What did I just watch? In a time when film production companies are weighing the idea of replacing writers with AI-generated scripts, the film I’ve just watched serves as undeniable proof that human artistry will always surpass the capabilities of artificial intelligence tools.
Directed by Doug Liman, The Instigators (2024) is his second directorial film of the year, following the January release of Road House (2024).
The Instigators, an American heist comedy, follows two hired strangers—Marine veteran Roy (played by Matt Damon) and alcoholic ex-con Cobby Murphy (played by Casey Affleck)—as they embark on a plot to rob the campaign headquarters of Joseph Miccelli (played by Ron Perlman) during his Boston mayoral election night. Their seemingly simple plan quickly spirals into chaos….
The film’s screenplay was co-written by Casey Affleck and Chuck Maclean. Yeah, yeah, the name ‘Affleck,’ Casey is the younger brother to Ben Affleck, who, along with Matt Damon, and some other notable names are the Producers of this film.
Back to the review, whenever one of the writers is part of the cast, you know you’re in for a solid movie. Emphasis on the script, as that’s where this film’s strength lies—and not to overlook the other aspects of the film, like the casting, direction by Doug Liman and cinematography by Henry Braham (Cinematographer of James Gunn’s upcoming Superman 2025), all of which are excellent. But for a movie with the word “comedy” in its description, the script is what sets the film apart.
First of all, the movie finds its own space within the Thriller/Crime genre. It’s a comedy with an unpredictable script—one that will leave you wondering, what did I just watch? You won’t see anything coming. It feels like two or three separate movies seamlessly blending into the next, with each twist more surprising than the last. A huge shout-out to the scriptwriters for pulling this off. I can’t remember the last time I watched a movie that kept surprising me at every turn. While you’re expecting certain outcomes, they don’t deliver what you’d expect. All I can say is that this movie is very random, entertaining, and well-directed.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching it—probably the best movie I’ve seen in 2024 (though I haven’t watched many, to be fair).
Will you enjoy it? Absolutely. It’s perfect for this weekend when you need something to lift your spirits. The language is strong though, I wouldn’t recommend watching it with kids unless on mute—no one does that. Visually, however, it’s a clean film.
With little backstory, Roy and Cobby—our two protagonists—deliver a fantastic job. Casey Affleck—a co-writer—cracks most of the jokes with a standout performance like in his other films. Meanwhile, Matt Damon stays composed and strong throughout. The supporting actors also do their jobs exceptionally well. I have no complaints about the movie—it’s an enjoyable ride.
Ignore whatever is written on Rotten Glocery and watch The Instigators—it’s a great film.
