It’s Matt Damon‘s birthday!! The actor has been a household name since writing and starring in the acclaimed film, Good Will Hunting. It’s no surprise to see him show up in blockbusters, but it’s always a delight.
So, on this day: Matt Damon’s birthday, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with a Matt Damon Movie Marathon. Here’s 5 movies that should DEFINITELY be a part of that watching experience…
Good Will Hunting (1997) – Of course this is going to be a part of the marathon. Damon showed the world with writing and acting partner, Ben Affleck, that he was a voice and talent film needed. Damon stars in this drama about a self-taught genius who is discovered by a college professor played by the late and legendary Robin Williams. This film will touch your heart and have you saying, “It’s not your fault!” by the end credits.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) – Damon plays a different sort of genius in this thriller. In this movie, we watch Damon at the titular character use his talents to take assume others’ lives and take everything wants. It’s a film with so many twists and turns that will leave you wondering, ‘What’s next?’ from start to finish.
The Bourne Identity (2002) – Move over James Bond and Ethan Hunt, a new spy has entered the ring and he is changing the genre forever. The Bourne Identity follows Jason Bourne (Damon), a man who is experiencing amnesia while exhibiting extraordinary talents that only a trained operative would have. We follow Bourne as he takes on assassins and government agents while trying to figure out who he even is. While this did influence action movies to shoot sequences with “shakey cam,” it also gave us a new way to do action movies. This film was less about spectacle and more about taking the audience on a ride with the main character. This was NOT your dad’s spy film. We’d see the latest incarnation of James Bond take influence from this ground breaking film and its sequels. In short: this film is really cool!
The Martian (2015) – The award-winning film that taught everyone, you can grow potatoes in space. The Martian is 2 hours of Matt Damon on the surface of Mars. We watch him play an astronaut stranded on the red planet, using his extensive NASA training and science know-how to survive alone while his colleagues on Earth try to figure out how to get him home. Just as gripping as ‘The Bourne Identity’ and ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley,’ with a much more intimate style of story-telling, you will learn how to survive on a planet alone should the same ever happen to you…
Ford V Ferrari (2019) – It’s hard to believe this film is only a year old because it’s an instant classic. Ford V Ferrari sees Damon as legendary automotive designer, Carroll Shelby, team us with the rambunctious racer Ken Miles, played by Christian Bale, as the two attempt to prove to the world that Ford BEATS Ferrari. It’s a great film for car enthusiasts and fans of drama – there’s A LOT of that. Another academy acclaimed motion picture, F V F deserves the accolades and a watch for your Matt Damon movie marathon.
Honorable mentions:
The Departed (2006) – Squeeze this mobster drama in if you can. While not the star Damon is excellent in this nail-biter of a film.
Dogma (1999) – Damon shines as fallen angel Loki in this hilarious and star-studded Kevin Smith comedy.
Team America: World Police (2004) – Okay, so it’s not actually Matt Damon in this movie, but his puppet self is unforgettable.
