As a seasoned movie buff with decades of cinematic experiences under my belt, I must say that the story of Ben Affleck and Kevin Smith is one for the annals of Hollywood lore. The way Affleck’s constant ad-libbing on “Chasing Amy” drove Smith to his wit’s end, only for Affleck to later put those very ad-libs in his own script and reap great acclaim, is a tale that could be spun into a movie itself.
Worked in collaboration with Affleck on numerous film ventures, but during the production of “Good Will Hunting” (1997), it appears the director grew frustrated by Affleck’s frequent improvisation. Smith is reported to have told him, “Save that kind of stuff for your own script someday.” Interestingly, Affleck followed this advice, which resulted in critical acclaim and even an Oscar win.
Chasing Amy marked Kevin Smith’s third directorial venture, featuring Ben Affleck portraying Holden McNeil, a comic book creator who unexpectedly finds himself in love with Alyssa, played by Joey Lauren Adams. Interestingly, Alyssa is a lesbian, which adds complexity to their relationship. Similar to many of Smith’s films, Chasing Amy was a significant commercial triumph, transforming its initial investment of $250,000 into a box office revenue of $12 million.
During an interview with EW reflecting on his career milestones, Smith discussed films like “Chasing Amy” and Ben Affleck’s excessive improvisation during production. He commented:
Ben Affleck often improvises lines, and he improvised a lot during the filming of “[Chasing Amy]”. I told him, ‘Dude, I can’t take it anymore. You’re always improvising. Please, just stick to the script. If you really feel the need to create dialogue or say something new, save it for your own script someday. And he did, and his work earned him an Oscar.
In “Good Will Hunting,” Oscar made an appearance, a film that also claimed the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay. Despite his numerous triumphs and frequent improvisations, Affleck has starred in a total of eight movies directed by Smith, including recent productions like “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot” and “Clerks III.
Could Ben Affleck Appear in the Long-Awaited Mallrats 2?
There’s a good possibility that Ben Affleck might join Kevin Smith for another project – potentially Mallrats 2 – if the director manages to bring the movie to life. However, the production of Mallrats 2 has been on hold because Universal owns the rights but isn’t funding the film. This stalemate started years ago. Although Shannen Doherty’s passing this year almost led Smith to abandon the project, he recently expressed his intent to persist in trying to make it. In a conversation with Deadline, he stated:
“I believe it’s worth revisiting our conversation about this project. It seems that we haven’t made any progress yet, but I am eager and ready to move forward with it. Could we perhaps be allowed to take charge of it? We don’t need Universal to finance it, but having the rights would certainly help us secure funding for ‘Mallrats 2’. I assure you that I can make it happen quickly.
As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but share some exciting news with fellow Smith enthusiasts! If you haven’t already, mark your calendars for September 13, as that’s when the latest addition to Smith’s cinematic portfolio, The 4:30 Movie, hits the big screen. And for those who can’t wait or prefer a cozy streaming experience, Mallrats is now available on Apple TV+. Enjoy the ride!
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2024-09-20 14:31