In an interview with Details Magazine, Ben Affleck comes off as a guy who's on his last set of legs. His last starring role was in the little-seen Hollywoodland, and before that he suffered through back-to-back bombs: Man About Town and Surviving Christmas. Now he's laying it all on the line with his first film behind the camera; his directorial debut, Gone, Baby, Gone. And if that movie doesn't do well, Ben says, "It's pretty simple. If people don't go see it -- I'm f**ked." Oh wait, he continues: "I feel like (Gone Baby Gone) is the linchpin for my life. My career. I have a lot riding on it. I want [the film] to work. Badly. I mean, a shitty movie comes out on 2,800 screens? I've been there and it's embarrassing."

So where does Ben think he went wrong? Well, part of it is due to his previous relationship with Jennifer Lopez. Ben admits, "It was probably bad for my career. What happens is this sort of bleed-over from the tabloids across your movie work. You go to a movie, you only go once. But the tabloids and Internet are everywhere." You're right Ben -- we are everywhere. But things are still looking pretty good for The Affleck; as of right now, his new movie is getting lots of buzz -- some are saying his brother Casey gives a terrific lead performance, and with help from The Assassination of Jesse James, we could be watching a new Affleck rise up to A-list status real soon. As far as Ben goes, we don't know what will happen to the guy after this film. Personally, I think he needs to re-team with Matt Damon on something, anything, but we'll see. Ben does admit that he might have to say goodbye to one thing he loves: his home in Los Angeles. "I'd be surprised if I'm still living here in a couple of years. Professionally it would be difficult. But that's not as important as that other thing."

Ben shot one of Moviefone's Unscripted pieces over the weekend alongside his brother Casey, and so I'm curious to see how he looks, and how he sounds. I'm worried about the guy. How about you?

[via SlashFilm]

Though we're still a few months away from the Academy Awards ceremony, folks are itching to wipe off that summer fog and start buzzing about this fall's most anticipated (and Oscar worthy) films. Yup, now is the time studios like to release their "important" flicks -- the kind that feature big-name actors who tackle topics that make you think, make you debate, make you feel good and, occasionally, make you smarter. Right now is the time to get excited -- because once those "For Your Consideration" ads begin crowding your computer screen, and once those end-of-the-year top ten lists start slapping you upside the head, you'll want to run for cover. It's kind of the way I feel about Christmas; one month out it's the sweetest holiday of the year. Once it's over, however, you vow never to look forward to it again.

That being said, Moviefone has gotten the ball rolling with a gallery that takes a look at those early Oscar contenders. Which films are the front-runners for Best Picture? Which actors or actresses have the best chance of walking away with a golden statue come February 28th? A few folks I'm personally stoked to see on that list include John Cusack (who's getting lots of praise for his starring role in the tear-jerker Grace is Gone), Keri Russell (who was absolutely delightful -- and delicious -- in the indie hit Waitress), Casey Affleck (who out-shined Brad Pitt in The Assassination of Jesse James and is also about to show-up his brother Ben big time in bro's directorial debut Gone, Baby, Gone) and, of course, how can I leave out the Coen Bros' No Country for Old Men and Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd -- three filmmakers who I'd love to see pick up an Oscar this year. There's plenty more to debate, so head on over to Moviefone to check out the gallery, then come back here and tell us where they went right and where they went so, so wrong.

Although the Toronto Internatinal Film Festival has officially come to an end, Cinematical is still not done shoveling out reviews and interviews from the fest. Our writers have only so much time to scribble down their reviews in between screenings, and so the week after a festival is usually reserved for the remainder of our content. That said, we've already covered the most highly-anticipated fall films that screened Toronto, and based on what I read I wasn't that impressed. Both Eastern Promises and Atonement seemed to score well, while Ang Lee has to hope the Academy introduces a new category this year: Best Ballsy Director, for the guy who went and followed up his Oscar darling with a foreign language, NC-17-rated espionage sex thriller called Lust, Caution. Nice. The festival favorite seemed to be Juno, which will probably join Lars and the Real Girl in a race to become the year's Cinderella Oscar story. I also wouldn't count out Waitress; a film that has the whole real-life drama added on for extra spice.

But what about the rest of the season? What's coming out, what's getting good buzz and what should you go to see once it arrives in theaters? The Coen Brothers' No Country for Old Men is being touted as one of the boys best films in years, and lots of folks (including yours truly) are real interested in what Paul Thomas Anderson plans to do with his turn-of-the-century oil tale, There Will Be Blood. Ridley Scott's American Gangster is scoring lots of high marks for the performances (Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe) and Ben Affleck's Gone, Baby, Gone is also drawing lots of buzz for being, well, a good film that's actually directed by Ben Affleck!. Apart from the awards contenders, New Line is hoping to resurrect some of the December dollars they enjoyed during the Lord of the Rings run by shelling out The Golden Compass, and Vince Vaughn will be beaten up by Santa's elves in Fred Claus. Oh, and how can we forget Jerry Seinfeld's animated flick Bee Movie, as well as Robert Zemeckis' "It's good, because they look real" flick Beowulf? I could go on, having skipped a ton of films opening in the next few months, but here's where I open it up to you:

Which films are you looking forward to seeing the most this fall?

Unfortunately, those of you living in the UK and really looking forward to the much buzzed-about directorial debut of Ben Affleck, Gone, Baby, Gone, will have to wait some time before seeing the film. That's because Buena Vista International UK has suspended the release of the film indefinitely due to similarities between the flick and the real-life case of Madeline McCann, the British girl who's been missing since early May. Though the case is a fairly popular topic here in the States, I gather it's a much bigger deal in Britain -- especially now that the two parents have become official suspects in their daughter's disappearance from a Portuguese apartment.

Based on a book by Dennis Lehane (Mystic River), Gone, Baby, Gone follows two detectives tracking the case of a missing four year-old girl, and how it subsequently affects them both professionally and personally. It stars Casey Affleck, Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman, among others. By total coincidence, the name of the actress portraying the missing girl in the film is Madeleine O'Brien, which I'm sure would just add fuel to the fire across the pond. Affleck, who is totally behind the decision to pull the film, had this to say while at the Deauville Film Festival: "We are acutely aware of the situation. We have a greater concern for that than the release of our film, which is just a commercial matter, whereas this is a matter of life and death." Gone, Baby, Gone was also scheduled to have, what Variety calls, a "splashy" Oct. 26 Times London Film Festival gala screening, but it's since been pulled from the lineup. No word on when the film will arrive in the UK; I imagine it will depend on where the McCann case goes from here. Gone, Baby, Gone will arrive in US theaters on October 19.

I'm actually surprised that neither the trailer for Gone, Baby, Gone nor this new poster feature the words "From Academy Award Winner Ben Affleck." It wouldn't have been the first time we've seen or heard that phrase (or part of it, anyway), and for once it would have actually been appropriate since Affleck won his Oscar for screenwriting. Instead you have to look at the credits at the bottom of the poster to notice that Affleck co-wrote the script (with Aaron Stockard) and directed the film, too. Rather than emphasizing Affleck's achievement or involvement, Miramax (who also distributed the film that got him the Oscar) spotlights a different connection. Under the title, the poster tells us that this film is from the same novelist (Dennis Lehane) who wrote Mystic River. But while the trailer does make the film seem like that Clint Eastwood film, the poster reminded me more of The Departed, especially after I noticed the subtle gun that's in the hand of Casey Affleck.

However, this poster, which highlights the Boston skyline, is nothing like the poster for The Departed since it doesn't have a close up or frontal shot of Casey Affleck's face. Perhaps such a head-shot would have less appeal to moviegoers since the younger Affleck is still pretty much unknown. I'm guessing (and hoping), though, that after Gone, Baby, Gone comes out, Casey will become a bigger star. The rest of the film's cast includes Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris and Michelle Monaghan (all three of whom join Affleck's name on the poster marquee), along with Amy Madigan, John Ashton, Amy Ryan, Titus Welliver and Robert Wahlberg (brother of The Departed's Mark; he also appeared in The Departed and Mystic River). The film goes into limited release on October 19.

While it can't be hard to get your best friend to say good things about your work, those of you wondering whether Ben Affleck's directorial debut, Gone, Baby, Gone, is any good should look no further -- Kevin Smith digs it. Yes, Smith claims to have seen the film twice already and says it's "awesome." In fact, he also goes on to call it a "total awards contender." Hmm, Affleck's first script earned him an Oscar; wouldn't it be wild if his first directorial effort scored him one too? Let's not get crazy here; while the trailer for Gone, Baby, Gone certainly showed potential, there's still a lot of competition (from some of Hollywood's great filmmakers) heading our way this fall. Smith later went on to add: "It's one of those movies where you watch and you're like [groan] First time out? He made a better movie than I've ever made. That jerk! And he's easier to look at, richer, I hate him so much! But it's a really great flick."

Of course he's kidding about all the hatin' -- Smith and Affleck are good friends, so much so that Affleck has shown up in a number of Smith's films. (I'm still kind of pissed that Affleck and Jason Lee didn't resurrect their Chasing Amy characters for Clerks 2, but that's just me going off on a random tangent.) Based on a Dennis Lehane (Mystic River) novel, Gone, Baby, Gone takes place in Boston and revolves around the police investigation (that may or may not be corrupt) of a missing girl. The film stars Affleck's baby brother Casey, as well as Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman and Smith ... as a computer hacker named Warlock! Wait, wrong movie. On second thought, I wonder if Smith will show up in a small cameo. I mean, the least Affleck can do is give the guy a chance to appear in a film that actually does well at the box office. Kidding. Totally kidding. I love ya Kev! And I seriously can't wait to see what you do with Zack and Miri Make a Porno. And that other one. The horror thing. Good luck!

The most fascinating part of this newly-released trailer for Gone, Baby, Gone is that at no point do they advertise the fact that Ben Affleck directed. Yup, Ben Affleck. And for those of you wondering where the hell Affleck has disappeared to, well, he's been off piecing together what looks to be a gem of a film. Based on a Dennis Lehane (Mystic River) novel, Gone, Baby, Gone tells the story of a little girl who goes missing and the intense (but possibly corrupt) police investigation that follows. Affleck seems right at home with this flick (literally), as it's shot in Boston and stars his kid brother, Casey (in a role that will either make or break his career as a lead actor). I guess you can say I came away with a Good Will Hunting meets The Departed vibe, and if the film excels in one particular area, it's in the acting.

Right off the bat, Ed Harris looks phenomenal (as always) in the role of Detective Remy Broussard. Morgan Freeman also shows up hoping to deliver another solid performance. I love Freeman just as much as the next guy, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that he's beginning to bore me just a bit. Michelle Monaghan stars as the worried girlfriend who's there to cough out lines like, "I think you're getting in a little too over your head." Amy Madigan plays the missing girl's mother in a supporting role that's about as juicy as they come. Also showing up in one way, shape or form are John "Taggart" Ashton and Robert "The Other, Other Brother" Wahlberg. I have to say the film looks pretty damn good, and not what I would expect from Affleck's first directorial effort (he also co-wrote the script along with Aaron Stockard). Let us know what you think; Gone, Baby, Gone hits theaters on October 19.

According to Us Weekly, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are currently in Hawaii working on a new screenplay. If true, this will be the duo's first script written together since they won Oscars for Good Will Hunting almost ten years ago. In the past decade, neither has done much professional writing. Damon was credited as a co-writer on Gus Van Sant's Gerry and Affleck just co-wrote his feature directorial debut, Gone, Baby, Gone. Obviously no details are given on the script, so we have to just imagine what it will be like. Personally, I'm hoping it's a realization of that sequel to Good Will Hunting (Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season) that we got a hint of in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Actually, I'm sort of kidding, but I can't honestly imagine any other idea would be better for the guys. Nothing else will live up to the anticipation and the definite hype that audiences will endure up until it is released. So, why not just do something silly?

A lot of people, including the editors at Premiere, consider Good Will Hunting to be highly overrated. I'm far from being one of them, though I have to admit I would rather have seen Paul Thomas Anderson get the Oscar in 1998 (others may have favored Academy regulars Woody Allen or James L. Brooks that year). Awards aside, though, I like the 'forced premise' and formulaic structure of the film. However, I probably buy the Will Hunting character and his story because Matt Damon's performance makes him so convincing. I don't think the duo will have as much luck with their next script unless Damon again takes a lead role. Anyway, Us has an amusing photo up of Affleck and Damon taking a surfing break while out in Hawaii. Maybe they're actually doing research for their script. Maybe while in California Will Hunting has become an avid surfer. Maybe we will get a Good Will Hunting sequel after all.

Say it ain't so, Ben? According to a scoop Dark Horizons picked up, Ben Affleck is interested in remaking Play Misty for Me. The 1967 film was Clint Eastwood's directorial debut, and is probably one of the only Eastwood flicks that could be remade without people immediately cursing the heavens above. Affleck, who I happened to catch last night at an early screening of Smokin' Aces (sorry folks, but I'm not allowed to talk about that film, apart from the fact that it was annoyingly delicious), is supposedly in talks to produce and direct the pic. Right now, it looks like Jason Smilovic (Lucky Number Slevin) will pen the script, and Eastwood himself might even attach himself as producer -- I guess to make sure Affleck doesn't muck the whole thing up.

In the original, Eastwood played a DJ who has a one-night-stand with a woman only to later discover that she was an obsessed fan, hell-bent on going all Fatal Attraction on this cowboy. No word yet on whether Affleck will follow in Eastwood's footsteps and also star in the film, but those of you who are curious about the dude's directing skills won't have to wait much longer, as Affleck's first attempt behind the camera, Gone, Baby, Gone, is due out next year. While I'd be interested in seeing a contemporary version of Fatal Attraction Play Misty for Me, I would like to see a film that reverses the roles. (Does Hard Candy count?) How do you hardcore Eastwood fans feel about this one?

Odds and ends from Wednesday:

• When I first heard that Ben Affleck was directing a film in which he also wrote the screenplay, my first thought (without knowing anything about the project) was, "Okay, who's ghost writing it for him?" Regardless of whether or not you got that one, Affleck is currently shooting Gone, Baby, Gone in Boston. Man, talk about guys that can't leave their hometown, now I know why he and Kevin Smith are so close. Anyway, though it's been rumored for awhile, Morgan Freeman has now officially signed on to star in the film alongside Casey Affleck, Ed Harris and Michelle Monaghan. I should note that Gone, Baby, Gone is based on a novel written by Dennis Lehane and has to set some sort of record for commas in a movie title.
• To all those Lord of the Rings fanatics out there, you may want to shut your ears for this one. Okay, well, here's the thing: I'm not so crazy about Viggo Mortenson. Honestly, the guy is so wooden up on that screen, I half expect women who kiss him to pull away with splinters all over their lips. But what can you do -- chicks dig him. Viggo is now attached to star in the screen-adaptation of the award-winning stage play, Good. Story is set in Nazi era Germany and centers around a professor who gets seduced by the dark side.
• Let me ask you this: Your good friend makes you a character in one his novels. Some time goes by and this novel becomes one of the most successful in recent memory, so much so that a film is made and Tom Hanks signs on to play you. I'm sure the last thing you would do in a time like this is complain, right? Well, tell that to symbology expert John Langdon (Geez, you'd think Dan Brown would get a bit more creative with the name change) who, according to reports, thought the film version was not as good as the novel. In fact, he claimed it was a bit "over the top." Over the top? You're making a film about one of the greatest secrets ever held in the history of great secrets, what do you expect -- a quiet, silent film featuring an assortment of hand puppets? Look, not many people get to say Tom Hanks played them in a movie. Be grateful. Now, if Ron Howard were playing you, that's a completely different story.