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After a heist goes wrong, two bumbling thieves and their frazzled therapist become the target of Boston’s criminal underworld in director Doug Liman’s newest fast-paced crime-comedy.
Rory (Matt Damon) is a desperate blue-collar Bostonian falling on hard times, trying to provide for his young son. Cobby (Casey Affleck) is a local ex-con who teams with Rory to rob a corrupt politician: it’s a score that’ll solve both of their problems for good. One problem: the heist goes terribly wrong.
The Instigators (2024) – source: [AppleTV+]Now, these two hapless thieves find themselves on the wrong side of not only Boston’s corrupt political heavyweights, but also by local police and several high-powered mob bosses. To escape with their lives, they turn to the smartest person they know: Rory’s therapist (Hong Chau). This mismatched trio embarks on an action-packed getaway all across Boston, and if they can’t work together, they’ll wind up dead – or worse.
Director Doug Liman’s trademark frenetic style is on full display in this trailer. While the film’s plot doesn’t reinvent the wheel, Liman proves he can make meaningless action look more fun than almost anyone else in Hollywood. Stars Damon and Affleck bring an authentic Bostonian grit to their characters, lending an otherwise bland setting a pop of cultural flavor.
But the trailer’s MVP is no doubt Hong Chau. Mixing a world-weary white-collar worker with hilarious deadpan wit, Chau’s portrayal of a tough but overworked therapist steals the show in a trailer already packed to the gills. Combined with whip-fast pacing and dynamic cinematography, this first trailer proves that Liman may be able to dress up a generic plot just enough to make The Instigators a passably fun addition to this summer’s theatrical lineup.
The Instigators will be released theatrically in the US on August 2nd, 2024. The film stars Matt Damon, Casey Affleck & Hong Chau, and is directed by Doug Liman.
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