Ben Affleck Reveals the Overlooked Genius of Seven
Ben Affleck opens up about the film he believes is criminally overlooked, offering rare insight into why Seven deserves far more recognition than it receives.
There’s a curious tendency online to dismiss Ben Affleck as a bit of a fool until he manages to prove otherwise, something he’s done more than once. The internet, of course, has immortalised him with the endless ‘Sad Affleck’ memes, his weary expression in public snapped and shared with glee. Yet, for all the jokes, he’s often been ahead of the curve. Back in 2003, he was already predicting that subscription models would reshape both music and film, long before Netflix and Spotify became household names. He’s also been vocal about the future impact of artificial intelligence, and if his track record is anything to go by, he’s likely to be right again.
Admittedly, his judgement in picking roles has sometimes been questionable—no one’s rushing to defend Gigli, Surviving Christmas, or Reindeer Games. Still, he remains the youngest ever recipient of the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, having nabbed the award at just 25. Perhaps his turn as a not-so-bright character in Good Will Hunting has stuck in the public mind, but Affleck’s credentials as a cinephile are hard to dispute.
Affleck’s Unconventional Choice
When asked to share the films that have inspired him, Affleck’s selection raised a few eyebrows. He singled out a crime thriller that, despite being a box office smash and earning an Oscar nod, rarely appears on lists of all-time greats. In his words,
“I think Seven is probably one of the great underrated kind of masterpieces. I think people don’t include it sometimes in the lists they make of great movies because it’s a serial killer movie, and people go, ‘It’s like horror’. It’s actually, I think, one of the best constructed movies ever made.”
He went on to praise the film’s structure and the way its elements come together:
“The screenplay, the execution, the performances, they all work beautifully in concert with one another,”
he said.
“The acting is great. The plot and the reveal and the tension actually have a reveal and a point. There’s a denouement that’s incredibly resonant. It’s iconic. It’s stayed with us.”
Why Seven Still Resonates
Affleck’s admiration for the film is rooted in its lasting impact. Despite its commercial success and critical acclaim, Seven is often overlooked, perhaps due to its dark subject matter. Yet, for Affleck, the film’s meticulous construction and the interplay between script, direction, and performance set it apart from the usual fare.
He’s not alone in his appreciation, but his willingness to champion a film that’s both popular and, in his view, underappreciated, says something about his approach to cinema. He’s not simply chasing the obvious choices or the safe bets. Instead, he’s drawn to works that linger in the mind, that offer more than a surface-level thrill.
Fincher’s Lasting Influence
Affleck also took the opportunity to tip his hat to David Fincher, the director behind Seven and later Gone Girl, in which Affleck starred. He remarked,
“David Fincher is as good as anybody who’s ever done this job.”
It’s a bold claim, and one that’s sure to spark debate, but Affleck’s respect for Fincher’s craft is clear.
For all the memes and the missteps, Affleck’s perspective on film is anything but shallow. His championing of Seven as a neglected gem is a reminder that even the most celebrated works can slip through the cracks of popular memory, and that sometimes, it takes a fresh look to recognise their true worth.