It is common across the film industry to see actors and directors cement firm partnerships over the years starring and creating films together. The film Promised Land reunites the award-winning creative team behind Good Will Hunting, with Gus Van Sant and Matt Damon coming together again to create this thought-provoking drama. In celebration of this partnership, we’re looking at some of the most successful actor/director relationships across the history of film.

Matt Damon makes an early bid for Oscar glory in Promised Land, a gentle yet compelling drama about a small farming town facing an economic and industrial meltdown. While the financial difficulties faced by its characters will resonate with a lot of people, it feels a little out of date and we never get a sense of why this particular story is being told now.