Long-time friends and collaborators, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, reunite in this fast-paced crime caper from director Joe Carnahan (known for Narc and Smokin’ Aces). Carnahan co-writes the film with Michael McGrale, offering a tense, morally charged story that fits comfortably within the traditions of the cop-thriller whodunnit genre, while benefiting from a sharp cast and confident filmmaking.
The Rip centres on a group of Miami police officers who stumble upon millions of dollars hidden in an abandoned stash house. What initially seems like a career-defining bust quickly becomes a source of paranoia and mistrust. As word of the massive cash seizure leaks and outside players begin to circle, the officers are forced to confront uncomfortable questions about loyalty, greed and how far they are willing to bend the law. The plot unfolds less as a mystery and more as a pressure cooker, watching relationships fracture as the walls slowly close in.
Damon and Affleck star respectively as Lieutenant Dane Dumars and Detective Sergeant JD Byrne. Their reunion is one of the film’s main pleasures, with an easy, lived-in chemistry that is rarely seen in Hollywood.
Damon brings his usual grounded intensity, while Affleck leans into a more world-weary presence, giving the story some much needed emotional weight. It’s clear their long history on-screen and off, adds texture to their performances. Their involvement doesn’t stop in front of the camera either; The Rip is produced through their company, Artists Equity, continuing their push towards actor-driven, creator-focused filmmaking.
The supporting cast is equally strong. Steven Yeun delivers a restrained, thoughtful performance as Detective Mike Ro,a morally ambigious member of the S.W.A.T team, while Teyana Taylor brings grit and confidence to outspoken detective, Numa Baptiste. Elsewhere, Sasha Calle shines as Desi, a young woman who finds herself in nthe middle of a war between police forces and the Miami drugs cartel. Catalina Sandino Moreno plays Detective Lolo Salazar, Kyle Chandler makes a strong impression as a DEA agent whose presence raises the stakes.
Carnahan’s direction is efficient and muscular. He keeps the pacing tight, favouring tension and character over flashy spectacle and his experience with gritty crime stories shows. While the film doesn’t reinvent the genre or offer truly shocking twists, it’s undeniably consistently engaging and well put together.
The Rip is a solid cop thriller, it’s gripping, well-acted and quite enjoyable to watch, even if it isn’t exactly groundbreaking. For fans of Damon, Affleck or smartly made crime dramas, it’s an easy recommendation.
