15 actors who became surprisingly good directors
TK
Ben Affleck
With the majority of his post-"Armaggedon" leading-man vehicles underperforming or outright flopping at the box-office ("Bounce," "Reindeer Games," "Gigli," "Paycheck"...need I go on?), Ben Affleck's Hollywood career was more or less circling the drain before he shocked everyone by co-writing and directing "Gone Baby Gone," a critically-acclaimed crime thriller that netted the first-time helmer honors from multiple critical societies, including the National Board of Review. If that effort firmly established him as a filmmaking talent to watch, 2010's "The Town" was what served as Affleck's big mainstream breakthrough, grossing over $150 million worldwide on a $37 million budget while maintaining the critical standing he'd established with his debut. With his next film "Argo" having gathered a full head of steam coming out of Toronto (it just missed out on winning the festival's coveted People's Choice Award), the former "Gigli" punching bag now may even be looking at his second Oscar nomination (or even third, if he manages to nab an acting nod as well). Talk about a turnaround.
- Chris Eggertsen
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September 17, 2012 at 5:56AM EST Reply to CommentRob Reiner, Vera Farmiga, Zach Braff, Josh Radnor, Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner, Chaplin...
marshall
September 17, 2012 at 7:32PM EST Reply to CommentNo Emilio Estevez?
Ranger
September 17, 2012 at 9:14PM EST Reply to CommentWhoa! What about Sean Penn and Mel Gibson?
Ron Bloack
September 17, 2012 at 9:21PM EST Reply to CommentDrew fucking Barrymore? In a list of "good" directors?
That movie was crap. Her directing was crap!
ceallaig
September 18, 2012 at 10:42AM EST Reply to CommentHow about Ida Lupino, who paved the way for Peggy, Jodie, Drew and the other ladies on the list? and yeah, where was Kevin and (as much as I hate to say it) Mel?
SARA
September 18, 2012 at 2:10PM EST Reply to CommentCharles Laughton (The Night of the Hunter), Liev Shreiber (Everything is Illuminated), Todd Field (Little Children). Btw, Drew Barrymore + "good director" is an oxymoron.
dino
September 20, 2012 at 2:32AM EST Reply to CommentHow does Drew Barrymore make the list but not Sean Penn or Mel Gibson? This is a tabloid lovers list
dino
September 20, 2012 at 2:34AM EST Reply to CommentHow does Drew Barrymore make the list and not Sean Penn or Mel Gibson?
Gull
October 16, 2012 at 6:59PM EST Reply to CommentAngelina Jolie? Really? For what, proving she's just as pretentious and cloying as a director as everything else she does? Ralph Fiennes? Come on. Robert De Niro's Bronx Tale is one if the more beloved films of the nineties. Mel Gibson and Kevin Costner have both won Oscars for directing. What about Tim Robbins and Dead Man Walking? Sarah Polley at 28 knocked Away From Her out of the park. Yet the director of Battleship is on here.