The Instigators (2024): A Boston Bred Heist Comedy

The Instigators (2024) is a new action comedy film that could turn out to be a good one-time watch but I would not expect more than that. This movie features some actors at the top of Hollywood standards, with Matt Damon and Casey Affleck as the main leads who are two burglars by profession. It’s not only about the cast; even the plot of the story is going to be a rollercoaster of laughter, adrenaline, and probably a few drama scenes here and there. The film is based on Rory, a struggling dad who goes on a heist with Cobby, an ex-convict, and it does not turn out as planned. If that was not enough, they draw Rory’s therapist into the conflict. It’s a recipe for anarchy, which is what we anticipate to see.

What has stirred up the interest of people is the cast that appears behind the scenes. The man responsible for The Bourne Identity once again returns as the director, Doug Liman, famous for his ability to turn Hollywood films on their head. Now it seems he is applying the same on this project. Thanks to the casting, the realistic localization of Boston, which is not only a stunning background, and the combination of action and humor in the storyline, this film is likely to be a good watch.

Fundamentally, this is an action movie for which the robbery is unsuccessful. Rory, the main character played by Matt Damon, is a father who finds himself at the lowest point in life. He gets involved with Cobby, an ex-convict played by Casey Affleck, with the aim of robbing a racketeer political candidate. It is the so-called one last heist kind of movie, but things go terribly wrong.

What makes this stand out from your regular heist film is the introduction of a character, Dr. Donna Rivera, Rory’s therapist portrayed by Hong Chau. She gets drawn into their plan to escape, and this brings an element of suspense to the movie. We are left with three very different individuals who are now fleeing the law and other angry criminals, but I am sure a few other things are waiting for them ahead; it can't be just that simple.

Boston is not only the setting of the movie but, more or less, it is a character in the film as well. It has been revealed that they did shoot some major stunts at places actually around the city, such as the Charles River Esplanade. Since Damon and Affleck are both from Boston, you know they will be using their geographical know-how to make the city an important topic within the movie.

Yes, Matt Damon and Casey Affleck have been friends for a long time; they have acted in a movie together before. Their background is that they have known each other for a long time, so their on-screen relationship as Rory and Cobby promises to be full of chemistry. This is quite against type-casting because Damon, who plays Jason Bourne, is suddenly an ordinary man who finds himself in a situation he cannot handle.

The movie depends not only on two heroes and two leading actors. Hong Chau, who has been receiving much attention recently due to her performances, is the therapist who is also dragged into the insanity. There is Paul Walter Hauser, Michael Stuhlbarg, and even a music artist Jack Harlow, who join the cast. Said cast is supported by veterans like Ving Rhames and Ron Perlman, who must be expected to bring out some of the scene’s best.

This director, Doug Liman, always likes to stir things up, and he will be doing so in this project. He has said how making this movie gives him the feeling of going back to his independent film days. This also tells that the process is less rigid than the typical Hollywood production, with the actors being able to contribute to the script and the ability to improvise. This could be a good way to get some rather realistic and, at the same time, amusing scenes in front of the camera.

The movie is being produced under the Artists Equity banner, a company founded by the star of the movie Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Cinematic Studios are attempting to change things for the better by removing some of the typical Hollywood flab that is not really necessary. This could mean a better, more concentrated movie that does not require time and money for elements not directly connected to the story.

Looking at The Instigators as the next action comedy movie in the genre, laughing and getting punched with multiple action scene sequences is a definition for a great time. Despite having celebrities in the lead roles, the local culture and flavor of Boston, along with a new style of making movies, make it quite different from any regular commercial American movie. That’s why, with Matt Damon and Casey Affleck starring in such a film and Doug Liman as a director, I'm expecting this movie to be a great watch. I have to say I might be a bit biased here since Matt Damon is one of my favorite actors.

What one can easily notice is that the movie in question can be a lot more than just a film that will make people laugh. It almost gets real here, where one can see the concepts of friendship, repentance, and how far people can go when cornered. All of this encapsulated in an intense action-comedy.

Whether you go for the Boston locations, the abundant cast, or simply for an entertaining night at the cinema, this film appears to be set for such. It is a fact that the most interesting movies are always those where familiar actors are tried in new genres and where directors dare to experiment not only with the script but also with the cast. Until the movie comes out, one thing is certain: this is not your ordinary movie about stealing from others. Everything indicates that it is going to be an action-comedy in the best tradition of American movies, and perhaps even a message movie to boot, all set in one of America’s most significant cities.