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Film reviews

The Rip Review

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When there is a film featuring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, the thought of troublesome bros comes to mind. The two have experienced monumental achievements, beginning with their fame from the success of Good Will Hunting back in 1997. The two have a unique chemistry for creating something invigorating for the screen. The Rip, however, is average. Yet, their performance and chemistry are still stellar. Directed by Joe Carnahan, this is The Rip, a film where the choices and morals of police authorities are tested. but taking the cut is all that matters in the heat of the moment.

The main characters in this movie are Lieutenant Dane Dumars (Damon) and Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne (Affleck). Both are cops in Miami who face some deficits, coming off a mission of a deceased captain. Going forward, there is a new score as they find an operation to carry out a cartel stash. The setting is Miami, Florida, and there is plenty of corruption. Their team includes Detective Numa Baptiste (Teyana Taylor), Detective Mike Ro (Steven Yeun), and Detective Lolo Salazar (Catalina Sandino Moreno). This gang of cops can be dirty or play by the rules. Taylor’s performance is reminiscent of her attitude in One Battle After Another and brings some gangster grandeur to this thriller in spite of its mixed writing.

The film faces hurdles along the way, Once the detectives find the cash, trying to get a hold of it requires them to go behind everyone’s backs. Questions about their choices surface. Damon and Affleck deliver performances that illustrate where the risks and their lies exist. The officer in the story with bigger forces is DEA Agent Mateo ‘Matty’ Nix (Kyle Chandler). With this DEA agent behind the scenes, the news of the money scrambles back and forth. With some of the detectives coming off a loss on a previously failed mission, this operation is more dangerous with closed forces behind closed doors. The Rip is effective at portraying trust and loyalty being put to the test. Unfortunately, the execution of creating real suspense is where the delivery getsconfused because there are too many moments when characters get into their own heads.

The Rip has the right characters with macho attitudes to take on critical tasks, some of which rely upon dishonesty. The film’s writing is enhanced by stellar chemistry among the performances of Damon, Affleck, Yeun, Taylor, and Chandler. The downside is in the somewhat flawed execution which keeps the film from being mesmerizing. The Rip comes down to dirty cops and corrupt authorities. The story has the right cast of characters, but the delivery and the punchlines do not align with the outcome. On the positive side, the Miami setting has got some edgy scenery to help boost the elements of suspense. I’llrate The Rip at two out of four stars because I appreciate the attitudes in the performances of Damon, Affleck, and Taylor. The rest of the film suffers from a lack of development in the writing.

Film reviews

The Accountant 2 Review

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This is a sequel that I was quite surprised by. The Accountant 2 keeps the level of suspense on par with The Accountant. The difference is that this version highlights bonding and there is a lot more breaking of the ice between the film’s two main characters. Ben Affleck is back as Christian and Jon Bernthal returns as Braxton—two brothers living the high-life based on their talents as criminal masterminds. The result is a solid sequel for The Accountant 2.

As someone on the spectrum, my appreciation for this film grew due to the focus on neurodiversity which was highlighted in Affleck s performance. The first one created a foundation, but this time the film has those on the spectrum taking part in technological operations. The subject of sensory struggles finds a light and is shown to help in some circumstances. Despite some of the risky issues involved, the film fuels anarchy for a cause. The challenges and benefits of neurodiversity take on a larger presence with greater meaning in The Accountant 2.

The film begins with Treasury Agent, Marybeth Medina (played by Cynthia Addai-Robinson). She finds herself trying to solve a mystery surrounding the killer of her former boss which Christian and Braxton are linked to. Christian continues his solitary routine and his patterns with diverse activities. He also continues to thrive on numbers and accurate systems. Christian still has a brilliant mind but gets ugly if he must. Braxton, on the other hand, is still lethally violent, but is also lonely and obsessed over getting a dog. 

The Accountant 2 is well written, especially when it comes to living a life of solitude with a low profile. I appreciate that many who are neurodiverse tend to establish a small presence. As the brothers team up to hunt down the killer, Christian’s fixations come into play. He is straight-forward with numbers, facts, laws, and knowing which moving parts are wrong. His methods are all by the book. With Braxton, however, mayhem tends to kick in too easily. The bond of brotherhood becomes stronger while chasing down bad guys in The Accountant 2.

The love/hate relationship combined with espionage is where The Accountant 2 succeeds as an acceptable sequel. Most of the time sequels are not mesmerizing. This one was because of the sibling connection. Affleck’s character uses his sensory overload to his benefit and success, and Bernthal’s character capitalizes on the chaos. Together they are dynamite duo.

During their mission, there are many questionable moments.They go from state to state and country to country which adds intriguing layers which compliment the movie’s theme. At the same time, some of the places in the film are fascinating while others are not. For example, the setting of Boise, Idaho is the right place for solitude after the events of the previous film. When the setting switches to Virginia and an institution of neurodiverse workers, that also fits this sequel well. However, the international setting of Berlin, Germany didn’t fit as well. Although, perhaps adding different countries provided another layer of exciting tactics to the film.

The Accountant 2 is vivid and joyful. The humor is spot-on as is the suspense which combine for an unforgettable continuation. A few moments were flawed, but the film stays on track to keep the fascination alive. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for The Accountant 2.