While The Town drew strong reviews, no one—not even Warner Bros.—had huge expectations for its box office chances. Directed by and starring Ben Affleck, the film was seen as more of a specialty play. How wrong they were. The Town ended up grossing $92.1 million domestically and $52.1 million overseas for a worldwide take of $144.2 million.
Warner Bros.Ben Affleck is playing an unlikely role in the ongoing debt ceiling debate in Washington DC.
On Tuesday, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) tried to motivate Republicans to back House Speaker John Boehner‘s debt plan by playing a clip from Affleck’s movie, The Town, the Washington Post reports.
In the scene, Affleck’s character, a bank robber, asks his friend to help him commit a crime. “I need your help. I can’t tell you what it is. You can never ask me about it later,” he says. “Whose car are we gonna take,” replies the friend.
After, Rep Allen West (R-Fla.), stood up and voiced his support of the plan: “I’m ready to drive the car.”
Affleck, who is currently in Turkey directing and starring in Argo, tells the Huffington Post, “I don’t know if this is a compliment or the ultimate repudiation.
“But if they’re going to be watching movies, I think The Company Men is more appropriate,” he adds, referring to his movie about middle-aged men who lost their jobs during the recession. One of them kills himself because he’s so depressed about being unemployed.
