by Hayley Charlesworth
Actor, writer, and professional Best Friend of Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, is just one of the many stars of The Monuments Men, which gets its DVD release this week. But with a long and versatile career behind him, what are the essential films of the Damon oeuvre?
Actor, writer, and professional Best Friend of Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, is just one of the many stars of The Monuments Men, which gets its DVD release this week. But with a long and versatile career behind him, what are the essential films of the Damon oeuvre?
The Bourne Trilogy
Jason Bourne is perhaps Matt Damon’s most iconic role, and thus it seems unfair to select just one film from the trilogy of films in which he stars. Bourne is an action trilogy with brains as well as brawn, the conspiracy that amnesiac Jason Bourne is trapped in as intellectually stimulating as the action scenes are thrilling. And through it all, Damon gives a pitch-perfect performance that firmly establishes him as a Hollywood superstar.
Jason Bourne is perhaps Matt Damon’s most iconic role, and thus it seems unfair to select just one film from the trilogy of films in which he stars. Bourne is an action trilogy with brains as well as brawn, the conspiracy that amnesiac Jason Bourne is trapped in as intellectually stimulating as the action scenes are thrilling. And through it all, Damon gives a pitch-perfect performance that firmly establishes him as a Hollywood superstar.
The Talented Mr Ripley
This adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel, the first of many books centring on the Tom Ripley character, proved to the world that Matt Damon was capable of playing complex, morally ambiguous characters. Appearing as Tom Ripley, a con-man so obsessed with his friend Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) that it turns him to identity theft and murder, Damon is both sinister and sympathetic as he loses himself deeper and deeper into his crime. It is a film that is at once unsettling and yet highly entertaining, and the chemistry between Damon and Law is palpable.
This adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel, the first of many books centring on the Tom Ripley character, proved to the world that Matt Damon was capable of playing complex, morally ambiguous characters. Appearing as Tom Ripley, a con-man so obsessed with his friend Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) that it turns him to identity theft and murder, Damon is both sinister and sympathetic as he loses himself deeper and deeper into his crime. It is a film that is at once unsettling and yet highly entertaining, and the chemistry between Damon and Law is palpable.
Behind the Candelabra
In Behind the Candelabra, for which he received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Damon pulled off the doble-whammy of upstaging Michael Douglas and upstaging Liberace with his wonderful performance as Scott Thorson. A less flashy role than Liberace, sure, but Thorson is the most complex part of the two, his gradual descent from idealistic youth, to love-sick puppy, to drug-and-plastic-surgery-addict, is a captivating one. Damon throws himself wholeheartedly into to the performance, so much so that you’re able to suspend your disbelief that he’s playing a seventeen-year-old.
In Behind the Candelabra, for which he received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Damon pulled off the doble-whammy of upstaging Michael Douglas and upstaging Liberace with his wonderful performance as Scott Thorson. A less flashy role than Liberace, sure, but Thorson is the most complex part of the two, his gradual descent from idealistic youth, to love-sick puppy, to drug-and-plastic-surgery-addict, is a captivating one. Damon throws himself wholeheartedly into to the performance, so much so that you’re able to suspend your disbelief that he’s playing a seventeen-year-old.
Dogma
One of the better Kevin Smith comedies, Dogma unites Damon with his best bud Ben Affleck for a funny look at religion, complete with the Bro Jesus statue and Alan Rickman as Metatron, the voice of God. Because if God was going to choose a voice, he’d choose Alan Rickman. Affleck and Damon play fallen angels Bartleby and Loki, who due to their own stupid actions have basically destroyed existence. Kevin Smith’s script, while not as sharp as the Clerks films for which he is most loved, is brought to life by the chemistry between Damon and Affleck (before Affleck’s career death and rebirth), who make one of the best double acts of 90s comedy cinema.
One of the better Kevin Smith comedies, Dogma unites Damon with his best bud Ben Affleck for a funny look at religion, complete with the Bro Jesus statue and Alan Rickman as Metatron, the voice of God. Because if God was going to choose a voice, he’d choose Alan Rickman. Affleck and Damon play fallen angels Bartleby and Loki, who due to their own stupid actions have basically destroyed existence. Kevin Smith’s script, while not as sharp as the Clerks films for which he is most loved, is brought to life by the chemistry between Damon and Affleck (before Affleck’s career death and rebirth), who make one of the best double acts of 90s comedy cinema.
Good Will Hunting
Of course, it is impossible to assemble the essential Matt Damon films without including Good Will Hunting, for which he won an Oscar, not for acting, but for screenwriting, alongside Ben Affleck. Damon stars as the titular Will Hunting, a university janitor with an incredible genius mind for mathematics, alongside therapist Robin Williams in one of his more successful serious roles. Directed by Gus Van Sant, the film serves as a critique of the American education system, while remaining an overall positive experience.
Of course, it is impossible to assemble the essential Matt Damon films without including Good Will Hunting, for which he won an Oscar, not for acting, but for screenwriting, alongside Ben Affleck. Damon stars as the titular Will Hunting, a university janitor with an incredible genius mind for mathematics, alongside therapist Robin Williams in one of his more successful serious roles. Directed by Gus Van Sant, the film serves as a critique of the American education system, while remaining an overall positive experience.
The Departed
The film for which Martin Scorsese finally won his long-deserved Best Picture Oscar, Damon joins an all-star cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg and Jack Nicholson, in this acclaimed remake of Hong Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs. In fact, The Departed is the first and only remake to receive this honour. Damon stars as Colin Sullivan, a man introduced to organised crime by Nicholson’s Frank Costello by training him to be a mole in the Massachusetts Police Force. The Departed is a tense, superb thriller, as can only be expected from a director as accomplished as Scorsese, with sterling performances from all of its cast, but as one of arguably two protagonists (alongside DiCaprio’s police officer Billy Costigan), Damon admirably carries this film on his shoulders.
The film for which Martin Scorsese finally won his long-deserved Best Picture Oscar, Damon joins an all-star cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg and Jack Nicholson, in this acclaimed remake of Hong Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs. In fact, The Departed is the first and only remake to receive this honour. Damon stars as Colin Sullivan, a man introduced to organised crime by Nicholson’s Frank Costello by training him to be a mole in the Massachusetts Police Force. The Departed is a tense, superb thriller, as can only be expected from a director as accomplished as Scorsese, with sterling performances from all of its cast, but as one of arguably two protagonists (alongside DiCaprio’s police officer Billy Costigan), Damon admirably carries this film on his shoulders.
Saving Private Ryan
Steven Spielberg’s Second World War masterpiece, which many felt was robbed of an Oscar by Shakespeare In Love, features Matt Damon as the titular Private Ryan, a paratrooper who goes missing during the Normandy Invasion. Tom Hanks’ Captain Miller, is assigned, along with six other men, the task of locating Private Ryan, whose three brothers have all been killed in combat. Spielberg’s epic has many achievements to its name, the Normandy Invasion itself being one of the most stunning pieces of cinema, but it is both Hanks and Damon who elevate the film even further with stellar performances.
Steven Spielberg’s Second World War masterpiece, which many felt was robbed of an Oscar by Shakespeare In Love, features Matt Damon as the titular Private Ryan, a paratrooper who goes missing during the Normandy Invasion. Tom Hanks’ Captain Miller, is assigned, along with six other men, the task of locating Private Ryan, whose three brothers have all been killed in combat. Spielberg’s epic has many achievements to its name, the Normandy Invasion itself being one of the most stunning pieces of cinema, but it is both Hanks and Damon who elevate the film even further with stellar performances.
Whats your favourite Damon Movie?
Is it all about Good Will Hunting? Or do you love The Departed?
What about his riveting role in Team America: World Police?
Let us know in comments!
And to listen to more movie dogma, follow Hayley on twitter!
What about his riveting role in Team America: World Police?
Let us know in comments!
And to listen to more movie dogma, follow Hayley on twitter!
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