Ben Affleck's kidnapping thriller "Animals" arrives on Netflix today, October 9, with the actor-director using its release to talk candidly about marriage, moral compromise and what he calls the "excruciatingly painful" experience of relationships ending.
Affleck directs, co-writes and stars in the film as Mark Kimball, an independent politician running to be the mayor of Los Angeles. His campaign and his marriage implode when his son is kidnapped and a mystery caller demands a ransom. Kerry Washington co-stars as his wife Abby, alongside Steven Yeun, Gillian Anderson, Luis Gerardo Mendez and Adriana Paz.
"How much do you have to invest in a marriage?"
Speaking to USA Today, Affleck, 54, said he was drawn to exploring how much of marriage is about raising children together and managing a shared economy — and what remains when partners feel they have nothing left to lose. "We want them to be attracted to us and to see attractive things about us, and we don't want to show them things that are not attractive," he said. "I wanted to tell a story about a couple that got to the place where they're only really able to be totally and utterly honest with one another when they felt they had nothing to lose."
The film's central couple argue ferociously as secrets surface and resentments come out. Affleck insisted he did not draw literally on his own widely publicised divorces, saying life experience helps an actor "find something that's related" without replaying it directly.
No plans for a political career
At the film's Los Angeles premiere, co-stars including Washington and Mendez teased Affleck about seeking office for real — a prospect he firmly rejected. "On a personal level, I think it would be an awful job," he said, describing himself as disillusioned with the political system and its workings. "Maybe they hate me," he joked of his castmates' encouragement.
"Animals" is also notable for being produced through Artists Equity, the company Affleck founded with Matt Damon.
Sources:
Ben Affleck gets real about marriage drama – 'Excruciatingly painful' — USA Today
Ben Affleck says he'd never run for political office – 'An awful job' — USA Today
Affleck directs, co-writes and stars in the film as Mark Kimball, an independent politician running to be the mayor of Los Angeles. His campaign and his marriage implode when his son is kidnapped and a mystery caller demands a ransom. Kerry Washington co-stars as his wife Abby, alongside Steven Yeun, Gillian Anderson, Luis Gerardo Mendez and Adriana Paz.
"How much do you have to invest in a marriage?"
Speaking to USA Today, Affleck, 54, said he was drawn to exploring how much of marriage is about raising children together and managing a shared economy — and what remains when partners feel they have nothing left to lose. "We want them to be attracted to us and to see attractive things about us, and we don't want to show them things that are not attractive," he said. "I wanted to tell a story about a couple that got to the place where they're only really able to be totally and utterly honest with one another when they felt they had nothing to lose."
The film's central couple argue ferociously as secrets surface and resentments come out. Affleck insisted he did not draw literally on his own widely publicised divorces, saying life experience helps an actor "find something that's related" without replaying it directly.
No plans for a political career
At the film's Los Angeles premiere, co-stars including Washington and Mendez teased Affleck about seeking office for real — a prospect he firmly rejected. "On a personal level, I think it would be an awful job," he said, describing himself as disillusioned with the political system and its workings. "Maybe they hate me," he joked of his castmates' encouragement.
"Animals" is also notable for being produced through Artists Equity, the company Affleck founded with Matt Damon.
Sources:
Ben Affleck gets real about marriage drama – 'Excruciatingly painful' — USA Today
Ben Affleck says he'd never run for political office – 'An awful job' — USA Today
