Ben Affleck had less than stellar performances in “Pearl Harbour” and “Daredevil”, but he was still riding high on the back of the popular films, “Good Will Hunting” and “Armageddon”. In fact, he’d already won an Oscar Award before he was 25 years old, which is no easy feat. It should have been all gravy from there… but then he decided to work with Jennifer Lopez in “Gigli”. He became the subject of ire and burning criticism from viewers.
Despite the nosedive, Affleck was still able to steer his career out of danger. He made it big by directing and acting in the movie “Argo”, in 2012, from which he was able to win three Oscars. His strange, yet captivating “Gone Girl” movie, also got favorable reviews.
Kevin Costner and The Postman
Kevin Costner seems to have developed a habit of taking on so-so movies, with roles that can never be ranked among those up for award nominations. But life wasn’t always like that for him. In fact, he was a fan favorite, back in the heyday of his career.
Had it not been for his big name and charm, Costner would have been knocked off the ranks of A-listed actors after his role in the movie "Waterworld". A film that turned out to be an ocean of nonsense. He followed up this wet flop with "The Postman", hammering the final nail into the coffin of his leading man status. While his former celebrity status has been lost, he still manages to snatch up some projects now and then.
Son of the Mask Didn’t Work in Jamie Kennedy’s Favor
Jamie Kennedy knew he had big shoes to fill when he got contracted to work in a sequel to Jim Carrey’s "Mask", titled "The Son of the Mask." After all, Carrey’s type of acting apparently doesn’t work for just any actor. But Kennedy was believed to have something special, that everyone involved in the project was banking on.
He starred in three Scream films, "Malibu’s Most Wanted", and "Harold And Kumar Go to White Castle". But all that experience wasn’t enough for him to live up to Carrey’s work; particularly when working with less than stellar visual effects (okay, let’s admit it, they were godawful), and a cringe-worthy screenplay. This quite did his career in, although he still clinched a recurring role in "The Horse Whisperer", then, later on, scored a voice-over role in "The Cleveland Show".
Rebecca Gayheart in Jawbreaker
Rebecca Gayheart starred in suspense-thriller movies in the 90s. She was a solid hit back in those days, popular with teenagers who loved her in "Urban Legends", and "Scream II".
When it was time to expand her fanbase, she took on a role in "Beverly Hills 90210", capturing prime-time attention on TV. She made another venture into the movie industry and got ensnared into the dark comedy "Jawbreaker". While the film enjoys cult classic status, Gayheart paid badly for it. She hasn’t had any opportunities to get back on top since then, and her career practically ended before it had really begun.
Will Smith in After Earth
Kudos to Will Smith for guiding his son, Jaden, showing him the ropes in acting, which is a warm story in itself. The father-and-son tandem has shown some glints of success in the past, but "After Earth" turned out to be a huge flop.
Perhaps it was a sacrifice Will Smith was ready to take, as he even took a back seat most of the time, to make way for Jaden’s role to unfold. The futuristic theme of the movie didn’t click. It was simply a forgettable movie, and it took Will Smith another two years to come back with a noteworthy film, titled "Concussion".