8) The Town (Ben Affleck)
Out of all the movies he’s made as a filmmaker, it’s the one least-remembered that’s actually Ben Affleck’s best. Gone Baby Gone was Affleck’s big comeback, the one that proved he was capable of so much more, while Argo was the one that sensationally won him the Best Picture Oscar. Now Affleck’s set to write, produce, star in and direct the next Batman standalone, and it seems we’ve all but forgotten his gritty sophomore effort, The Town.
It’s a shame, too, because The Town might be Affleck’s most assured movie as writer-director, a mini crime epic in the Michael Mann mold. It also features one of Affleck’s best performances, a minimalistic, hardboiled turn to match the surroundings. If he brings this kind of form to his Batman movie, Warner Bros.’ DC Extended Universe might be yet heading for recovery.