The Instigators is the second film this year from director Doug Liman, but this one isn’t a remake of an 80s classic. Instead, this movie employs Liman’s better directorial instincts with its incredible cast. There is humor, action, and all of the heist movie trappings fans of that genre tend to love. The Instigators is a total blast.
Matt Damon plays Rory, an ex-marine in need of some money to get his life together. He joins Cobby (Casey Affleck) as part of a trio with plans to rob a political event. Things don’t go exactly as planned, and the two men find themselves with massive targets on their backs. The men who hired them, the police, and some backward bureaucrats all want to track them down.
Casey Affleck is in full comedic relief mode in this film, and he is killing it. His character basically never stops talking and constantly is making light of nearly every situation. Affleck has been great in many roles, but he is nailing this film’s humor and tone. His slight apathy mixed with snarky commentary of every situation makes the film a total blast to watch.
Damon is the necessary straight man. He’s new to this life of crime, and the dynamic between Cobby and Rory becomes all the more interesting as the stakes continue to rise throughout the film. Damon is always capable of winning the audience over, and he’s somehow able to do it here with a slightly bland character. His age is called into question numerous times, and one of the funniest gags is centered around him taking notes during the heist planning phase.
While the two leads are tremendous, the film is rounded out by an incredible supporting cast. Hong Chau plays Rory’s counselor, Dr. Donna Rivera, who simply steals most of the scenes that she is in. Chau and Affleck have tremendous comedic chemistry and get some of the funniest moments in the later parts of the film. She is able to bring gravitas and comedy to the roles she takes, and she continues to impress.
Then, there is Michael Stuhlbarg, Alfred Molina, Paul Walter Hauser, and Jack Harlow each present in some capacity or another with regard to the heist. Each brings something in their respective scenes and manages to make a mark on the audience. It is especially great seeing Stuhlbarg as an angry crime boss complaining about the cold weather while wearing a fur jacket. They all work off Affleck and Damon perfectly, and their scenes are among some of the best.
The victims of the crime, or the people impacted by it, are full of veteran actors as well. Ron Pearlman, Toby Jones, and Ving Rhames play major roles in the plot, with Rhames taking on the apparently legendary police officer whose reputation strikes fear into the hearts of the criminals in the film. A mere mention of his name sends shivers down their spines.
The heist itself is compelling and takes place rather early. Somehow, Liman can compact a full heist movie into the first act in a way that doesn’t feel rushed. Then, the aftermath of the criminal action drives the plot for the rest of the film. While not all of the threads receive satisfying endings, the main story’s conclusion manages to stick the landing.
The Instigators really deserved a theatrical run, as it fills a gap in the cinematic options currently being offered. An old-school buddy movie built into a crime movie scratches an itch that is often left unscratched. It is funny, exciting, and full of characters that are troubled but lovable. There is even a bit of social commentary that seems appropriate in 2024.
The Instigators will be streaming on Apple TV+ on August 9.
Rating: 4.5/5
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