Cognitive bias based on the positive traits of a person often makes human psychology assume that the individual in question has other unrelated qualities that are also likable. This is the ‘Halo Effect’. The Halo Effect, by association, extends itself to assuming that if you like a person, you tend to start liking (sometimes, not always) those he or she associates with, even if you may not have had a good impression of them in the first place.
That happens with me when it comes to Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. I like Damon — actor, human, overall great guy, et al. Affleck — sporadically interesting on screen, controversial off it, perpetual hangdog demeanour — I am not a fan of. But I always enjoy watching the two together. One of Hollywood’s strongest, lasting friendships makes for a great creative partnership — as co-actors, co-producers, co-writers — meeting as they did 45 years ago when Damon was 10 and Affleck two years younger. They even have an Oscar together, and their joint interviews are tinged with warmth, wit, charm and congeniality.
The Rip — coming three years after their last film Air, that Affleck directed and in which they starred together — is an adrenaline-pumping fest, but not the kind of buddy cop drama that one would perhaps expect from the duo (apart from that shared beer moment towards the end... no spoiler this).
What The Rip delivers, in spadefuls, is some old-school cop flick fun, which may not land in parts, but keeps things consistently engaging and edge-of-the-seat. Damon plays Lieutenant Dane Dumars and Affleck is Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne, with the pair working for the Miami PD’s Tactical Narcotics Team, or TNT. The recent murder of their partner has them wondering who they can trust and if there is a snitch in their ranks. Soon enough, a stash house seizure of $20 million becomes the ultimate test of loyalty. The rest of the team, comprising Ro (Steven Yeun), Numa (Teyana Taylor) and Lolo (Catalina Sandino Moreno), are eager to do their jobs but also weary of all the suspicion and seeming lack of recognition for their efforts. The FBI (headed by Scott Adkins, as Byrne’s younger brother) is investigating TNT with a vengeance, with the chances of it being disbanded looming large.
The Rip, streaming on Netflix, wastes no time in plunging into its high-stakes action, with a majority of it playing out during the course of one night. Tension flies high and so do tempers, and with so much money involved, the team doesn’t stop short of suspecting each other. The bust (or “Rip”) becomes anything but ordinary, as they find themselves essentially boxed in at a cul-de-sac, with an unknown caller threatening to slaughter them all if they don’t leave within 30 minutes.
With no backup incoming, the officers find themselves questioning their loyalty to one another. Is the ‘cartel’ really attacking them, or has one of their own gone rogue and looking to steal the money they have found? The presence of an outsider/insider — Desiree, played by Sasha Calle, who owns the house with the stash — makes matters more complicated.
The Rip kicks off strong and atmospheric, builds some claustrophobic paranoia and keeps the juices flowing. Writer-director Joe Carnahan knows a thing or two about making movies with crooked cops (Narc) and fast talkers (Smokin’ Aces) and both are in abundance in The Rip. However, the film wears out after a while, shifting into generic territory. While the push and pull between trust and betrayal continues to be the primary driver and holds the 115-minute film together, The Rip ultimately gives in to predictability in terms of both storytelling and action.
But Damon and Affleck — seemingly more at loggerheads here than die-hard buddies — are a treat to watch as a team. Even when The Rip succumbs to deus ex machina, their chemistry remains crackling.
Which is your favourite Matt Damon-Ben Affleck collaboration?
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