Matt Damon is back in theaters this weekend as a rising political star who accidentally discovers the secrets of the way the world works in the latest Philip K. Dick adaptation, The Adjustment Bureau. But how did Damon get to the point of go-to action star/comedy television star after an early career of sensitive dramatic roles?
You can always trace a direct line through a handful of roles (not necessarily his best roles, mind you) to illustrate what led to an actor's current success, and with Damon, that line has shifted dramatically since accepting the role of Jason Bourne nine years ago. Yet he still maintains a healthy, refreshing level of self-deprecation. Let's look at nine performances that trace the evolution of one Matthew Paige Damon.
Rising Son (1990)
"Will a father's dreams destroy his son's life?" Not much is known about this made-for TNT drama other than Matt Damon plays a son who obviously disappoints his father, Brian Dennehy (listen for the dramatic "Shut up!" 13 seconds into the clip). Regardless, after a bit role in Mystic Pizza, this is Damon's first starring role.
School Ties (1992)
Just the boys, hanging out, singing a little "Smokey Joe's Café," what could go wrong? Well, first, Ben Affleck has to be the one dancing around shirtless for some reason. Second, the mood is ruined once the first anti-Semitic remark is casually dropped in front of secretly Jewish student Brendan Fraser. An early film proving that Damon can play the asshole when needed.
Courage Under Fire (1996)
Damon famously lost 40 pounds to play the role of Spc. Ilario, putting his health in serious danger in the process. Nonetheless, Damon's commitment to the role garnered much critical praise, a sign of things to come. During Damon's career, he will play soldiers in both Gulf Wars and World War II.
Rounders (1998)
We've all heard enough about Good Will Hunting at this point to last a lifetime. What's really important here is what Damon did after the Oscarrific run of Good Will Hunting: Make a movie about poker that's exciting to people who don't play poker. Not the box-office or critical success that Hunting was, Rounders maintains a cult following to this day and proved Damon wasn't just a flash in the pan.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Damon's best-acted role to date. Damon, as Tom Ripley, weaves through a storyline filled with everything from mistaken identity, repressed homosexual feelings and, eventually, murder. It's a testament to Damon that a movie so complicated could still be a success at the box office. Damon was nominated for a Golden Globe, but only Jude Law would receive an acting Oscar nomination.
Will & Grace (2002)
Shades of what would come when Damon would expand his sitcom resume with 30 Rock, but his appearance on Will & Grace was one of the first signs that Damon was a guy who was up for anything as long as he thought the role was fun.
Eurotrip (2004)
Is this a calculated move that was conceived somewhere in a back room by a group of publicists? Probably. But that doesn't mean it didn't work. The last movie one would ever expect to see Damon would be in this little seen 2004 romp about four students making their way through Europe, but, alas... there he is, playing the lead singer of a rock band who also happens to be involved in sexual relations with the main character's (Scotty) girlfriend. A precursor to the "I'm F*cking Matt Damon" Sarah Silverman video.
The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
Aside from being the first of the Bourne movies to feature Paul Greengrass as the director, what makes Supremacy a milestone above the other two is how it marks Damon's commitment to being a bona-fide action star. It's also his first sequel in general, making him an official franchise guy (his second, Oceans 12, would be released later in 2004).
30 Rock (2010)
Again, no one likely expected Matt Damon to play a recurring role on an NBC comedy -- even one as well-regarded as 30 Rock -- let alone be so good in the role or eventually appear in the series' live episode. But that's the thing about Damon: Other than Good Will Hunting and the Bourne movies, his box-office track record isn't the best for movies where he's the main draw. What keeps Damon relevant is his "up for anything" persona: His most recent film, Hereafter, was a bomb critically and commercially, but Damon himself never took a hit because of the long tail of goodwill following gambits like 30 Rock.
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