“The Instigators”: A Comedy of Errors or Just an Error?
Doug Liman’s “The Instigators,” his second film in just six months (following “Road House”), is a surprising letdown. Known for his action-packed thrillers, Liman seems to have taken a passive approach, resulting in an uninspired and generic film that disrespects its audience and lacks any distinct genre identity. This apathetic movie, with its awkward nods to Steven Soderbergh’s repertoire and “Ocean’s” series, premiered on Apple TV+ to widespread bewilderment.
Matt Damon as Rory in “The Instigators”
The film centers on Rory, a troubled veteran contemplating suicide. He confides in his therapist, Donna Rivera (Hong Chau), who seems to be his only confidante. Denied time with his children, Rory resorts to a life of petty crime to make ends meet, setting his sights on a modest $30,000. He teams up with Cobbie (Casey Affleck), a sarcastic alcoholic, to rob the corrupt Mayor Micciche (Ron Perlman) of Boston on election night. Predictably, the heist goes awry: the mayor loses the election, Cobbie gets injured, and another accomplice is killed. In a desperate move, Rory takes his therapist, Rivera, hostage as a shield.
Matt Damon as Rory in “The Instigators”
A Missed Opportunity
Liman, a Hollywood veteran since the 1990s, has cultivated a network of mutually beneficial relationships within the industry. However, “The Instigators” feels like an aimless and poorly executed sketch, devoid of humor and lost in a confusing genre mix. The film undermines Liman’s previous successes, including “The Bourne Ultimatum” (also starring Damon) and “Edge of Tomorrow,” leaving viewers disappointed in what seems like another tarnished creative reputation.
The trope of unlikely companions finding solace in each other is ripe for original and skillful exploitation, but Liman shows no interest in exploring this potential. The supporting cast includes random celebrities like Ving Rhames (“Mission: Impossible”) and Paul Walter Hauser (“I, Tonya”), who appear on screen as if they were part of a children’s matinee. The creators’ fatigue seems to infect the characters, giving the impression that the studio has compromising information on everyone involved, forcing them to participate in this derivative film under threat of severe consequences.
Casey Affleck as Cobbie in “The Instigators”
Saving Graces and Lost Potential
Despite the intended comedic tone, Rory’s kidnapping of his therapist feels like an unnecessary burden. Among the Hollywood A-listers, only Hong Chau, known for her roles in “The Menu” and “The Whale,” possesses the charisma to maintain her composure and sense of irony on this sinking ship, while the others seem utterly lost.
For Damon and Affleck, this film marks another collaboration after “Ocean’s” and Gus Van Sant’s “Gerry,” a 2002 drama about two namesakes wandering in the desert. The artistic value of that experimental film, which blends “Sátántangó” with “Lara Croft,” far surpasses anything that transpires in the lifeless 100 minutes of “The Instigators.” Damon also produced the film alongside Casey and Ben Affleck. These longtime friends have recently been involved in several interesting projects, including last year’s “Air.” Unfortunately, their intuition failed them this time. At least Apple paid their fees, which is more than can be said for the shortchanged viewers.