Ben Affleck and Matt Damon team up again for Netflix’s The Rip. This time, they’re under the direction of Joe Carnahan (The Grey … it’s a great film if you haven’t seen it) as a couple of Miami cops who find themselves in a unique situation involving a whole lotta cash.
The script, co-written by Carnahan, leads the viewer toward a lot of mysterious possibilities as to who is good, bad or both when it comes to doing their police work. In strong thriller fashion, there are stretches in the film when it appears Affleck could be the villain, and then the same for Damon, along with a host of other co-stars including Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor and Kyle Chandler. It’s a strong cast across the board, with everyone getting a chance to flex their dramatic muscles.
The plot has moments when the real-life buddies are adversarial, and that’s always fun to watch. Perhaps the best thing about the film is you feel like you are watching two characters dueling rather than Damon and Affleck going at it. Both give strong, immersive performances.
Carnahan’s ability to keep the setting tense and claustrophobic (in an action sense) comes in handy, since much of the movie takes place in a single location: The cop team winds up doing a “rip” at an apparent drug-haven house where millions of dollars are stored. There are lots of scenes of people counting money, people arguing about the amount of money, and people lamenting that proper procedures aren’t being followed regarding the money. There are so many possible outcomes that it’s hard to guess who the bad guys are, the cornerstone of any solid heist-mystery thriller.
Even in the moments that might feel a little predictable, the look and feel of the film transcends, and the two leads keep it moving forward. Affleck and Damon are big stars, and their presence enhances the film rather than being a distraction.
The Rip isn’t Oscar-worthy work, but it is a film that delivers the goods and might benefit from repeated viewings. In the realm of made-for-Netflix action flicks, it’s a winner.
