In other words, it's good to be Bourne, and it's great to be Matt Damon, who’s also held his own in the latest Ocean's escapade.
The funny thing is, five years ago, when the first Bourne was released, it was anything but a guarantee. Damon's chops as an action star were untested, the book series was decades old, and the surefire action blockbuster that season was supposed to be The Sum of All Fears, starring Damon's pal Ben Affleck as Jack Ryan (which did well, but still came in second banana to Bourne).
Since '02, there have been no more Jack Ryan actioners, and Affleck's star has fallen a wee bit off the radar (he's the director of the upcoming Gone Baby Gone, but there's no mention of him at all in the trailer). Damon, on the other hand, appears next in projects from A-list filmmakers Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather) and Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream). So what has Damon done so very right?
Looking over Damon's resume, I would venture it has a lot to do with balance and Damon's placement in the pop culture firmament. Like Johnny Depp, it took awhile for this actor to truly hit his stride as the 'go to' favorite. But even that sort of timing works to one's advantage.
Lots of stars want to be stars, but Damon’s made it apparent that he also wants to be an actor, and appear in good material, whether he's the lead or not. For every Bourne, there's a Departed and a Syriana, with Damon on equal or lesser billing to Jack Nicholson, George Clooney and a lot of other talented people.
Damon's not been afraid, either, to exist in both the indie and commercial worlds, signing on for experimental fare like Gus Van Sant's Gerry , and making the occasional fun cameos (e.g. the American Pie-esque Eurotrip).
After his (and Affleck’s) Oscar win for Good Will Hunting in 1997, Damon's taken the quiet path to success, without fanfare or overexposed leading roles. He hasn't been the commercial lead in some TV series or comic book-to-big screen adaptation, and he hasn't preened for attention, on film or in private.
Does that make him a better actor than his less successful peers? Maybe, maybe not. But it does mean he's achieved success without resorting to the 'look at me' tactic. He's always been earnest, hard working and fortunate to be in films that live up to their billing.
He's not really the Tom Cruise of his generation. He's more like the higher profile Kevn Bacon: never too grating, and always dependable. Given the success that’s likely for the latest Bourne, expect to see him a lot more, and thankfully, on the big screen and not in the tabloids.
What’s your opinion of Damon’s rising star? Let us know your thoughts.
