Synopsis
The political backdrop of Boston is the setting of Doug Liman’s The Instigators, a rapidly changing, gritty heist comedy. The film follows a former Marine, Rory, played by Matt Damon. Rory’s partner in crime is an alcoholic ex-con called Cobby, played by Casey Affleck. Both men are in dire need of money. Rory is trying to rebuild a relationship with his son, while Cobby is battling addiction and a series of unfortunate life choices. They are both unwillingly drawn into a robbery plan by crime lord Besegai and his frigid partner Dechico.
Besegai and Dechico’s target is the re-election event of a corrupt mayor named Miccelli, where a large stash of bribe money is assumed to be kept in a safe. Ultimately, the crew’s breakthrough to the safe results in chaos. The crew is forced to improvise. Rory, Cobby, and a brash young accomplice named Scalvo are Make their own plans to salvage the job. Scalvo’s antics are overly confident and Cobby’s grab the attention of a security guard. This leads to Scalvo’s downfall.
With law enforcement and a hitman now on their tail, the chase is on. Rory and Cobby abduct Rory’s therapist, Dr. Rivera, who is played by Hong Chau. As a hostage, Dr. Rivera is untethered toward their mission: escaping while capturing any evidence and cash they can. Their journey is filled with high-speed chases, narrow escapes, and chaos throughout the Boston area.
The movie unfolds through a blend of funny and suspenseful action. This includes a bar explosion, attempted arson, and a fire alarm heist at city hall. Each of these adds to the story’s humorous and suspenseful moments. In the final act, the protagonists manage to expose a shady miceller and escape with the evidence. While trying to escape, Miccelli is captured and Rory and Cobby are cleared of the major accusations against them. The film ends on a feel good note after Rory reconnects with his son and Cobby pays a visit to Dr. Rivera, showing promise for a fresh start for both.
Besegai and Dechico are the focus of a mid-credits scene and provide the film’s black humor by trying to escape to Canada with a bundle of cash, only to get stranded and die of frostbite.
Cast and Crew
Director: Doug Liman
With impressive action films like The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Edge of Tomorrow to his name, Doug Liman is no stranger to the genre. In The Instigators, his trademark kinetic energy and brisk pacing are on full display. His direction helps patch the pacing problems caused by the script on some occasions.
Writers: Chuck MacLean and Casey Affleck
The screenplay was co-written by Chuck MacLean and actor Casey Affleck. The screenplay is a blend of action, comedy, and a character-driven drama. While some reviewers were harsh on the writing, Affleck’s parts infused the dry wit and emotional depth that elevated the character.
Producers:
The film was produced by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jeff Robinov, John Graham, Kevin J. Walsh, and Alison Winter. It was developed as part of Apple Original Films and had a limited theatrical release before debuting on Apple TV+.
Main Cast:
Matt Damon as Rory, a mechanic and a Marine with a checkered past.
Casey Affleck as Cobby, a bar owner and alcoholic struggling to live his life sober.
Hong Chau as Dr. Rivera, a rebellious therapist turned reluctant accomplice.
Michael Stuhlbarg as Besegai, the scheming mob boss.
Alfred Molina as Dechiko, Besegai’s ruthless associate.
Inexperienced and impulsive, Jack Harlow plays Scalvo, the third and unskilled accomplice.
In supporting roles, we have Paul Walter Hauser, Ron Perlman, Ving Rhames, and Toby Jones.
Cinematography: Henry Braham
Editing: William Goldenberg, Saar Klein, Tatiana Riegel
Music: Christophe Beck
Boston and Madrid served as filming locations, the latter leveraging Spanish tax incentives. Boston is almost a character in itself, with the city’s familiar sights contributing to the chaos of the film.
IMDB Ratings and Reviews
IMDB Rating: 6.2/10.
With over 39,000 user reviews, the film brings in a rather moderate score. Most reviewers agreed the film, while possessing amusing moments and a famous cast, fails to deliver a unique and engaging story to truly capture the audience.
Financial Performance:
Due to its limited release, the film earned a little over $11,000. The film was designed with a streaming premier in mind, so the revenue earned shouldn’t be held to a box office standard.
Critical Reception:
On all the major review aggregator sites, the movie scored average. The reviews were boosted thanks to the rapport between Damon and Affleck, and their genuine friendship worked wonders in the film. Their exchanges make up the heart of the film, filled with humor and heartfelt moments.
The film’s critics pointed out that it had no real suspense and that it was formulaic. Many believed that the film wasted its talented cast by giving them underdeveloped and poorly written roles. The character of Dr. Rivera is very interesting and has a lot of potential but is always pushed to the side. The mob characters Besegai and Dechico are also disappointing as they are more of caricatures than real menacing characters.
Other critics pointed out the wacky tone of the film. It tries to balance dark comedy and action-thriller goodness, alternating between the two. While it may appeal to some, it will likely lose a lot of viewers looking for a more logical and linear film. However, the character-driven dry humor may appeal to fans of the genre.
Even with the flaws, the film still has defenders and some positive reviews. Some pointed out that Affleck’s deadpan performance demonstrated his talent to a laugh, emotion, and subtle delivery all at the same time. The same can be said for Damon as he portrays a grounded character, which helps keep the story on the ground when it tries to take off into the ridiculous.
Audience Reactions:
Social media and online forums have proven that there are two sides to the story. Some viewers saw it as a chilled heist film that was easy to digest and fun to watch. Some were let down by the film as they expected more given the star cast and production team. Viewers both praised and critiqued the action, arguing it was either executed exceptionally, or poorly without any excitement or originality.
Conclusion
The Instigators is an action comedy you can watch just for the lead actors’ charm and rapport. This film does not set out to be revolutionary and that is perfectly fine. It is an occasionally amusing tale of two men of a certain age, both of whom are struggling to get a foothold in life. It is simple and, at times, funny. It does not hurt that the film is set in Boston, adding a certain appeal to the ramping up of the chaos.
Everything that the film gets right, it manages to get because the performances—especially those of Damon and Affleck—carry the film. The film also gets right quite a number of character-driven jokes. The issues of the film mentioned at the beginning in the list of weaknesses also include a slow build of the film’s action, an unresolved main theme, and lack of depth for the secondary characters.
Most of all, the film is recommended for friends who enjoy ease, for laugh-instigating heists, and to all who relish the Damon-Affleck team. While it does not aspire to be essential, it can quite positively be slap on a flyer for a streaming weekend.
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