Ben Affleck & Matt Damon Take a Friendship Quiz

What role of yours could I have done better? Hi, this is Matt Damon. I'm Ben Affleck. This is the GQ Friendship Quiz. When did we first meet? I remember we were on Cottage Street, on his street, and my mom, I was new to the neighborhood, and my mom brought me around because she knew your mom. She went over to say hi, and you were eight, and Casey would have been five. But we knew each other. We'd see each other at the park all the time, and then in high school, we became really close. Correct. I would say that gets a point, out of a point. What was my first job ever? Your first job was probably Voyage of the Mimi. That was an educational show on PBS, or WGBH. Correct. We worked together once we were in high school for the summers. We did construction. We did construction and movie theater. We worked at Croissant du Jour. You handed out flyers for a ladies' shoe store. For Dance Plus. Yeah, I guess they thought you were gonna attract customers. I got fired for that show. It didn't work out. Full point, absolutely. What role did I play in The Visit in high school? You played my son. I did, son of a bitch. And it really set the bad precedent for our relationship. My character's name was Anton Schill. I think I was Carl. Was it Carl? Carl, because I remember you being like, Carl! You didn't do it like that. I remember one night, I literally have this memory of one night, it was a three-hour play, and boy, I was not making it shorter. I was like, I literally remember. You probably didn't really just enjoy the moment. No, I was just in it, and you made this upstage turn, and it's just quiet. You just hear coughing, and poor parents who I'm doing this to. And I just remember looking upstage at you, and your back was turned. You were supposed to be upset and looking out the window in a huff, and I remember thinking, I really wish I was him right now. Like, I've got another full act to get through. This is not going well. That was punishing for the audience that show. Yeah, it must have been. What's my Duncan order? Well, it definitely used to be a large regular. That's it. I mean, it's the variations on a theme. Large regular, iced or not, depends on the weather. Depends on the weather. I'm always waiting to see, like, hey, me, you know, from the commercials. You know, sometimes it's just like, you know what I mean? It's like, sometimes people are kind of like, what are you doing here? My favorite Duncan commercial that he did was he took over a drive-thru in Medford, Massachusetts, and it was all real people coming in on their way to work, getting coffee. And Ben spent the whole time telling them that they didn't have coffee. And he was getting in arguments with the people. One guy, when he pulled up, he goes, I knew it was ******* you. What do I do that annoys you the most? You're late. True. I don't know if that's the thing that annoys him the most, but it is. That probably doesn't annoy me the most. I'm kind of used to it at this point. It's a good, safe answer, though. Without looking at your phone, what is my last text to you say? Last night, you were, I think you said, I'm 40 minutes away. You and Violet were coming over to watch the Patriots. Correct. One point. This is a good one. What's my favorite thing about you? Well, I mean, do you have a minute? My dad. I mean, it's not necessarily about you, but it's definitely worth a full point. You have a friendship for a long time. It's like, it's not usually hinged on like, you know what? You're a good tipper. And if that wasn't the case, **** it. I'm out, you know? Matt's a great guy. That just means a whole lot of things, but none of it's, it's just going to come off as schmaltzy and pandering, and probably your audience would be turned off. It's going to look like one of those, one of those like, sir, you are the greatest man. Yeah, those really self-aggrandizing two-person interviews. You are a genius. You are a genius, sir. What was my first car? Oh, the Corona. God damn, yeah. Brown Corona with the holes in the floor. Yeah, I wish you had that wrong, but yes, that is a full point. Brown 1977 Toyota Corona. People think Corolla, right? Because that's the well-known. They had another car called the Corona. And that car actually ended up getting impounded. You got towed. And then Ben saw the guy from the tow yard driving the car around the city, which was great because he couldn't afford to get it out of the tow yard. And that was how he squared it up with them. He was just like, just keep the car because it was completely. Yeah, I owed, it was a four, I bought it for $400. And then I, yeah, I owed more. You owed more than you had bought it for. So we were good. They kept it. Yep, full point. What's my proudest moment? Well, I mean, obviously the births of your kids. There it is. Very easy answer. Who would make me starstruck? So air, yeah, no, you've met MJ. Yeah, that was a definitely a big starstruck moment. Michael Jordan. Probably, you know, I don't, in ways that I later on, I'm like, so stupid, why did you say that? Hopefully I've gotten to a place where I can be, you know, not like prevail on someone's time too much or be inappropriate and just be respectful. I was really thrilled and honored and definitely very starstruck that he took the time to sit down with me and talk about the story and the movie and really grateful. And, you know, being in front of Michael Jordan, like, especially in private and talking to him is a, yes, that's a very- And he changed the story and the script based on that conversation. Yeah, and we just took what he gave me and implemented it into the script. And yeah, it's an interesting thing when you meet a person that's so impressive to you, you've watched who's so kind of, I don't know, heroic, so great. It does cause a certain feeling. I mean, when we were, after high school, we drove to French Lick, Indiana to try to meet Larry Bird. Well, no, we knew he was at the Barcelona Olympics. No, we didn't, they told us when we got there, remember? We knew he was at the Olympics, we just wanted to go to his house. We rang the bell and they were like, he's at- He's at Barcelona, he's at the Olympics. He was in practice in like Portland. Oh, that's right, they hadn't left yet, yeah, yeah, yeah. So they weren't playing. We did go to his house, we got a picture at his gate. Yeah, we were, that's- And by the way, nobody in French Lick was at all surprised when they saw, we were in my car and it had Massachusetts plates. And we came out in the morning and these guys were just sitting out there like, y'all here to see Larry? And we were like, yes, sir, we are. And he's like, all right, you go down there, you need to make a right on Peachtree and just- And told us where he lived. That's it, and he said, just go down. And we said, well, how will we know it's his house? And the guy goes, you can't miss it, it's the nicest house in Indiana. And sure enough, we drove down. We also had a huge full court basketball court in the front yard, so it was like, that was- That's probably Larry's house. But yeah. What scene that we've done together was the hardest for me to get through? I think when we did Jay and Silent Bob's strike back. That's definitely true. We could not get through that scene without laughing. That's a bonus point for that, that was a good pick, yeah. We did a satire of Good Will Hunting called Hunting, a sequel called Hunting Season. I mean, working with somebody that A, is really good and B, who you really like and respect makes it like actually quite a bit easier to get through or do, you know, it's like a real luxury. So the scenes that I remember doing with you have all been like, you know, they've been fun and felt good. So like this movie Rip coming out on Netflix is, we had some fun scenes and one of them actually was technically the toughest ones to get through because it was a lot of like grappling, fighting and wrestling and stuff like that. Although- So we had our stunt guys do it. We had trained stunt performers. I suppose that would qualify if we had done our own. Any of those stunts. Describe my ideal day off. You just be with your kids. You know, kind of whatever they want to do. I don't really get to drive that agenda. Like lately, this is heaven. You know, my son has been gotten interested in watching like the great classic movies. In fact, I was telling him that earlier. So A, I hang out with my son, which is amazing. And you know, anytime I've got three kids and that's really the kind of the joy of my life and the, you know, spend time with them. But now he's like wanting to watch these great movies. So I'm getting to watch all the classic movies over again and kind of see him for the first time through his eyes. And so that's, that's really heaven. But I kind of do anything with the kids. You know, it's kind of part of parenting. It's just sort of being there and present with them and seeing what they want to do. What role of yours do you think I could have done better? All of them. Say 10. 10 points. He gets a 10. That's a 10 point answer. What's my dream role? I couldn't narrow down what the exact role would be, but it would be, it would be a very meaty lead in a movie directed by probably a list of 10 directors that are out there that we both know. Yeah. Him and I. What street was my first LA apartment on? Cherokee. Cherokee is right. One point. That was, I lived in that apartment. It was a two bedroom apartment. You and Derek Bridgman were living there. And then when I moved in, I get to the couch and we were only there for like three or four weeks. So a little bit Cherokee right off between Hollywood. We did get offered crack every time we went to the grocery store. And that was a really interesting, we had a competition in the four weeks we were there to see who could get to the corner store and back without getting offered crack. And I won because I made it to the store and almost all the way back before getting offered crack. All right. You're up buddy. You're in the hot seat. What's my middle name? Page. Yeah, yeah. What did I think I was going to be when I grew up? An actor. Yep. What's a role I wanted but didn't get? Well, with Dead Poets Society, the lead in Dead Poets Society, yeah. I mean, there's, and also I would say, interestingly, like for this coming year, I think, although I don't know how explicitly you ever said it, I always had the sense that, you know, you really wanted to be the lead in one of Chris's movies, really. And then got the chance to do that and, you know, did a bunch of, or a couple of supporting roles. Not those roles weren't good or that, you know, and that kind of encouraged this. And so it was very nice to see you get that part and get that chance, you know, so. He did call me when we did Interstellar together because that's a small part in Interstellar and he called me and he goes, and I read the script and I thought it was absolutely great and I loved it. We got on the phone and he goes, you know how there's that saying, there are no small parts, only small actors? And I said, yeah. And he goes, this is a small part. I'm stealing that. That's a brilliant line. What was my best subject in school? I mean, well, theater and drama, but also very good at English, very good student, very, you know. Why don't I direct? Good ******* question. You're the CEO of the company, man. Give me a job. You know why he really, why he doesn't direct is because like, it's hard to compete with the kind of movie acting opportunities that he has. Case in point, like the Odyssey, right? Well, that comes along, you're, you know, whatever. No directing opportunity is gonna sort of compete with that. First of all, the first time out, it's like everybody's, you know, the knives get sharpened and it's a lot of work and it's very time. Also the being away from your kids and the time-consuming nature of it, I actually think is the main reason. If you didn't have to do it, you would have directed a long time ago, but like your time is precious already. I already sometimes have to be traveling and, you know, obviously Lucy's like doing a ton and just, it's not easy. And I think that you would have definitely, and I've tried a few times to be like, hey, what about this? I think Matt would be a phenomenal director, like a really, really good director, no question. But there's a time, like you have so much time and one of the things about life is like, we both learn, I think, is, you know, you only get these years once with your children at these various ages. And we're looking at that, still we're in that final stage, right? Like that last kind of, you know, for me, three and a half. Yeah, I think for three, four years, you might actually, I think I can see you doing it. I can't see you doing it before then, I just don't think so. How do I know when you're mad at me? I don't know, but you just do. I don't have to say it. And that's what makes it really. I'll give you a point for that. What's my hidden talent? Like, there's a couple of answers to that. One I would say is that like, as an actor, I think Matt is, does a very, takes a very self-effacing and not showy approach to it. So doing very difficult, what I consider to be very difficult things, making them look effortless, and it's very hard to do. So I would say like, within his talent. It's my unimpressive acting that is the most. I was trying to find a way to say it. That's my hidden talent. That didn't come off that way. I think a lot of critics would agree with you. Matt's, he's a very good athlete. I would say also Matt's like a very good mediator. Oh, like if you were going to send somebody and say like, we have to have somebody go talk to this person because they're like in North Korea and they're going to attack us with nuclear weapons or, you know, or they're causing some problem or to broker some dispute. Like Matt would probably be the first person that I would select. He's very good at understanding other people and communicating with them and kind of understanding what their agenda is and doing it in a way that doesn't make feel attacking and then can, you know, where he doesn't present his own kind of agenda. It's just a, I think that's a real skill. Nuclear diplomat. There you go. I said it right here. What's my favorite restaurant and what do I order? Fucked if I know. I mean, what do you, I mean it's all. You'd have to go back. It's all gluten-free and you know. You'd have to go back to like Moody's or to. Oh yeah. I mean falafel. Village pizza. Yeah, the chicken wing plate at village pizza. I mean, whether that was our favorite or it was the only one nearby that we could afford. The two kind of became the same thing. Kookaroo for a long time. That's right. Well, this is an easy one. Between us, who would win at poker? Probably me. Ben, 21 years ago, won the California State Poker Championship. That meant he had to beat a lot of really, really famous pros. They were all in that, you know, all the guys' books we'd read. Yeah. But no, he's a hell of a poker player. What's my favorite thing to do when back in Boston? Well, I used to go back to Boston obviously to hang out with him. We'd go just to pick her up. We'd get off and hang out. He was just that guy, you know? It's like you just wanted to spend time with him. What is the key to a 40 plus year friendship? Good luck. I don't know. Goodwill. Oh, I love it. I love it. How many films have we collaborated on together? Goodwill. I was an extra in Glory Days. Yep. Feel the Dreams. Good Mother. Chasing Amy. Dogma. The Hunting... James and Bob Straight Back. That's eight. Oh, The Last Stool. Air. The Last Stool. Air. This one. Now you're up to 11. Yeah. I know something like that. I mean, we could... The extra work go on and on. We did a lot of extra work together. It says 14. Nope. We're losing our marks. What's one thing I have to do before filming? The tiniest bit of research. I've never seen him not prepare for a role yet. Although that day might come. Yeah, I would say research. Yeah, no, that's fair. Cause I don't have like a lucky meal or anything like that. What's the compliment you gave me that I appreciated most? Matt's a great, great father. And just knowing him, I would think that if he were the kind of person to sit around and marinate in compliments, that would be one that he might be apt to reflect on. I was looking for something more about me. Well, yeah, no. I thought we were working on that. What's my favorite thing about you? I don't know, probably being a good dad or being, you know, something like that is my guess. You all right. I'm all right. Would I save you or Jimmy Kimmel first? That's easy. I mean, me or your worst enemy? I think I have to rate above that. ------- 10 points for that one. God, Kimmel, I mean, guy's just luggage. Those are all the questions. I got this many points. And I got this many points. Bullshit. It was all about the last answer? Because I gave him 10 for the last one. ------- Jimmy Kimmel, **** you again. **** you, yeah. He finds a way to hurt you, doesn't he? He does. He has that gift. No, he haunts you in his ways.