Life After ‘Gigli’: Affleck’s Rope-a-Dope
Ben Affleck tries to put a good face on it, calling the bad publicity a “critics slam dunk contest,” but the actor, like the rest of America, is sick of “Gigli” and ready to move on.
That’s why he’s at the Four Seasons hotel doing his best to promote “The Battle of Shaker Heights,” the new film he and friend Matt Damon are executive producing as part of their Project Greenlight contest.
“Shaker Heights,” based on the first original screenplay by Project Greenlight winner Erica Beeney, centers on a 17-year-old boy who reenacts WWII battles to escape the realities of his life. The coming-of-age comedy is helmed by this year’s other Project Greenlight winners, directing partners Efram Potelle and Kyle Rankin.

Discussing “Shaker Heights” makes Affleck wax nostalgic about the good ol’ days of working with director Kevin Smith on independent films.
“I remember sleeping on Kevin’s couch and doing ‘Chasing Amy,’” he says, “and that was all that mattered.”
The actor acknowledges that those days are behind him. “If I were in an independent movie, they’d be flogging it, using my name anyway. So you can’t get away from being out front there, once people know who you are,” he tells Zap2it.com.
He still gets involved with films, which have the independent movie feel though. “‘Jersey Girl’ is the closest in spirit to ‘Chasing Amy.’ I really like the movie,” says Affleck, referring to his newest comedy that reteams him with Smith.
It also co-stars fiancee J.Lo in a minor role, a fact that is downplayed after the “Gigli” fiasco. “Jennifer is only in it for about 15 minutes,” he explains. “I’m sure now after ‘Gigli’ they’ll find a way to market it so it doesn’t quite feel like a Ben and Jen movie.”
Affleck, who “Shaker Heights” star Shia LaBeouf calls the “prince of America” and “poster boy for men,” will first appear in “Paycheck,” director John Woo’s sci-fi action thriller.
He remains optimistic about his post-”Gigli” career. “‘Paycheck’ is good. I’d be doing a lot worse if I didn’t like ‘Paycheck’ and ‘Jersey Girl.’ So I feel like I got a little rope-a-dope,” he says, alluding to a tactic in which a boxer pretends to be trapped against the ropes while his opponent wears himself out throwing punches.
“The Battle of Shaker Heights” opens in limited release Aug. 22 and in the top 10 markets Aug 29. Affleck will appear in “Paycheck” this Christmas and in “Jersey Girl” in 2004.