What’s It About
Rory and Cobby are unlikely partners thrown together for a heist. However, when it goes awry, they team up to outrun police, backward bureaucrats, and a vengeful crime boss.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
The Instigators is a breezy, knockaround heist caper designed for easy, late-summer entertainment. Co-starring and co-written by Casey Affleck, the film features Matt Damon as Rory, a downtrodden combat veteran on the verge of a self-imposed deadline to sort out his life so he can reconnect with his estranged son. Overwhelmed by overdue child support payments and struggling with depression under the care of a military-appointed psychiatrist (Hong Chau), Rory’s desperate attempt at redemption involves raising $32,480 by agreeing to help rob Boston’s corrupt mayor (Ron Perlman), who has amassed a vast slush fund on the night of his re-election. Roped in by his cousin after a failed plan leaves them short-staffed, Rory is teamed up with sulky ex-con Cobby (Affleck). When the election goes awry, and the heist inevitably falters, Rory and Cobby find themselves on the run. Ex-marine Rory, acutely aware of his role in ruining his life, worries his therapist, Donna (Chau), who fears he may be suicidal. Desperately needing cash, Rory accepts a job from Boston gangster Mr. B (Michael Stuhlbarg), joining forces with Cobby and hotheaded goon Scalvo (Jack Harlow) to rob the corrupt mayor. But when things go south, the pair must evade a mob henchman (Paul Walter Hauser) and the mayor’s brutal enforcer (Ving Rhames). Though the plot is predictable, the film’s charm lies in the charisma and skill of its cast and crew. They embrace the film’s wintry, blue-collar Boston setting, crafting a story of likable underdogs taking on a corrupt system. The heist is laced with humor that assists in highlighting the characters’ shortcomings. At the same time, Damon subtly brings Rory’s neuroses to the forefront. The car chase sequence, soundtracked to Petula Clark’s “Downtown,” is a comedic highlight, turning the chaos into a therapy session between the bickering leads and Chau’s Dr. Rivera, who poses as Rory’s hostage to prevent him from being shot by the mayor’s crooked police force. The film plays like a throwback to mismatched buddy movies like Midnight Run, with a supporting cast that includes Ving Rhames, Toby Jones, and Paul Walter Hauser, enhancing the ride-along feel. While The Instigators may not reach the heights of the director’s other films, it delivers enough action and laughs to entertain. As the Boston mayoral election reaches its climax, Rory and Cobby, hired by foul-mouthed crime boss Mr. Besegai (Stuhlbarg), are tasked with raiding city hall to steal bribes meant for Mayor Miccelli (Perlman). Nothing goes according to plan, leading to a frantic race to escape Boston’s law enforcement. Despite some contrived plot points, the emotional undertones and sharp-edged humor maintain interest, and the ensemble cast adds depth and resonance. Ultimately, The Instigators is the kind of film that keeps viewers entertained from start to finish.
OUR RATING – A POP-CORNEY 6