Ben Affleck and Matt Damonare a genuine Hollywood fairy tale:childhood friends who reached the Oscar stage(winning Best Original Screenplay together in 1998 for)Good Will Hunting), each achieving stardom in their own right.
Every few years they tend to reunite, appearing together in films such asRidley Scott’s The Last Duel (2021) or sports biopic Air(2023), and they have recently launched their own production company, Artists Equity, to guarantee that their teams receive a bonus if the project succeeds. This is an increasingly rare practice in Hollywood. A “Mattfleck” film, therefore, carries its own unique vibe: a sense of disheveled integrity and a straightforward, Boston-style charm, ideally paired with a side of Dunkin’ Donuts.
Now they’ve reunited for Netflix’s The Rip, which aims to create a confrontation between them that could rival Michael Mann’sHeat(1995). Collaborating with writer-director Joe Carnahan, known for his consistently profane and edgy films such asCopshop (2021) and The A-Team(2010), they portray Miami police officers working together on a specialized narcotics unit, focusing on “rips”– the confiscation of cash, drugs, or weapons.
However, when their latest “heist” uncovers a cache of more than $20 million, old friendships are discarded and everyone turns into a possible risk. The opportunity is too appealing to ignore. Lieutenant Dane Dumars (Damon) is dealing with a failing marriage and the loss of his son, while financial pressures mount. Detective Sergeant JD Byrne (Affleck), on the other hand, was overlooked for a promotion by Dane and concealed a romantic relationship with a police captain (Lina Esco), who was recently killed by unidentified individuals.
Those expecting a fiery clash between Affleck and Damon will be let down. It’s a character-driven film that doesn’t do much with its characters, as it suffers from the Netflix curse of dialogue meant for people who are distracted by their phones.
For example: the TNT team arrives at a house where a young woman, Desi (Sasha Calle), is immediately cuffed to a kitchen chair and then questioned repeatedly. At one moment, Dane leaves his phone visible in front of her, displaying a photo of a boy on the lock screen. She asks, with real confusion in her tone, “Who is that?” He replies, “My son.” Well, of course… who else could it be?
Affleck and Damon, at the very least, attempt to inject some grumpy humanity into their roles. However, any potential for suspense, or real intrigue about who (if anyone) is following a path of treachery, is quickly ruined by how underdeveloped these suspects are. We gain almost no information about the rest of the team, which is a shame given that three separate Academy Award winners—Steven Yeun, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Teyana Taylor—are involved.possibly an Academy Award recipient in two months). Carnahan ensures that the women are left behind as he finally presents the film’s major, action-packed sequence.
The only information we really receive is that these officers all believe they are significantly underpaid and undervalued. One expresses frustration at earning $80,000 (£60,000) annually after taxes, being “made to feel like a f***ing piece of s*** for being a sandbag between chaos and civilised society.” It seems as though we, the viewers, are expected to be impressed, thankful, and amazed when a police officer isn’t corrupt.
It’s significant that this is the second major Netflix film released in a relatively short period, following 2024’sBeverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which appears to have a strong grudge against anyone who dares to challenge the unchecked authority and lack of accountability that police (particularly American police) currently have. That’s certainly one way to diminish the appeal of a Mattfleck film.
Director: Joe Carnahan. Featuring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins, Kyle Chandler. 112 minutes.
‘The Rip’ is available to watch on Netflix
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