If you listen to Ben Affleck, seeing a sci-fi thriller jam-packed with action sequences may be the perfect way to spend the holidays this year.
Based on Phillip K. Dick's short story, Paycheck, director John Woo will bring his rendition, starring Affleck, to the big screen Dec. 25.
Affleck said he was intrigued with Woo's movie from the beginning because he always has been a big fan of science fiction.
"I was that nerdy kid who played 'Dungeons and Dragons'," Affleck said in a conference call Thursday.
In the film, Affleck plays Michael Jennings, a world-famous genius who agrees to do a special project for a high-tech corporation in return for a $4.4 billion paycheck. But there's one exception: Jennings must have his memory removed to ensure the secrecy of the project.
Instead of getting paid, Jennings is given an envelope filled with random objects and told he agreed to forfeit payment. Now, he must discover how the objects relate to his past - and stay alive while he figures it out.
"This role was really interesting because it was an acting challenge, which was much more satisfying," Affleck said.
The sci-fi movie also stars Uma Thurman and Aaron Eckhart. Affleck said it is full of fighting scenes and chases, some of which he did himself.
"I did a lot of the fighting scenes myself, but I would like to always do as much as I possibly can because it makes the movie better," he said, adding that he was game for performing his own stunts but that Woo was very protective of his leading actor.
Affleck described the movie as "Hitchcockian" because of its suspense. "The movie is about solving a puzzle as opposed to giving the audience eye candy with explosions and that's it," he said.
According to Affleck, the future has much more than acting in store for him. "I see myself as somebody not totally limited to doing just one thing," he said, "and ultimately I'd like to direct a movie."
He also said collaboration between him and friend Matt Damon is a possibility. But for now, he said he would take six months off and relax.
Paycheck is rated PG-13 for intense action violence and brief language.
Reach the reporter at pamela.j.coffman@asu.edu.
