Ben Affleck Sings the Praises of George Clooney Saying He Gave Him "The Best Notes of Any Director He's Worked With"

This week was the red carpet premiere of the George Clooney-directed drama The Tender Bar. The film stars Ben Affleck, Tye Sheridan, Lily Rabe, and Christopher Lloyd. The film is getting a lot of buzz, as it’s the reunion of Clooney, Affleck, and producer Grant Heslov, who last teamed on the Affleck-directed Argo, which won a best picture Oscar in 2013.

This seems to be just as special of a picture as it has garnered glowing reviews, and Affleck had the very best things to say of Clooney as a director. THR asked Affleck what it was like to work with Clooney, and he said:

“He gave me the best notes of any director I’ve ever worked with; the most playable, useful notes. It’s a function of his having done this job for so long, having done it really well and learned from really good directors. He credits other directors he’s worked with but even more than that, it’s just as much a credit to his own experience and the time he’s devoted to acting and playing the kinds of roles that he has. He can, in a very specific, shorthand way, articulate not only what he wants but he does it in such a way that the choices are so right on the money that you’re embarrassed you didn’t think of it. Oftentimes, it’s simple, like, ‘No, that line’s funny. This is funny.’ And it changes the whole scene and everything you’re doing to the point that he makes it five times better. I’ve had experiences when a director talks for 45 minutes before a scene and it can be circuitous and abstract and you leave thinking, I don’t know how to play this. George gives notes that are both about the character’s internal life but also the specificity of what’s actually happening in the moment. He really is an expert. I’m just lucky that I got the chance to work with him.”

I think there’s a lot to be said for having a director that has such extensive acting experience, and can really give relatable advice to their actors.

My dad got to attend the premiere this week, and he said it was a fantastic film. He said that during the post-film Q&A, Affleck was asked what it was like to work with Clooney, and he gave a short and sweet glowing review, to which Clooney seamlessly reached into his wallet, pulled out a large bill, and handed it to Affleck, who put it in his pocket without missing a beat.

I can’t wait to see The Tender Bar, and if the early reviews are right, I hope to see it in the awards this season.

The Tender Bar hits theaters on December 17, 2021.