that are fueling conflict in DRC, but the biggest source of gasoline for that fire is conflict minerals," he said.

Among the victims of violence in DRC are the 200,000 women who have been raped or sexually brutalized since the country first plunged into war 13 years ago, and the more than 1,000 women and girls who are still raped every month in DRC, said Affleck.

Prendergast also criticized Washington for dragging its heels in appointing a special envoy for DRC.

"It's shameful, frankly, that we're waiting around months and months to see if the administration's going to do something about the deadliest war in the world," Prendergast said.

"They should just go ahead and appoint a senior significant person and bring to bear the kind of influence the United States has, work internationally to help bring about a resolution of Congo's troubles."

Affleck, Prendergast and the other panelists, including Cindy McCain, the wife of former Republican presidential candidate John McCain, called for the United States to fund DRC's elections, due to be held in November, and not repeat the mistake it made after 2006 polls.

Those elections were surrounded by a feeling of optimism and hope, and a year after Joseph Kabila -- who assumed the presidency after his father Laurent was assassinated in 2001 -- was elected to a five-year term, Washington started to draw down its involvement in DRC.

"We treated the country like a well-functioning state. The result of our pulling back was a sharp rise in violence," said Affleck, the star of "Armageddon" and "Pearl Harbor" and winner of the best original screenplay Oscar for "Good Will Hunting."

His plea for continued US aid and a stepped-up diplomatic effort for DRC came as Republicans and Democrats are locked in debate over where and how to cut government spending.

The United States last year gave $306 million in bilateral aid to the DRC, making it the largest donor, said Raja Jandhyala, deputy assistant administrator of the Africa bureau of the US Administration for International Development (USAID).

AFFLECK INTERVIEWED ON HUMANITARIAN WORK

Portions of the Interview to Air Monday, March 7 on "World News with Diane Sawyer" and "Nightline"

Affleck and McCain Speak to George Stephanopoulos Live on "Good Morning America," Tuesday, March 8

In 2008 she was at her husband's side as he ran for President as the Republican nominee, and he was one of the most high profile Hollywood stars at the Democratic National Convention supporting then candidate Barack Obama. Now this unlikely couple has come together to help draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in the Eastern Congo. Ben Affleck and Cindy McCain recently returned from a trip to the region and will sit down together for an exclusive television interview with ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper to discuss the daily life and struggles of the Eastern Congolese. The interview will air Monday, March 7 on "World News with Diane Sawyer" and "Nightline."

Inspired by his travels to the region, Affleck launched Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) less than a year ago. Cindy McCain recently became the newest significant investor in the Initiative. The ECI works with Congolese community-based organizations to help create sustainable solutions in four key areas: support for vulnerable youth, support for survivors of sexual violence as well as income generation projects and local peace & reconciliation programs.

On Tuesday, March 8, Affleck and McCain will sit down with George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America." Later that day Affleck will testify on Capitol Hill about a bi-partisan approach the United States should take to address the current problems in DRC.

Ben Affleck to testify to US Congress on DRCongo

Affleck, founder of the Eastern Congo Initiative advocacy organization, will appear Tuesday before the House Africa, Global Health and Human Rights Subcommittee, Republican Representative Chris Smith said in a statement.

The actor -- who starred in "Armageddon" and "Pearl Harbor," and won the best original screenplay Oscar for "Good Will Hunting" -- will appear at a hearing entitled "The Democratic Republic of the Congo: Securing Peace in the Midst of Tragedy," chaired by Smith.

Other witnesses will come from the US State Department's Bureau of African Affairs, the US Agency for International Development, as well as from non-governmental groups Catholic Relief Services and of The Enough Project.

"Our aim is to draw attention to this horrific, long-term crisis and the immense suffering taking place. The Congress and the world community must work together to bring hope and a better future to the DRC," said Smith.

Ex-Yanks fight wife-swap film

Die-hard Red Sox fan Affleck and his brother, Casey, are rewriting a second version of the script and have hired veteran sportswriters to help reach out to Yankees from that era. But Kekich, who's believed to have created a completely new life and family in New Mexico, is refusing to participate.

A source tells us, "Kekich is panic-stricken. He has moved away and has a new identity. He is freaked out that those working on the movie found out where he is. He isn't too keen on having the scandal dredged up again after all this time.

"Other Yankees from that time have also been really unhelpful with facts and details of what happened. They are stonewalling."

The amazing drama started in 1972 after the two hurlers, old friends, joked about swapping wives. They followed through on it, although word didn't get out until the spring of '73. Marilyn Peterson moved in with Kekich, but it didn't last. Susanne Kekich and Fritz are still married and live in New Jersey and Colorado. Kekich reportedly remarried and had another daughter.

Actresses being considered include Naomi Watts, Rachel Weisz and Rebecca Hall. Ben Affleck recently confirmed he and Casey were rewriting the script, and hinted that Damon may direct. It wasn't certain that he and Damon would play the pitchers.

Affleck recently told MTV, "I've come to have a little more respect for the Yankees. There are some of those guys . . . that look like good guys . . . But as an institution? Disdain. Contempt." About the movie's subject matter, he said: "Guys [bleep]ing each others' wives -- that's those Yankees."

The script hasn't yet been shown to Major League Baseball or the Yankees, another source confirmed. Reps for Affleck, Damon and the team declined to comment. A source close to Affleck said he was working on many projects and is currently focused on directing a political thriller, "Argo," which he's about to start shooting.

Stars share how they survive so many awards shows

Ben Affleck Ready to Get into Bed With George Clooney?!

And it looks like he might be one step closer toward obliterating those bombs from our collective memory forever with news that he could be teaming up with none other than George Clooney on an upcoming political thriller.

A source confirms to E! News a story by the Hollywood Reporter that Affleck is in talks to helm Argo, which Clooney is producing with his partner Grant Heslov.

The movie, based on a Wired magazine article revolving around the 1979-1981Iranian hostage crisis, would focus on the successful effort made by the CIA and the Canadian government to rescue six U.S. diplomats from Tehran by fabricating a scenario that the six were actually part of a film crew scouting locations for a movie called Argo.

Sounds pretty impressive to us. Heck, this might even help us forget about Bounce too.

Affleck's 'Company Men' smart

Writer-director John Wells' smart film shows what happens to working men after the Gordon Geckos of the world are allowed to operate unfettered and in concert with other corrupt capitalists and laissez-faire politicians.

And what does happen? Unemployment runs rampant. The entrepreneurial spirit is crushed. Jobs are exported. All to benefit a precious few of the rich.

The Company Men is a fictional tale but it plays like a docu-drama. It is real. It is honest. It is the brutal truth about how American society -- and, by economic extension, Canadian society too -- has suffered under this system. Instead of railing about it in general, however, the film tells the saga inside a specific universe that draws deep inside. You can make your own conclusions.

Our hero is a crusty corporate boss played with in-your-face antagonism by Tommy Lee Jones. He snaps off cruel witticisms. He is rude and obnoxious, even to friends. Call it type-casting but Jones nails it, and not just because he often acts that way in real life. Jones grasps the nature of his beast on screen. His man is someone who actually created a company, created jobs, cared for the working stiffs and middle management types who helped make him successful. Damned if he will let all that go just for money or fame.

(Trailer)

But now his partner in the long-ago start-up -- the slick uber-executive played with oily charm by Craig T. Nelson -- is willing to sell out. And the workers will all suffer, whether they are suits played by Ben Affleck and Chris Cooper or the legions of working men and women who support the greater good in the company.

In intimate detail, Wells shows what happens to these victims and what Jones tries to do about it. Meanwhile, we see the human failings of all, even of the people we like and love in the story. They are all thoroughly humanized. That makes their fates all the more compelling, of course.

Combine that with the excellent ensemble and The Company Men emerges as a strong cinematic experience for adults. Affleck continues to show his maturity, taking better roles and mining them for deeper emotions. The curmudgeonly Jones, of course, is always superb in reality drama. Cooper essays another complex role. Rosemarie DeWitt and Maria Bello give extremes of the female experience inside this manly milieu.

The Company Men works better than Oliver Stone's new Wall Street sequel, although the two films would make a good double bill. Or turn it into a triple with Jason Reitman's excellent Up in the Air, which carves out its territory among those dispossessed by corporate downsizing and sell-outs.

What it all means is that North American filmmakers are willing to examine life around us with unblinkered eyes. The depression of 2008/2009 messed millions of people up, many of whom have not recovered. The Company Men helps us make sense of the spectacle.

'The Company Men' does its job well but cuts out early

That's the blessing and one of the few drawbacks of this drama from ERand The West Wingscribe John Wells, making his directorial debut. Where the sublime Up in the Air and last year's documentary Inside Job tally the recession's toll on working Americans, The Company Men examines the hardships facing executives getting pink-slipped.

The movie is less effective at explaining why we should care.

While Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper and Tommy Lee Jones turn in sterling performances, the lot of their characters is so blessed, it can be hard to sympathize with their fall. And their idea of hardship — a smaller house, sensible car, no $500 lunches — doesn't exactly send chills.

Still, Company doesn't apologize for its worldview from above the glass ceiling — and that reverse perspective carries the film until it stumbles briefly beneath some unnecessary lecturing near the end.

Company opens with three executives from a Boston-area conglomerate literally adjusting their white collars on their way to work. But Bobby (Affleck) is about to get a half-day after learning he's been downsized. The film follows Bobby and his former co-workers Phil (Cooper) and Gene (Jones) as they struggle to maintain or replace the jobs that define them.

The Company Men flourishes when it moves from the private jets and centers on the family corrosion that springs from any job loss. The tension between Bobby and his wife, Maggie (the terrific Rosemarie DeWitt), provides the film an emotional center.

And Affleck shines whenever he returns to his Boston roots (The Town, Gone Baby Gone, both of which he directed). His accent is natural, and he shifts easily from Armani suits to overalls.

Cooper and Jones are solid as always, especially when they share a scene. The 56-year-old Kevin Costner, who plays a soft-spoken carpenter, seems to be relishing his multiplying roles as an aging Everyman.

The Company Men stumbles slightly in the final stretch, when Jones is asked to become the conscience of corporate America and the script clobbers with some car-ad sentiments, namely that we should get back a country where we made things for a living.

It's simple stuff, but the movie's heart is in the right place. And there's something cathartic if not wholly effectual in Company's message: Even for the Italian sports car set, things are tough.

The Company Men
* * * (out of four)
Stars: Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper
Director: John Wells
Distributor: The Weinstein Co.
Rating: R for language and brief nudity
Running time: 1 hour, 53 minutes
Opens Friday nationwide

Nicole Kidman, Ben Affleck, Michelle Williams Join Tea Party

A tea party!

No, not that Tea Party!

It was a megstar turnout yesterday for BAFTA/LA's annual awards season tea party at the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills. American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe somehow managed to stop by. "I'm running around trying to fit everything in," he said.

Lythgoe also told me that Jennifer Lopez's family are frequent visitors at Idol. "The kids have been there, but not on set," Lythgoe said. "Marc [Anthony] is on set a lot of the time. He loves it…When Randy [Jackson] says, ‘Let me tell you what happens next,' they're like, ‘You don't have to show us. We've been watching it for nine years.'"

I asked Lythgoe who his pick would be to play at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding. "Oh, that's a good question," he said. "I don't know who they like, but I do remember when Princess Diana said, back in the day, she liked Dire Straits that all of a suddenly they became the band to watch."

Also at the BAFTA event (cohosted by Bombay Saffire), Kidman was overheard telling Eric Stonestreet she is "big fan" of Modern Family. Speaking of Kidman, Kathy Griffin was on the hunt for The Rabbit Hole star. "Have you seen Nicole Kidman," she asked. "Where is she? I want to see her." (FYI: Griffin's bod? Amazing in a green Oscar De La Renta dress!)

Andrew Garfield proved to be quite patient and accommodating as a couple of admirers struggled with their own camera after asking to take a pic with the Social Network star. His girlfriend Shannon Woodward was by his side as he spent most of the afternoon chatting with Tom Sturridge and Rufus Sewell.

Jeff Bridges hung out with his True Grit costar Hailee Steinfeld and You Don't Know Jack star Brenda Vaccaro.

Jeremy Renner never took off his sunglasses, wearing them on the red carpet and inside the party. No word on why, but I could tell you that he appeared to be having a really good time the night before at the Critics' Choice Awards, at one point walking through the lobby of the Palladium arm-in-arm with Sam Rockwell and a beautiful blonde woman.

Ben Affleck prefers "Company" of ensemble casts

Affleck gamely poses for photos as one man explains, "I'm an actor. I don't speak English, sorry. But 'Gone Baby Gone' -- very, very good." Affleck thanks him for the praise, and as the man leaves he adds, "Your brother very, very good actor. You, good director!"

If anyone had doubts about that last statement after Affleck's directorial debut, "Gone Baby Gone," they disappeared with the September release of the taut, original thriller "The Town." Though he had been content to stay behind the camera with his first film, letting younger brother Casey take the lead and Amy Ryan win accolades, Affleck put himself front and center for "The Town," in which he plays a career criminal who falls in love with the bank employee he took hostage.

Now, with "The Town" on countless year-end "Best of" lists and Oscar buzz growing for the film, Affleck closes out 2010 by heading another terrific ensemble -- in John Wells' "The Company Men." In the timely story, Affleck plays an arrogant sales manager who finds himself downsized and forced to work for his blue-collar brother-in-law, played by Kevin Costner. Chris Cooper, Maria Bello and Tommy Lee Jones also star.

BACK STAGE: YOUR RECENT CHOICES SEEM TO SHOW YOU GRAVITATING MORE TOWARD ENSEMBLE WORK ("SMOKIN' ACES," "STATE OF PLAY," "HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU"). IS THAT A CONSCIOUS DECISION?

Affleck: I've found that I've had the best time playing in ensembles or character parts where I could do something different. "Good Will Hunting" is a part like that. So is "Boiler Room" and "Dogma" and "Hollywoodland." I just did this movie that nobody saw -- "Extract" -- and I just feel you have more latitude to try things; it's much more satisfying. They mirror the things I did early on that I liked, like "Dazed and Confused." You can do both; "The Town" is a lead role, but an ensemble movie. Same with "The Company Men." Also, I'm attracted to the chance to work with good actors. I care about that more than about being the lead in a movie.

BACK STAGE: HAS THAT CHANGED FOR YOU -- WAS THERE A TIME WHERE YOU WOULD ONLY TAKE LEADS?

Affleck: There was a part of me that had a built-up frustration from never getting the leads. Always being the bully character, or feeling marginalized in some way. So the starving man gets to the table and he wants to eat. Eventually I figured out that's not the thing. It's the part you're playing and its integrity and quality, not its size. It's a cliche, but it really is true. That's led me to where I am today.

BACK STAGE: DID THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH FILMS LIKE "PAYCHECK" (2003)? I SINGLE THAT ONE OUT BECAUSE I SPOKE WITH A CO-STAR OF YOURS IN THE FILM WHO SAID THEY STARTED MAKING DIFFERENT CHOICES AFTER THAT MOVIE.

Affleck: The problem with that movie is it was a really good script and it caught a director (John Woo) at the wrong time in his life and a studio who didn't really care about investing in it. It had a great cast -- Aaron Eckhart, Paul Giamatti. That script (based on a Philip K. Dick short story) was really interesting. It's an interesting story, and there's a way to do that movie and make it good. It was fine; it was serviceable. I wouldn't say that movie changed my life necessarily, but I recognized that doing that kind of serviceable studio movie is not the road to anything interesting or satisfying, career-wise. It was after that movie that I took some time off and then did "Hollywoodland" and started prepping "Gone Baby Gone." So I suppose it's a line of demarcation in some way. So I don't hate on the movie so much. I wasn't all the way engaged as an actor the way I should have been -- obviously, or it would have worked better.

BACK STAGE: BUT HOW MUCH CAN YOU CHANGE THAT? HOW MUCH CONTROL DO YOU HAVE AS AN ACTOR?

Affleck: You can change it only so much. You're a little bit in thrall to who you're working for. Oftentimes, people see an actor on a poster and think they're responsible for the moviesometimes in good ways, sometimes in bad ways. And the actor is responsible for a lot, don't get me wrong. A huge part of directing is casting. But at the end of the day, it's not the whole thing.

BACK STAGE: I'VE HEARD THAT AS A DIRECTOR, YOU'RE VERY INVOLVED IN CASTING EVERY SINGLE PART IN A MOVIE.

Affleck: Yeah, I hope every director is. To me, that's where you make the movie. When we did "Good Will Hunting," I asked Gus what the secret to directing was and he said mostly casting. "Changing Lanes" was an amazing experience for me, and one of the things I learned from director Roger Michell is how important it is to cast every part like it's the lead. Extras, day players, one-line, two-line -- they have to all be great. It's hard; you've got to find the right people. But you know what? The right people are out there; there are so many gifted actors out there. It's a joy to work with them. And most actors are not used to being empowered so that they can succeed. They don't get given the opportunity to be told to take risks, try something different. Somebody who really roots for them so that it involves sacrificing other things, like time, for the sake of performance. I found that when I adopted that position with actors, they really responded. They worked harder, they got really into it. Actors don't want to be treated like cattle or like idiots, and actors have a tremendous amount to bring to the table. Every actor in the movie is, in effect, writing and directing the movie with you. If you open the door to letting those good ideas in, you're the one who benefits.

Affleck frets over Garner's gift

The Town star puts all his effort into hunting down the ultimate Christmas gift for Garner and as a result the actress gets no help picking out items for their family and friends.

But Affleck admits he often ends up scouring shops at the last minute for the right gift to leave for his wife under the tree.

He tells Ellen DeGeneres, "I'm not particularly proud of it. But it's a bit of a '50s thing, I guess. Because my wife is so capable and because I'm less so, she does a lot of that (shopping) work and I kind of root her on.

"It takes her as much energy and effort to buy like the 20 gifts we're going to buy other people, as it does (for me) to buy her gift. I spend the whole time fretting about that and being nervous and hoping she likes that.

"And then I end up at like (pharmacy) CVS on the 24th being like, 'Maybe she'd like a little Godzilla that goes around.' My kids actually would like that..."

Sighting

Review: Hard to muster sympathy for 'Company Men'

"The Company Men" asks us to feel some sympathy for the guys on top — the executives who've luxuriated in Porsches and private jets and $500 lunches, and are suffering the pain of having all those goodies taken away. It's a tough request from John Wells, the man behind "ER" and "The West Wing," here making his feature writing and directing debut.

The strength of the all-star cast — Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Costner — makes "The Company Men" vaguely engaging, but even watching these veterans and heavyweights banter and bounce off each other can't convince us that the characters themselves are compelling.

It's not that being privileged makes them boring; being two-dimensional does. Despite the massive life changes thrust upon the film's central figures, their arcs still feel predictable. That is, except for one who has a subplot that comes out of nowhere and feels as if its context were left on the cutting-room floor. That's all we'll say.

"The Company Men" focuses on three men, specifically, hit by downsizing at a Boston-area manufacturing conglomerate. Affleck's Bobby Walker is the first to go. He had it all with his wife (Rosemarie DeWitt) and two kids — beautiful house, shiny sports car, great golf game — so he's not terribly thrilled about the prospect of having it all taken away. He's actually in denial for a while about being laid off, insisting on keeping the country club membership even when paying the mortgage becomes difficult. Bobby is, in a nutshell, an arrogant jerk — and Affleck certainly knows how to play that sort of character believably. But he's so off-putting from the very start, it makes it tough to care about his potential redemption.

Next up is Cooper's Phil Woodward, who's pushing 60 with no real prospects. The career counselor who's been assigned to him advises him to dye his hair and omit his Vietnam War service from his resume, along with any work experience from the 1990s. He doesn't exactly respond well, to put it mildly. This all could have felt relevant and insightful — especially in the hands of an actor so capable of both subtlety and volatile rage — but "The Company Men" reduces him to a bit of a cliche. Phil gets drunk by himself in the middle of the day and literally throws rocks at the corporate headquarters from the parking lot. Literally.

Finally, there's Jones' Gene McClary, the no-nonsense right-hand man and longtime friend of the CEO (Craig T. Nelson), whose primary instinct is to cut jobs in hopes of bolstering the shareholders' confidence. Gene, by contrast, is old-school and longs for the days when he and his pal first created the shipbuilding company, when men made things they could see and be proud of, when everyone felt like family. Jones is in his agreeably cantankerous straight-talker mode, but he's also the most ostentatiously wealthy of the three "Company Men." So when he comes home to his palatial estate and finds that his pretentious socialite wife has purchased a $16,000 antique table to place in front of a window, well, it kind of makes you cringe a bit.

Finally, there's Costner, who's amusing as Bobby's brother-in-law, Jack, a salt-of-the-earth guy who's still managing to get by with his construction business. He offers Bobby a job hanging drywall — which, of course, Bobby initially rejects as being beneath him — but eventually Jack will come to function as the film's moral compass and savior. "The Company Men" seems to overlook the fact that homebuilding suffered during the recession, too. But it does give Costner a chance to trot out his old New England accent from "Thirteen Days."

"The Company Men," a Weinstein Co. release, is rated R for language and brief nudity. Running time: 113 minutes. Two stars out of four.

Ben Affleck News Archive Part 3