Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have long been a symbol of Hollywood’s enduring camaraderie. Their friendship, rooted in childhood, has led to some of the most iconic moments in cinema history. Together, they won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1998 for Good Will Hunting, and since then, each has carved out a successful career as a leading actor. Their collaboration often feels like a return to their roots, with projects like Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel (2021) and the sports biopic Air (2023) showcasing their chemistry on screen. More recently, they’ve taken a step back from acting to co-found Artists Equity, a production company that ensures crews get a bonus if a project is successful. This kind of behind-the-scenes support is rare in today’s Hollywood landscape.
A "Mattfleck" film, as their collaborations are affectionately known, carries a distinct charm—think rumpled decency, a touch of Bostonian wit, and a love for Dunkin’ Donuts. Now, they’ve reunited for Netflix’s The Rip, which aims to deliver a high-stakes confrontation reminiscent of Michael Mann’s Heat (1995). Directed by Joe Carnahan, the filmmaker behind Copshop (2021) and The A-Team (2010), the movie follows two Miami cops, Lieutenant Dane Dumars (Damon) and Detective Sergeant JD Byrne (Affleck), who work together on a tactical narcotics team specializing in "rips"—the seizure of money, drugs, or weapons.
However, when their latest operation uncovers over $20 million, the stakes change dramatically. Old friendships are tested, and everyone becomes a potential liability. For Dane, the pressure is personal: a broken marriage, a dead son, and mounting bills. For JD, the situation is more complex—he was passed over for promotion by Dane and had a secret relationship with a police captain (Lina Esco), who was recently shot dead under mysterious circumstances.
Despite the high expectations, The Rip fails to deliver the fiery conflict fans might have hoped for. Instead, it leans heavily into character-driven storytelling, but with little payoff. The film suffers from what could be called the "Netflix curse"—dialogue that seems written for people who are too distracted to pay attention. One particularly awkward scene involves the TNT arriving at a home occupied by a young woman named Desi (Sasha Calle). She is quickly handcuffed to a kitchen chair and interrogated. At one point, Dane leaves his phone in her eyeline, showing a lockscreen photo of a boy. Desi asks, “Who is that?” Dane replies, “My son.” It’s a moment that feels more like a forced emotional beat than a genuine connection.
Affleck and Damon do their best to inject some humanity into their characters, but the film’s lack of suspense and mystery undermines any potential for tension. The rest of the cast, including Steven Yeun, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Teyana Taylor—three Academy Award nominees—go largely unexplored. This is a wasted opportunity, especially given the talent involved. Carnahan also sidelines the women in the film’s big action sequence, further highlighting the film’s uneven approach.
The only real insight we get is that these officers feel undervalued and underpaid. One character complains about being paid $80,000 a year after taxes for the “honor” of being a “sandbag between chaos and civilised society.” It’s a line that feels less like a critique of systemic issues and more like a way to justify the film’s portrayal of police as victims rather than flawed individuals.
Notably, The Rip is the second major Netflix film in a short period that seems to take a strong stance against questioning the power and lack of consequences faced by American police. This approach risks undermining the very charm that made the Mattfleck brand so appealing in the first place.
Directed by Joe Carnahan, the film stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins, and Kyle Chandler. It runs for 112 minutes and is currently streaming on Netflix.