Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, longtime friends and acclaimed collaborators, have teamed up once again in the crime thriller The Rip, now streaming on Netflix. This film reunites the pair as Miami police officers entangled in a tense investigation, marking a notable moment in their Ben Affleck Matt Damon collaboration after nearly two decades apart in most acting roles.
Background of Their Individual Careers and Friendship
Over the years, Affleck and Damon have often spoken about their enduring friendship and early ambitions to become movie stars. Their shared success began with co-writing the Oscar-winning film Good Will Hunting. Despite their closeness, both actors largely pursued separate acting careers to establish unique identities. Affleck gained praise for directing and starring in films like Gone Baby Gone and the Best Picture Oscar winner Argo, as well as playing Batman in Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
Meanwhile, Damon became one of Hollywood’s biggest stars with roles in celebrated films such as Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, Martin Scorsese’s The Departed, and Ridley Scott’s The Martian. He is also set to portray Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey.
The Crime Plot and Miami Setting
In The Rip, director Joe Carnahan presents a gritty Miami story beginning with the ambush murder of a police captain by masked assailants. Matt Damon plays Dane Dumars, recently promoted to lieutenant, who is part of the Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) under investigation following the captain’s death. Suspicion immediately hangs over the officers as the team pursues leads on a stash of drug money—a “rip”—purportedly hidden in the nearby city of Hialeah.
Dumars gathers the remaining TNT members, including his partner J.D. Byrne, played by Affleck, to retrieve what appears to be $20 million in cash from a suburban house. Instead of reporting the find, Dumars insists on counting the money on-site despite a warning that they have only 30 minutes before their lives are at risk. As paranoia mounts, viewers learn several team members face financial pressures, heightening the potential for corruption within the unit.
Strong Performances Amidst a Weakened Script
For the majority of the film, the chemistry between Affleck and Damon is convincing, and Carnahan’s direction skillfully handles the suspenseful action scenes. However, as the narrative reaches its final act, the story’s mystery unravels prematurely. What follows is an overabundance of car chases, gunfights, lengthy explanations, and a neatly packaged ending that weakens the previously solid police procedural tone.
Affleck effectively portrays a character burdened with anger, while Damon delivers even awkward lines with plausible naturalness. Notably, at one moment Damon utters,
Do you think I want to jack this rip?
– Matt Damon, Actor.
The supporting cast also delivers commendable performances, including Teyana Taylor, fresh from her Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Female Actor, Steve Yuen, and Kyle Chandler. Despite their efforts, the script by Carnahan and Michael McGraile falls short of maintaining the story’s initial promise.
Notable Moments and Surprises
One noteworthy aspect for animal lovers in the audience involves Wilbur, the police dog, who narrowly survives a dangerous hail of bullets. This detail offers a touching respite amid the intense and uncertain atmosphere of the film.
The Collaboration’s Significance and Future Prospects
This reunion of Affleck and Damon highlights the potential and challenges of their Ben Affleck Matt Damon collaboration, blending their longstanding friendship with professional chemistry on screen. While The Rip succeeds in parts, particularly through acting and action execution, its unresolved narrative and formulaic finale may leave some viewers restless and frustrated. As fans anticipate their next joint project, both the actors’ reputations for quality storytelling and their individual talents suggest that future collaborations could better balance intrigue and momentum.
