Source: USA Today
After 15 years in the shadow of his more famous older brother, Casey Affleck has arrived.
He delivers back-to-back career-altering turns in two dramas: In The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (in theaters), he’s the creepy hanger-on who idolizes Brad Pitt’s outlaw, only to stab him in the back after James mocks him. And in Gone Baby Gone (due Oct. 19), he’s a small-time, morally conflicted private eye investigating the ostensible kidnapping of a Boston girl.
The double star turns have started early awards buzz, and the actor finds himself being OK with it.
Though his performances might seem revelatory to general audiences, most critics aren’t surprised. And neither are pals and colleagues such as George Clooney and Pitt.
Clooney predicts Casey Affleck is “going to have a big year. Every time you think you know him and that he’s smart, he says something and you think he’s smarter. He’s a tremendously talented actor.”
Says Pitt: People walk out of Jesse James thinking, ” ‘Who knew Casey had it in him?’ We all knew. We’re happy to see him get something that’s as big as he is and pull it off like he did.”
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