By Connie Lee August 7, 2024
The Instigators is Doug Liman’s latest directorial venture following his Road House remake. And as the newest release in the heist genre, it doesn’t do much to stand out. Even with an all-star cast (Matt Damon, Alfred Molina, and Michael Stuhlbarg, just to name a few) and attempted thrills, there isn’t much to keep it warm against the backdrop of a Boston winter. But when it seems like its fire is about to completely burn out, there are a few bright flickers that keep The Instigators from turning into a cold dud and instead make it a laidback and enjoyable enough romp about doing the right thing that warrants some laughs.
Synopsis
Rory, a depressed ex-Marine and dad (Damon), and Cobby, an alcoholic ex-con (Casey Affleck), who become unlikely partners in this heist-gone-wrong flick. When they become involved in a local crime boss’ plan to rob the city’s corrupt mayor, and it totally backfires and results in a police officer’s death, the two head out on the run together. They make a slurry of bad decisions to try to stay alive and out of the hands of henchmen and dirty cops, including taking Rory’s therapist as a hostage.
Review
What’s admirable is how unapologetic The Instigators is about not wanting to be like other heist films. From the dialogue to the clumsiness of the events, that slickness and swag that’s obvious in older hits like Heat and Ocean’s 11 is missing, but this is to its advantage. Once it’s figured out where Liman wants the film to go, viewers are able to look at The Instigators from a fresh perspective, not spend the almost two-hour runtime inevitably comparing it to its predecessors, and just enjoy its simple ride. This also makes it easier to appreciate Damon’s and Affleck’s characters because they’re just two regular schmucks going through the motions. It’s hard not to like them.
But in its efforts to be different, it misses the mark by not taking big swings. The steady, sullen tempo throughout hardly changes except for a few clever and dangerous moments. Because of this, the stakes aren’t high, nothing is memorable, and it’s hard to really become invested in Rory’s and Cobby’s journey because we know that they’re never in real danger. By no means was I expecting The Instigators to have Jason Bourne-level twists, but even just small amounts of suspense and more well-thought-out action would’ve done wonders for it.
Most of the fun comes from the characters and their interactions. In fact, just their banter alone makes up for a good amount of what’s lacking. Every actor brings effortless charm and confidence to their roles on their own. Together, they form a relaxed coolness that makes every combative insult and joke feel casual and oddly familiar. It’s like talking to a close friend, except they’re not afraid to just throw “F*** your mother” around flippantly (keep count of how many times this happens in the film).
All in all, The Instigators is far from a knockout. Still, it’s moderate entertainment that’s perfect for those who want to throw something easy on their TV and pass some time. The key is to keep your expectations lower with this one so that you can get more out of it – at least as much as it can offer.
Star Rating
The Instigators releases on Apple TV+ August 9
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