Affleck survives 'Gigli,' moves to next 'Paycheck'

Since winning an Oscar with pal Matt Damon for Best Original Screenplay for 1997's "Good Will Hunting," Ben Affleck has spent more time being written about than writing. That's certainly been the case this year, as his hot-and-cold romance with actress-singer Jennifer Lopez and their big-screen flop, "Gigli," kept gossip columnists and entertainment pundits busy.

"'Gigli' was the 'Ishtar' of our times because it didn't work and it had a lot of attention," says Affleck. "I do nothing small. If it fails, I go down in a blaze."

The actor has higher hopes for "Paycheck," which opened Thursday. Not only does he "really like this movie," but it is based on the work of Philip K. Dick, the sci-fi master whose short stories and novels have inspired such films as "Blade Runner," "Total Recall" and "Minority Report."

"I saw 'Blade Runner,' and it changed my whole outlook on movies and life," says Affleck, 31. "I thought it was a life-changing experience. Of course, I was 8 or 10 or whatever.

"But I went and read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and then I read We Can Remember It for You Wholesale, both of which were changed, the titles -- Philip K. Dick was a mad genius, but he wasn't great at titling his stories -- to 'Blade Runner' and 'Total Recall.'" Affleck hadn't read the short story "Paycheck," but when he found out that Dean Georgaris had adapted the screenplay from a 1953 Dick story, he wasn't surprised. Still, he believes Georgaris deserves his own props.

"While Philip K. Dick did have the engine and a really smart premise, Dean really did do a good job in the fleshing out and ... and making it contemporary," says Affleck.

In the subtly futuristic "Paycheck," Affleck plays an engineer with a genius for dissecting technology and improving on it. Corporations pay him handsomely -- basically to steal competitors' products -- and after he's through his memories of his assignments are erased.

"Paycheck" addresses the possibility of changing the future, but the star of "Daredevil," "Pearl Harbor" and "Armageddon" has no desire to change his, or his past.

"I have a great life," he says. "It's sort of tough to complain and say, 'Well, I would actually tweak this a little bit.'

"I think it's only healthy to want to continue to improve and live a better life, but by the same token ... I'm the sum of myself and the mistakes I've made and the things that I've accomplished and the things I've endured, so I wouldn't change any of that stuff."

Affleck says he "considered it an honor" to work with legendary Hong Kong director John Woo, who made his mark in Hollywood with such hits as "Face/Off" and "Mission: Impossible II."

"I've been a great fan of John's from 'Hardboiled' and 'The Killer,' so it was like getting to work with one of my heroes," says Affleck. "Getting to stand there and do the two-guns shot was like -- I literally felt like a 12-year-old kid."

Now past 30, Affleck says he's comfortable taking stock to ensure his "quality of life."

News of former girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow's marriage to Coldplay singer Chris Martin may even be what it takes to get him to the altar.

"I'm willing to make a statement about this marriage right now," says Affleck, eyes twinkling as reporters hang on his words.

"It's legal now in Massachusetts, and Matt and I have set a date. We get married on New Year's Day in Provincetown. Be there!"

Scripps Howard News Service