The Instigators (2024) review

Former Marine Rory (Matt Damon) and frequently intoxicated ex-con Cobby (Casey Affleck) are recruited in Boston by Mr. Besegai (Michael Stuhlbarg) to do a "simple job" of stealing cash from sleazebag Mayor Miccelli (Ron Perlman), but everything goes wrong: their accomplice Scalvo (rapper Jack Harlow) is killed, Cobby's shot in the arm, there's very little money to be found and then Rory takes his psychiatrist Dr. Rivera (Hong Chau) as their "hostage."  As far as lighthearted crime capers are concerned, this is half-baked and flimsy (who keeps that much cash in a safe in his own office? and why are the incriminating hard drives in there as well?) although Affleck, who co-wrote the screenplay, does include some snappy dialogue to counteract Rivera's "doctor speak" in which she repeatedly asks Rory about his mental health.  It's never a bad move to have two Academy Award winners in leading roles - not to mention a strong supporting cast, including Ving Rhames and Toby Jones - but it can't match the zip of Liman's 1999 "cult classic" Go.