George Clooney thinks Ben Affleck is a “really wonderful actor,” who deserves another Oscar nomination. Clooney directed Affleck in “The Tender Bar” and praised his 49-year-old friend for his work in the movie. In a January interview with Deadline, Clooney said, “Ben really showed up, and he stuck his neck out.” But while he acknowledged Affleck’s SAG and Golden Globe noms, Clooney admitted, “He hasn’t been acknowledged much as an actor, and he’s a really wonderful actor.”
“The Tender Bar” tells the story of a boy growing up in 1970s Long Island, where he bonds with Affleck’s character, Uncle Charlie, a local bar owner, per the description on Prime Video. Clooney and Smokehouse Pictures partner Grant Heslov produced “The Tender Bar,” along with Amazon Studios. Clooney told Deadline that Affleck was his first choice for the part of Uncle Charlie. “I looked at this as a real showcase for Ben, and you know, Ben’s been through the ringer,” he said. “He’s been as high as you could get. He stood on the stage and won a couple of Oscars. He knows what it’s like to be at the top of the game, and he also has had some rough patches.”
The 60-year-old actor and director called Affleck a “fighter,” telling Deadline, “It’d be lovely if the same sort of attention was carried on [to the Oscars], I think he would deserve it.” It seems Affleck and Clooney have a mutual fan club!
