This review of The Instigators includes spoilers.
Through life’s uncertainties, one thing you can count on is a Damon/Affleck crossover. Their most recent project, The Instigators directed by Doug Liman, was released on Apple TV on August 9.
Rory (Matt Damon) and Cobby (Casey Affleck) meet as two distinctly different criminals hired to complete a seemingly simple heist against a wealthy and corrupt politician. When the plan goes awry, they only have each other, and occasionally Rory’s therapist (Hong Chau) to escape the police, bureaucracy, and a displeased crime boss. What feels like a prolonged comedy sketch has the expected Damon/Affleck elements like quick repartee and heavy Boston accents. Nevertheless, the plot perfectly toes the line of believability with witty banter, never-ending action, and morally ambiguous characters making this film a reliable hit.
The Instigators begins with a therapy session. Cobby is fighting his inner demons and the therapist wants him to express how he is feeling. This therapy session continues throughout the whole movie in an unexpected but genius way, spreading its impact to other characters in this film. From this point on, the plot immediately plunges into action. The first antagonism is placed between the criminals and the politicians. Mayor Miccelli is out of touch, deceptive, driven by power and money, and illegally smuggling money. Ron Perlman’s caricature of the politician is slightly exaggerated but close enough to reality to make it conceivable.
Rory, on one hand, is not a typical criminal. He writes on a notepad, a relatable and humorous act for a detailed heist scheme. He stumbles around his words and is not too comfortable around a gun. All he wants is a specific sum to see his son: $34,820 to be exact. Cobby, on the other hand, is more experienced in the criminal industry. What Rory lacks in experience, Cobby makes up for in quick thinking, nonchalant confidence, and memorable one-liners.
Despite the intense setup, this heist plan is only preemptive to the film’s action. The plan goes awry with somewhat realistic flaws. There are six zip lines and 40 chefs. The huge money bank turns out to be a few stacks of ones. The main instigator of the turn for the worse is fellow criminal Scalvo played by Jack Harlow. His character is not so “vanilla, baby”—too quick to resort to violence rather than thinking things through. Harlow plays his brief role naturally and his character Scalvo gets killed off after a series of poor decisions. Despite his impressive cameo, he escapes the plot at the appropriate time to not overshadow the rest of the film with inescapable popstar radiance.
Rory and Cobby are left on their own as the final two ones standing, forced to face the consequences of this poorly executed heist. As the chase from the cops begins, Affleck and Damon’s chemistry is seamless. Damon stumbles around his words and attempts and fails to mimic Affleck’s natural criminal one-liners. Affleck tries to poke at Damon’s impenetrable guard by attempting and failing to make him laugh. Though the chase is action-packed, their dynamic gives The Instigators a heartwarming and light tone.
For example, Cobby genuinely becomes concerned for his conspirator’s well-being when Rory’s therapist gets involved and reveals intimate details about their sessions. Moreover, the unexpected character and chemistry that elevates the plot tremendously is the role of the therapist. Chau is the voice of reason and emotional intelligence and also a symbol of moral grays. She does not directly help her client and his conspirator but finds roundabout ways to support Rory emotionally and aid his escape without putting himself in danger. She challenges Rory and then receives that challenge from Cobby. They display an intriguing enemies-to-lovers arc, pushing her morals as much as he pushes her clients emotionally.
The role of money is central. The politicians are desperate and greedy for money to keep feeding their unquenchable thirst for power. The criminals want this money to get by and support their families. Even the gang boss seeks the simple luxury of central heating. The duo becomes increasingly more entrenched in guilt and wanted by the authorities, yet their characters become more lovable. Rory and Cobby reveal redeeming qualities, while the politicians reveal more corruption. The morally sound therapist validates the audience in rooting for Rory and Cobby. As the line between criminals and bureaucracy becomes blurry, the audience cannot help but wonder, who truly is the instigator?
Each action of violence or wrongdoing is not necessarily deliberate. The duo acts moment-to-moment without having time to consider the consequences. Though they eventually get caught by the authorities, their escape unveils the mayor’s criminal activity. Nevertheless, as soon as Mayor Micelli’s rival wins the election, The Instigators concludes with a twisted sense of irony. This new candidate symbolizes diversity and a change for the good; yet, when given the opportunity, he chooses to keep the illegal money and use it for his good—a recycling of the same old patterns and corruption. The fate of the government may seem hopeless, but the fate of unexpected heroes remains satisfying. Released from charges, Cobby heads to the therapist’s patio, indicating a blossoming relationship. Rory visits his son for the first time at his hockey game.
An underlying theme of The Instigators is Rory’s choice. The therapist constantly asks Rory how he feels. Ultimately, he answers that he wants to live—a choice that drives him throughout the narrative and shapes what will motivate him in the future. There is a real distinction between making poor choices out of a desperate need for money and security versus a greedy desperation. Who is the real instigator of crime and deception? The Instigators answers: conceivably it is the people we expect the least.
Witty, Action-Packed, Captivating, Star-Studded
What's Your Reaction?
