Netflix launches a thriller that might just be the year's best, and it's only January!
The streaming giant has unveiled its latest crime thriller, 'The Rip', starring Hollywood icons Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as Miami cops. The film promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats with its gripping plot, which involves a stash of what appears to be $20 million (£14.8 million) found in a safe house. But here's the twist: the cops must count the money before they can leave, all while surviving the night as suspicion grows.
Writer-director Joe Carnahan confidently declares, 'I don't think there's a more entertaining film you're going to see this year.' He believes the movie's early release in January will set the tone for an exciting year of cinema. And with a bold statement like that, it's hard not to take notice.
The film is inspired by a true story involving one of Carnahan's friends, a narcotics officer who participated in a real-life 'rip'—a term used by Miami cops to describe seizing a bad guy's possessions, such as cash, drugs, or weapons.
The director admits to taking creative liberties with the story, especially since the actual counting of the money took 42 hours! Affleck and Damon, who also produced the film through their company Artists Equity, were given free rein in casting. Carnahan reveals, 'I always saw Matt as Dumars and Ben as J.D., and they were game for it.'
Carnahan, who has previously worked with Affleck on 'Smokin' Aces' and directed the 2010 remake of 'The A-Team,' considers 'The Rip' to be the biggest film of his career. He values the opportunity to collaborate with people he respects and admires, emphasizing the importance of working with professionals as he enters his 50s.
The film has already garnered positive reviews, with critics praising it as one of Netflix's most cinematic thrillers in recent memory. It boasts an impressive cast, including Golden Globe winner Teyana Taylor, Kyle Chandler, Steven Yeun, Sasha Calle, and Catalina Sandino Moreno.
Moreno, who plays Detective Lolo Salazar in the film, praises Affleck and Damon for their professionalism and for creating a welcoming environment on set. She also shares her experience handling and shooting guns, something she would never do in real life but enjoyed as part of the movie-making process.
'The Rip' is now streaming exclusively on Netflix, and it's sure to keep audiences captivated. But the question remains: will it truly be the most entertaining film of the year? Only time will tell, and the comments section is open for your predictions and opinions!
