BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
(FOUR) ROUNDERS
In this “No Bens Allowed” edition of the best of Matt Damon’s career it’s a bit rough to go with a fourth. I’m going with Rounders because it’s a pretty damn good movie. The world of poker before it was a commercialized TV sport was fun. It’s got that hustle and grind feel of old. In this movie, we see the New York underground through the eyes of the young player and his recently released from prison friend. This was his first real “post-Good Will Hunting” starring role and I thought he did a great job in it.
(THREE) OCEAN’S ELEVEN
Playing the Dean Martin role in this 2001 remake of the 1960 Rat Pack movie, Damon was great. The movie had the likes of Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Don Cheadle, George Clooney, and other awesome people so it was a bit surprising how much Damon stood out. He kind of steals the movie and then in the two pointless singles he’s pretty much the star of the show.
(TWO) THE BOURNE IDENTITY
Basically, this spot is just for Jason Bourne in general. Matt Damon doesn’t seem, or at least didn’t seem at the time, like an action star. He has pretty much become this generation’s James Bond. Bond has been out there, but Jason Bourne’s movies are just smarter, well written, and flat out better. A fourth is scheduled for 2010 and I’m sure a franchise like this could probably keep going forever.
(ONE) THE DEPARTED
You could argue this one and say the Bourne movies are better, but you’d just be making a fool of yourself. Scorsese is on his A-game here and when he’s on his A-game you don’t get any better. It’s not talked about, but this is actually a remake too. The original, titled “Infernal Affairs” was a 2002 Hong Kong film. This didn’t stop the Academy from giving it four Oscars though. Seeing Damon, DiCaprio, Nicholson, and I guess Wahlberg too; all going back and forth in this crime film is a great ride. This is one of those modern classics that everyone should see at least twice before they die.
|
