Celebrity Poker Circle -- Pay Up or GET OUT!

A regular player in the exclusive poker circle -- which included Leo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Nick Cassavetes and Todd Phillips -- tells TMZ, the poker games took place every Tuesday night for nearly 2 years ... from 2005-2007.

The circle was small -- only 8 or 9 players at a time -- and we're told, the mood was always "super serious" ... no joking, no drinking. The games would start around 10PM and go all night.

It wasn't uncommon for tempers to flare either -- we're told screaming matches happened on the regular ... and on the rare occasion, the table even got tossed over.

There was no official buy-in -- but we're told, hands often got as big as $150,000 a pot. We're told players would regularly lose $500,000 in one sitting ... no big deal.

But these guys weren't carrying briefcases of cash with them -- we're told most of the time, they played on credit ... and if someone didn't pay, that was it ... they were out of the circle forever.

Inside the room, there were dealers, massage girls, lots of security, food, and a full bar ... presumably for the spectators -- which included a list of billionaires ... and one time, the Olsen Twins.

As for who was the ultimate card shark -- we're told that was Tobey, no question.

Tobey Maguire Targeted Over Illicit Poker Ring: Are DiCaprio, Damon and Affleck Next?

Not so for Tobey Maguire, who's been sued after getting outed as one of the A-listers who allegedly took part in a years-long illegal gambling ring that saw millions of dollars change hands in a series of no-limit high-stakes poker games.

In addition to Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Notebook director Nick Cassavetes are among those who allegedly took part in the invitation-only marathon Texas Hold 'Em sessions.

Oh, what a tangled web. So, did the onetime Spidey simply overplay his hand? Here's what got Maguire singled out…

Well, turns out, he's pretty good with a hand of cards. So good, in fact, that between 2007 and 2008, he managed to take $311,200 off of Beverly Hills hedge fund manager Brad Ruderman—with $110,000 of that coming in just one night.

Though these figures aren't noted in the lawsuit, a source told Star that over one three-month period, Maguire averaged $1 million in winnings.

Unfortunately for him, Ruderman anted up more than he had to spare, and as a result orchestrated a Ponzi scheme among his investors to pay off his debts, which included the money he owed to Maguire.

In other words: the actor inadvertently found himself on the receiving end of some hot cash and is now being sued by a trustee for the investors Ruderman embezzled from in an attempt to get back some of their stolen funds.

The suit—filed back in March but only recently uncovered—makes it clear that Maguire was not involved in Ruderman's scheme in any way and was completely unaware of how the businessman, currently serving a 10-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to five criminal counts, came up with the currency. However, the suit alleges that Maguire nevertheless wrongfully accepted the money and should hand it all back over, with interest.

View the lawsuit

According to the lawsuit, the games, which were held twice weekly at "luxury locations" like The Four Seasons, The Peninsula, the Beverly Hills Hotel and the players' own homes, were highly organized affairs. One woman, Molly Bloom, allegedly acted as the chief coordinator of the games, and scheduled the accommodations, amenities (massages and alcohol were heavy features), food, hired the dealers, kept track of the players' wins and losses and arranged for the financial settlements between players.

All of which, in addition to helping keep things civil and organized, made the card sessions "controlled games," which should then have been licensed or otherwise regulated by federal, state or local authorities. Which they weren't. And which is where that whole illegal ring thing comes into play.

So far, Maguire hasn't publicly commented on the suit, but is believed to have heavily lawyered up.

However, lady luck hasn't left the actor completely: as of now, he's not being pursued on any criminal charges—likewise Damon, DiCaprio or Affleck. Though should that change, the legal system may have just hit the jackpot.

Why Is Ben Affleck Sporting a Black Eye?

The actor was spotted out on the town looking pretty scruffy Thursday, and while we're used to that, he was also sporting a huge shiner on his left eye as he and wife Jennifer Garner went to pick up daughter Violet.

What could the 38-year-old erstwhile Daredevil possibly have done to himself?

We've called his rep to fill us in, but we haven't heard back yet.

In the meantime, might we suggest borrowing some of Jen's coverup?

Joel Edgerton joins 'Gatsby' in Ben Affleck's place

Based on the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, Edgerton's character will come toe-to-toe with DiCaprio's Gatsby, who is in love with his wife Daisy (Mulligan). Isla Fisher will fill the role of Buchanon's mistress, Myrtle -- Love triangles galore! Maguire will be playing Daisy's cousin and story narrator, Nick Carraway.

Luhrmann says of the newest addition: "In casting Tom one had to find an actor who could credibly be (as Fitzgerald describes him) 'one of the most powerful ends that ever played football at New Haven,' had five-star acting chops and in the big dramatic showdown scenes between Gatsby and Tom, hold the screen against Leonardo DiCaprio, in the appropriate age group. Any wonder, it has been a long and thorough journey."

Entertainment Weekly has a first look at Edgerton in character.

Edgerton previously held the small role of a young Uncle Owen in "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith," amongst a bevy of smaller film performances. He will star opposite Tom Hardy this September in "Warrior."

What do you think? Does Edgerton have what it takes to give Leo a run for his money?

Affleck eyes 'Great Gatsby' role

The new movie version of the classic novel already boasts an all-star cast including Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, and now the Daredevil actor is being considered for a lead role.

According to Deadline.com, Affleck, who is currently preparing to direct Iranian hostage film Argo, is trying to clear his schedule to take on the role as Tom Buchanan.

Ben Affleck's condom shame

The actor/director contributed a story to a 1990 teen sex guide called Risky Times: How to be AIDS Smart and Stay Healthy written by Jeanne Blake, who was formerly married to Damon's father Kent.

The book, which is now out of print, resurfaced during Damon's recent appearance on Jay Leno's U.S. talk show, with the actor telling the host, "Yes, that's Ben. And all the sex he wasn't getting... There's some good dirt on Ben in there, I'm sure."

Affleck's story about buying condoms from a pharmacy has now surfaced online along with a picture of the actor as a teenager.

The star, who was 18 years old at the time of the encounter, recalled, "I was so scared. I wondered: 'Are they going to call my mom?' I went into the store, walked up to the shelf and grabbed the box. I didn't stand there looking too long. There were two registers. A man was at one, a woman at another. Of course, the woman's register came up first. I felt so self-conscious and idiotic, but it was all over in a second. I put them down and she looked at me with this stoic face and rang them up and put them in a bag, and I ran out of that store really fast!"

Another quote from Affleck reads, "There are so many things I want to do in my life. I want to be given the chance to become someone. I want to see how the story ends."

Step up aid, diplomacy to DRCongo: Affleck

"Austerity demands that we turn a blind eye to Congo, but it would be pennywise and pound foolish to allow the Democratic Republic of Congo to fall again," Affleck told the African affairs subcommittee of the House of Representatives' foreign affairs committee.

"We have to take a hard look at our current commitment, and then we have to do more," said Affleck, who last year founded the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) advocacy group and uses his celebrity to shine a spotlight on continuing violence in the country.

A report issued by ECI in November said that after emerging in 2002 from wars that had raged since the 1990s and claimed 3.5 million lives, DRC was again on the brink of chaos.

But, the report said the country could still be edged forward into recovery with a concerted effort and continued aid from Washington and other donors.

The report urged the United States to spearhead an international effort to bring stability to eastern DRC or risk the entire Great Lakes region becoming "another failure of humanity."

Much of the violence in DRC is fueled by the country's mineral wealth, said Affleck and fellow panelist John Prendergast, another advocate for greater US involvement in Africa to promote and preserve human rights.

"I think we have to focus first and foremost on getting a certification system for conflict minerals," not unlike those used to halt violence driven by "blood diamonds" in West Africa, Prendergast told AFP.

"There are many other issues that are fueling conflict in DRC, but the biggest source of gasoline for that fire is conflict minerals," he said.

Among the victims of violence in DRC are the 200,000 women who have been raped or sexually brutalized since the country first plunged into war 13 years ago, and the more than 1,000 women and girls who are still raped every month in DRC, said Affleck.

Prendergast also criticized Washington for dragging its heels in appointing a special envoy for DRC.

"It's shameful, frankly, that we're waiting around months and months to see if the administration's going to do something about the deadliest war in the world," Prendergast said.

"They should just go ahead and appoint a senior significant person and bring to bear the kind of influence the United States has, work internationally to help bring about a resolution of Congo's troubles."

Affleck, Prendergast and the other panelists, including Cindy McCain, the wife of former Republican presidential candidate John McCain, called for the United States to fund DRC's elections, due to be held in November, and not repeat the mistake it made after 2006 polls.

Those elections were surrounded by a feeling of optimism and hope, and a year after Joseph Kabila -- who assumed the presidency after his father Laurent was assassinated in 2001 -- was elected to a five-year term, Washington started to draw down its involvement in DRC.

"We treated the country like a well-functioning state. The result of our pulling back was a sharp rise in violence," said Affleck, the star of "Armageddon" and "Pearl Harbor" and winner of the best original screenplay Oscar for "Good Will Hunting."

His plea for continued US aid and a stepped-up diplomatic effort for DRC came as Republicans and Democrats are locked in debate over where and how to cut government spending.

The United States last year gave $306 million in bilateral aid to the DRC, making it the largest donor, said Raja Jandhyala, deputy assistant administrator of the Africa bureau of the US Administration for International Development (USAID).

AFFLECK INTERVIEWED ON HUMANITARIAN WORK

Portions of the Interview to Air Monday, March 7 on "World News with Diane Sawyer" and "Nightline"

Affleck and McCain Speak to George Stephanopoulos Live on "Good Morning America," Tuesday, March 8

In 2008 she was at her husband's side as he ran for President as the Republican nominee, and he was one of the most high profile Hollywood stars at the Democratic National Convention supporting then candidate Barack Obama. Now this unlikely couple has come together to help draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in the Eastern Congo. Ben Affleck and Cindy McCain recently returned from a trip to the region and will sit down together for an exclusive television interview with ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper to discuss the daily life and struggles of the Eastern Congolese. The interview will air Monday, March 7 on "World News with Diane Sawyer" and "Nightline."

Inspired by his travels to the region, Affleck launched Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) less than a year ago. Cindy McCain recently became the newest significant investor in the Initiative. The ECI works with Congolese community-based organizations to help create sustainable solutions in four key areas: support for vulnerable youth, support for survivors of sexual violence as well as income generation projects and local peace & reconciliation programs.

On Tuesday, March 8, Affleck and McCain will sit down with George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America." Later that day Affleck will testify on Capitol Hill about a bi-partisan approach the United States should take to address the current problems in DRC.

Ben Affleck to testify to US Congress on DRCongo

Affleck, founder of the Eastern Congo Initiative advocacy organization, will appear Tuesday before the House Africa, Global Health and Human Rights Subcommittee, Republican Representative Chris Smith said in a statement.

The actor -- who starred in "Armageddon" and "Pearl Harbor," and won the best original screenplay Oscar for "Good Will Hunting" -- will appear at a hearing entitled "The Democratic Republic of the Congo: Securing Peace in the Midst of Tragedy," chaired by Smith.

Other witnesses will come from the US State Department's Bureau of African Affairs, the US Agency for International Development, as well as from non-governmental groups Catholic Relief Services and of The Enough Project.

"Our aim is to draw attention to this horrific, long-term crisis and the immense suffering taking place. The Congress and the world community must work together to bring hope and a better future to the DRC," said Smith.

Ex-Yanks fight wife-swap film

Die-hard Red Sox fan Affleck and his brother, Casey, are rewriting a second version of the script and have hired veteran sportswriters to help reach out to Yankees from that era. But Kekich, who's believed to have created a completely new life and family in New Mexico, is refusing to participate.

A source tells us, "Kekich is panic-stricken. He has moved away and has a new identity. He is freaked out that those working on the movie found out where he is. He isn't too keen on having the scandal dredged up again after all this time.

"Other Yankees from that time have also been really unhelpful with facts and details of what happened. They are stonewalling."

The amazing drama started in 1972 after the two hurlers, old friends, joked about swapping wives. They followed through on it, although word didn't get out until the spring of '73. Marilyn Peterson moved in with Kekich, but it didn't last. Susanne Kekich and Fritz are still married and live in New Jersey and Colorado. Kekich reportedly remarried and had another daughter.

Actresses being considered include Naomi Watts, Rachel Weisz and Rebecca Hall. Ben Affleck recently confirmed he and Casey were rewriting the script, and hinted that Damon may direct. It wasn't certain that he and Damon would play the pitchers.

Affleck recently told MTV, "I've come to have a little more respect for the Yankees. There are some of those guys . . . that look like good guys . . . But as an institution? Disdain. Contempt." About the movie's subject matter, he said: "Guys [bleep]ing each others' wives -- that's those Yankees."

The script hasn't yet been shown to Major League Baseball or the Yankees, another source confirmed. Reps for Affleck, Damon and the team declined to comment. A source close to Affleck said he was working on many projects and is currently focused on directing a political thriller, "Argo," which he's about to start shooting.

Stars share how they survive so many awards shows

Ben Affleck Ready to Get into Bed With George Clooney?!

And it looks like he might be one step closer toward obliterating those bombs from our collective memory forever with news that he could be teaming up with none other than George Clooney on an upcoming political thriller.

A source confirms to E! News a story by the Hollywood Reporter that Affleck is in talks to helm Argo, which Clooney is producing with his partner Grant Heslov.

The movie, based on a Wired magazine article revolving around the 1979-1981Iranian hostage crisis, would focus on the successful effort made by the CIA and the Canadian government to rescue six U.S. diplomats from Tehran by fabricating a scenario that the six were actually part of a film crew scouting locations for a movie called Argo.

Sounds pretty impressive to us. Heck, this might even help us forget about Bounce too.

Affleck's 'Company Men' smart

Writer-director John Wells' smart film shows what happens to working men after the Gordon Geckos of the world are allowed to operate unfettered and in concert with other corrupt capitalists and laissez-faire politicians.

And what does happen? Unemployment runs rampant. The entrepreneurial spirit is crushed. Jobs are exported. All to benefit a precious few of the rich.

The Company Men is a fictional tale but it plays like a docu-drama. It is real. It is honest. It is the brutal truth about how American society -- and, by economic extension, Canadian society too -- has suffered under this system. Instead of railing about it in general, however, the film tells the saga inside a specific universe that draws deep inside. You can make your own conclusions.

Our hero is a crusty corporate boss played with in-your-face antagonism by Tommy Lee Jones. He snaps off cruel witticisms. He is rude and obnoxious, even to friends. Call it type-casting but Jones nails it, and not just because he often acts that way in real life. Jones grasps the nature of his beast on screen. His man is someone who actually created a company, created jobs, cared for the working stiffs and middle management types who helped make him successful. Damned if he will let all that go just for money or fame.

(Trailer)

But now his partner in the long-ago start-up -- the slick uber-executive played with oily charm by Craig T. Nelson -- is willing to sell out. And the workers will all suffer, whether they are suits played by Ben Affleck and Chris Cooper or the legions of working men and women who support the greater good in the company.

In intimate detail, Wells shows what happens to these victims and what Jones tries to do about it. Meanwhile, we see the human failings of all, even of the people we like and love in the story. They are all thoroughly humanized. That makes their fates all the more compelling, of course.

Combine that with the excellent ensemble and The Company Men emerges as a strong cinematic experience for adults. Affleck continues to show his maturity, taking better roles and mining them for deeper emotions. The curmudgeonly Jones, of course, is always superb in reality drama. Cooper essays another complex role. Rosemarie DeWitt and Maria Bello give extremes of the female experience inside this manly milieu.

The Company Men works better than Oliver Stone's new Wall Street sequel, although the two films would make a good double bill. Or turn it into a triple with Jason Reitman's excellent Up in the Air, which carves out its territory among those dispossessed by corporate downsizing and sell-outs.

What it all means is that North American filmmakers are willing to examine life around us with unblinkered eyes. The depression of 2008/2009 messed millions of people up, many of whom have not recovered. The Company Men helps us make sense of the spectacle.

'The Company Men' does its job well but cuts out early

That's the blessing and one of the few drawbacks of this drama from ERand The West Wingscribe John Wells, making his directorial debut. Where the sublime Up in the Air and last year's documentary Inside Job tally the recession's toll on working Americans, The Company Men examines the hardships facing executives getting pink-slipped.

The movie is less effective at explaining why we should care.

While Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper and Tommy Lee Jones turn in sterling performances, the lot of their characters is so blessed, it can be hard to sympathize with their fall. And their idea of hardship — a smaller house, sensible car, no $500 lunches — doesn't exactly send chills.

Still, Company doesn't apologize for its worldview from above the glass ceiling — and that reverse perspective carries the film until it stumbles briefly beneath some unnecessary lecturing near the end.

Company opens with three executives from a Boston-area conglomerate literally adjusting their white collars on their way to work. But Bobby (Affleck) is about to get a half-day after learning he's been downsized. The film follows Bobby and his former co-workers Phil (Cooper) and Gene (Jones) as they struggle to maintain or replace the jobs that define them.

The Company Men flourishes when it moves from the private jets and centers on the family corrosion that springs from any job loss. The tension between Bobby and his wife, Maggie (the terrific Rosemarie DeWitt), provides the film an emotional center.

And Affleck shines whenever he returns to his Boston roots (The Town, Gone Baby Gone, both of which he directed). His accent is natural, and he shifts easily from Armani suits to overalls.

Cooper and Jones are solid as always, especially when they share a scene. The 56-year-old Kevin Costner, who plays a soft-spoken carpenter, seems to be relishing his multiplying roles as an aging Everyman.

The Company Men stumbles slightly in the final stretch, when Jones is asked to become the conscience of corporate America and the script clobbers with some car-ad sentiments, namely that we should get back a country where we made things for a living.

It's simple stuff, but the movie's heart is in the right place. And there's something cathartic if not wholly effectual in Company's message: Even for the Italian sports car set, things are tough.

The Company Men
* * * (out of four)
Stars: Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper
Director: John Wells
Distributor: The Weinstein Co.
Rating: R for language and brief nudity
Running time: 1 hour, 53 minutes
Opens Friday nationwide

Nicole Kidman, Ben Affleck, Michelle Williams Join Tea Party

A tea party!

No, not that Tea Party!

It was a megstar turnout yesterday for BAFTA/LA's annual awards season tea party at the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills. American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe somehow managed to stop by. "I'm running around trying to fit everything in," he said.

Lythgoe also told me that Jennifer Lopez's family are frequent visitors at Idol. "The kids have been there, but not on set," Lythgoe said. "Marc [Anthony] is on set a lot of the time. He loves it…When Randy [Jackson] says, ‘Let me tell you what happens next,' they're like, ‘You don't have to show us. We've been watching it for nine years.'"

I asked Lythgoe who his pick would be to play at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding. "Oh, that's a good question," he said. "I don't know who they like, but I do remember when Princess Diana said, back in the day, she liked Dire Straits that all of a suddenly they became the band to watch."

Also at the BAFTA event (cohosted by Bombay Saffire), Kidman was overheard telling Eric Stonestreet she is "big fan" of Modern Family. Speaking of Kidman, Kathy Griffin was on the hunt for The Rabbit Hole star. "Have you seen Nicole Kidman," she asked. "Where is she? I want to see her." (FYI: Griffin's bod? Amazing in a green Oscar De La Renta dress!)

Andrew Garfield proved to be quite patient and accommodating as a couple of admirers struggled with their own camera after asking to take a pic with the Social Network star. His girlfriend Shannon Woodward was by his side as he spent most of the afternoon chatting with Tom Sturridge and Rufus Sewell.

Jeff Bridges hung out with his True Grit costar Hailee Steinfeld and You Don't Know Jack star Brenda Vaccaro.

Jeremy Renner never took off his sunglasses, wearing them on the red carpet and inside the party. No word on why, but I could tell you that he appeared to be having a really good time the night before at the Critics' Choice Awards, at one point walking through the lobby of the Palladium arm-in-arm with Sam Rockwell and a beautiful blonde woman.

Ben Affleck prefers "Company" of ensemble casts

Affleck gamely poses for photos as one man explains, "I'm an actor. I don't speak English, sorry. But 'Gone Baby Gone' -- very, very good." Affleck thanks him for the praise, and as the man leaves he adds, "Your brother very, very good actor. You, good director!"

If anyone had doubts about that last statement after Affleck's directorial debut, "Gone Baby Gone," they disappeared with the September release of the taut, original thriller "The Town." Though he had been content to stay behind the camera with his first film, letting younger brother Casey take the lead and Amy Ryan win accolades, Affleck put himself front and center for "The Town," in which he plays a career criminal who falls in love with the bank employee he took hostage.

Now, with "The Town" on countless year-end "Best of" lists and Oscar buzz growing for the film, Affleck closes out 2010 by heading another terrific ensemble -- in John Wells' "The Company Men." In the timely story, Affleck plays an arrogant sales manager who finds himself downsized and forced to work for his blue-collar brother-in-law, played by Kevin Costner. Chris Cooper, Maria Bello and Tommy Lee Jones also star.

BACK STAGE: YOUR RECENT CHOICES SEEM TO SHOW YOU GRAVITATING MORE TOWARD ENSEMBLE WORK ("SMOKIN' ACES," "STATE OF PLAY," "HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU"). IS THAT A CONSCIOUS DECISION?

Affleck: I've found that I've had the best time playing in ensembles or character parts where I could do something different. "Good Will Hunting" is a part like that. So is "Boiler Room" and "Dogma" and "Hollywoodland." I just did this movie that nobody saw -- "Extract" -- and I just feel you have more latitude to try things; it's much more satisfying. They mirror the things I did early on that I liked, like "Dazed and Confused." You can do both; "The Town" is a lead role, but an ensemble movie. Same with "The Company Men." Also, I'm attracted to the chance to work with good actors. I care about that more than about being the lead in a movie.

BACK STAGE: HAS THAT CHANGED FOR YOU -- WAS THERE A TIME WHERE YOU WOULD ONLY TAKE LEADS?

Affleck: There was a part of me that had a built-up frustration from never getting the leads. Always being the bully character, or feeling marginalized in some way. So the starving man gets to the table and he wants to eat. Eventually I figured out that's not the thing. It's the part you're playing and its integrity and quality, not its size. It's a cliche, but it really is true. That's led me to where I am today.

BACK STAGE: DID THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH FILMS LIKE "PAYCHECK" (2003)? I SINGLE THAT ONE OUT BECAUSE I SPOKE WITH A CO-STAR OF YOURS IN THE FILM WHO SAID THEY STARTED MAKING DIFFERENT CHOICES AFTER THAT MOVIE.

Affleck: The problem with that movie is it was a really good script and it caught a director (John Woo) at the wrong time in his life and a studio who didn't really care about investing in it. It had a great cast -- Aaron Eckhart, Paul Giamatti. That script (based on a Philip K. Dick short story) was really interesting. It's an interesting story, and there's a way to do that movie and make it good. It was fine; it was serviceable. I wouldn't say that movie changed my life necessarily, but I recognized that doing that kind of serviceable studio movie is not the road to anything interesting or satisfying, career-wise. It was after that movie that I took some time off and then did "Hollywoodland" and started prepping "Gone Baby Gone." So I suppose it's a line of demarcation in some way. So I don't hate on the movie so much. I wasn't all the way engaged as an actor the way I should have been -- obviously, or it would have worked better.

BACK STAGE: BUT HOW MUCH CAN YOU CHANGE THAT? HOW MUCH CONTROL DO YOU HAVE AS AN ACTOR?

Affleck: You can change it only so much. You're a little bit in thrall to who you're working for. Oftentimes, people see an actor on a poster and think they're responsible for the moviesometimes in good ways, sometimes in bad ways. And the actor is responsible for a lot, don't get me wrong. A huge part of directing is casting. But at the end of the day, it's not the whole thing.

BACK STAGE: I'VE HEARD THAT AS A DIRECTOR, YOU'RE VERY INVOLVED IN CASTING EVERY SINGLE PART IN A MOVIE.

Affleck: Yeah, I hope every director is. To me, that's where you make the movie. When we did "Good Will Hunting," I asked Gus what the secret to directing was and he said mostly casting. "Changing Lanes" was an amazing experience for me, and one of the things I learned from director Roger Michell is how important it is to cast every part like it's the lead. Extras, day players, one-line, two-line -- they have to all be great. It's hard; you've got to find the right people. But you know what? The right people are out there; there are so many gifted actors out there. It's a joy to work with them. And most actors are not used to being empowered so that they can succeed. They don't get given the opportunity to be told to take risks, try something different. Somebody who really roots for them so that it involves sacrificing other things, like time, for the sake of performance. I found that when I adopted that position with actors, they really responded. They worked harder, they got really into it. Actors don't want to be treated like cattle or like idiots, and actors have a tremendous amount to bring to the table. Every actor in the movie is, in effect, writing and directing the movie with you. If you open the door to letting those good ideas in, you're the one who benefits.

Affleck frets over Garner's gift

The Town star puts all his effort into hunting down the ultimate Christmas gift for Garner and as a result the actress gets no help picking out items for their family and friends.

But Affleck admits he often ends up scouring shops at the last minute for the right gift to leave for his wife under the tree.

He tells Ellen DeGeneres, "I'm not particularly proud of it. But it's a bit of a '50s thing, I guess. Because my wife is so capable and because I'm less so, she does a lot of that (shopping) work and I kind of root her on.

"It takes her as much energy and effort to buy like the 20 gifts we're going to buy other people, as it does (for me) to buy her gift. I spend the whole time fretting about that and being nervous and hoping she likes that.

"And then I end up at like (pharmacy) CVS on the 24th being like, 'Maybe she'd like a little Godzilla that goes around.' My kids actually would like that..."

Sighting

Review: Hard to muster sympathy for 'Company Men'

"The Company Men" asks us to feel some sympathy for the guys on top — the executives who've luxuriated in Porsches and private jets and $500 lunches, and are suffering the pain of having all those goodies taken away. It's a tough request from John Wells, the man behind "ER" and "The West Wing," here making his feature writing and directing debut.

The strength of the all-star cast — Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Costner — makes "The Company Men" vaguely engaging, but even watching these veterans and heavyweights banter and bounce off each other can't convince us that the characters themselves are compelling.

It's not that being privileged makes them boring; being two-dimensional does. Despite the massive life changes thrust upon the film's central figures, their arcs still feel predictable. That is, except for one who has a subplot that comes out of nowhere and feels as if its context were left on the cutting-room floor. That's all we'll say.

"The Company Men" focuses on three men, specifically, hit by downsizing at a Boston-area manufacturing conglomerate. Affleck's Bobby Walker is the first to go. He had it all with his wife (Rosemarie DeWitt) and two kids — beautiful house, shiny sports car, great golf game — so he's not terribly thrilled about the prospect of having it all taken away. He's actually in denial for a while about being laid off, insisting on keeping the country club membership even when paying the mortgage becomes difficult. Bobby is, in a nutshell, an arrogant jerk — and Affleck certainly knows how to play that sort of character believably. But he's so off-putting from the very start, it makes it tough to care about his potential redemption.

Next up is Cooper's Phil Woodward, who's pushing 60 with no real prospects. The career counselor who's been assigned to him advises him to dye his hair and omit his Vietnam War service from his resume, along with any work experience from the 1990s. He doesn't exactly respond well, to put it mildly. This all could have felt relevant and insightful — especially in the hands of an actor so capable of both subtlety and volatile rage — but "The Company Men" reduces him to a bit of a cliche. Phil gets drunk by himself in the middle of the day and literally throws rocks at the corporate headquarters from the parking lot. Literally.

Finally, there's Jones' Gene McClary, the no-nonsense right-hand man and longtime friend of the CEO (Craig T. Nelson), whose primary instinct is to cut jobs in hopes of bolstering the shareholders' confidence. Gene, by contrast, is old-school and longs for the days when he and his pal first created the shipbuilding company, when men made things they could see and be proud of, when everyone felt like family. Jones is in his agreeably cantankerous straight-talker mode, but he's also the most ostentatiously wealthy of the three "Company Men." So when he comes home to his palatial estate and finds that his pretentious socialite wife has purchased a $16,000 antique table to place in front of a window, well, it kind of makes you cringe a bit.

Finally, there's Costner, who's amusing as Bobby's brother-in-law, Jack, a salt-of-the-earth guy who's still managing to get by with his construction business. He offers Bobby a job hanging drywall — which, of course, Bobby initially rejects as being beneath him — but eventually Jack will come to function as the film's moral compass and savior. "The Company Men" seems to overlook the fact that homebuilding suffered during the recession, too. But it does give Costner a chance to trot out his old New England accent from "Thirteen Days."

"The Company Men," a Weinstein Co. release, is rated R for language and brief nudity. Running time: 113 minutes. Two stars out of four.

Ben Affleck News Archive Part 2