I'm sure the book is probably outstanding, but the movie was just clunky and horrible and boring to boot for me. We saw it at an advanced screening in Austin before the movie had been released and we ducked out after the movie, but before the screenwriter hit the stage to do a Q&A. Needless to say, I was horrified that entire awards season. It's on my Most Overrated Movies Ever list.

"Southie-goes-straight theme ." But whatever.

And all I can say is, for the record, thank the Boston gods for Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon. Now I have to go rewatch the Departed.

" 'to counter which, I offer The Talented Mr. Ripley' "

I don't think he gets enough credit for the Bourne movies, either…"

Yes, yes, yes – to all of the above. I'd add The Good Shepherd, too; at least parts of it. I'm looking forward to The Informant! very much.

Milk is the Penn-exception for me as well, Sue. It's a less glaring (in every sense), more generous performance, in many ways, but also much more restrained than I've seen from him in a while.

As for Sean Penn, he's quite the ham most of the time. I did grant him some redemption for Milk.

Word. He's fantastic in that. And he has a few bits in Ocean's 12 that kept it from dying on the vine.

I don't think he gets enough credit for the Bourne movies, either — the first one, mostly. He gives the character dimensions immediately, when the character doesn't even know his own dimensions his own self. Pretty neat trick, and not showily pulled off.

… to counter which, I offer The Talented Mr. Ripley. There are others, but that nuanced, quietly heartbreaking performance (in a severely underrated movie, perhaps my favorite of the last decade) will do for Exhibit A.

In fact, after The Informant! recently, I recall thinking that Damon has quietly, almost without people noticing over the years, been building up a good list of impressive screen performances in highly diversified projects without ever indulging the spill-your-guts-onscreen school of "notice me!" award-baiting.*

(*Yes, I admit that Penn has done this. I am not, in fact, a devoted fan or anything like that. But I do feel that he's done some work of a quality impossible to discount. Not everyone does, obviously)

I think Penn confuses his own willingness to appear deficient in dignity onscreen with emotional or intellectual honesty.

This is what I think is awesome about Matt Damon, actually. Hard worker, doesn't take himself too seriously.