Page 14 - aruba-today-20240802

A14 PEOPLE / ARTS
Friday 2 august 2024
In ‘The Instigators,’ a heist goes terrifically wrong

By JAKE COYLE more like they never left.
AP Film Writer So, yes, this is them very much
Though depression lurks in their element, but that
around the edges of “The goes especially true for Af-
Instigators,” Doug Liman’s fleck, the main reason to see
heist movie is a loosely ami- “The Instigators.” His Cobby
able return to South Boston is a drunk and convict who
for Matt Damon and Casey enlists in the heist out of a
Affleck, who also co-wrote lack of other options. It’s an
the film. ill-considered scheme by a
In the film’s opening mo- pair of small-time gangsters
ments, Rory (Damon), a for- (Stuhlbarg, Molina), one of
mer Marine, tells his therapist, whom runs a bakery as a
Dr. Rivera (Hong Chau), that front. They dispatch a trigger-
after a lifetime of screw ups happy small-time crook (Jack
and disappointments, he’s Harlow) to lead the mission,
not so much forlorn as simply a debacle from the get go.
ready to “cash in” his ticket. Nothing goes right, not even
His phrase is a telling one for the expected election result,
a film where midlife disap- and out of the melee clat-
pointments and a ramshackle ter Cobby and Rory, with a
heist-gone-wrong plot col- special police investigator
lide in farcical ways. As a (Rhames) in steadfast pursuit.
last-ditch effort and to raise This image released by Apple TV shows Matt Damon, left, and Casey Affleck in a scene from “The On the run, their double act
$32,480 for his child support Instigators.” Associated Press Damon’s earnest deadpan,
payments, Rory signs up with Affleck’s smart-aleck flippan-
a criminal band of misfits to choice. the recent “Road House,” “City on the Hill” creator cy works as well as it ever
steal election-night payouts But it takes a little time for has always had a knack for Chuck MacLean. has, even if the script could
to a corrupt Boston mayor the buddy comedy to de- freewheeling ensembles and For them, the blue-collar use a touch more wit.
(Ron Perlman) running for velop. First, “The Instigators” for getting the most out of Boston terrain of “The Insti- Affleck makes up for it with
reelection. works in a large percentage his stars’ charisma. “The In- gators” is about as a cozy as his melancholic motormouth
Therapists have made their of today’s top character ac- stigators” may be a modern bleacher seat in Fenway Park. routine, one that gets an
ways into crime dramas like tors among them Michael streaming movie but it’s a “The Instigators” doesn’t live even better foil once Chau,
“The Sopranos,” but “The Insti- Stuhlbarg, Alfred Molina, Ving decidedly old-school kind up to other Damon-Afflecks the talented co-star of “The
gators” (in theaters Thursday, Rhames, Toby Jones and Paul of caper, stock full of local Beantown-set movies (“Good Whale” and “Showing Up,”
on Apple TV+ Aug. 9) adds Walter Hauser all of whom color and peopled with faces Will Hunting,” “Gone Baby is roped into their escape.
a novel wrinkle by bring- raise the bar in this rudderless you’re happy to see. It’s a Gone,” “The Town”), and Though Liman knows how
ing Dr. Rivera along for the but winningly shaggy action product of Damon and Ben some of their Dunkin’ Donuts- to mix action and comedy
ride. When Rory and Cobby comedy. Affleck’s Artists Equity, which adjacent schtick is at least as well as anyone, “The In-
(Affleck) go on the run, she Liman, the director of “Go,” produced the film from the approaching stale. You could stigators” is better whenever
tags along as a hostage by “The Bourne Identity” and script by Casey Affleck and call it a homecoming but it’s there’s less going on.q

Carrie Underwood will return to ‘American Idol’ as its newest judge

By KAITLYN HUAMANI from the show in May. the first “American Idol” ence under their belts, for Seacrest is also taking over
Associated Press Underwood, who rose to alum to become a judge. the franchise’s 23rd season. Pat Sajak’s role as the host
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Car- fame after she won the In an emotional video an- “This upcoming season of “Wheel of Fortune” this
rie Underwood will be the singing competition show nouncing Underwood’s marks 20 years since Car- fall.
next singer to sit behind the in 2005, will return 20 years new hosting gig, she said rie won America’s hearts Auditions for the new sea-
judges’ table on “Ameri- later as a judge for the up- “I’m proud of everything on ‘Idol’ and launched her son will kick off Aug. 12 with
can Idol,” filling Katy Perry’s coming season, set to pre- that I was able to accom- successful multi-Grammy the “Idol Across America”
spot after her departure miere in spring 2025. She’s plish on the show, and I’m Award-winning career. nationwide search for tal-
so proud of everything that As a former Idol and dy- ent and will end in Sep-
I’ve accomplished since.” namic musical force, she tember. The season is set to
The country singer, who is brings a remarkably unique premiere in the spring and
the most decorated artist in perspective to one of the will be available to watch
CMT Music Awards’ history most popular shows on on ABC and Hulu.
with 25 wins, made waves television,” said Craig Er- “American Idol” premiered
with her rendition of Bonnie wich, president of Disney in 2002 on Fox and was a hit
Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Television Group, in a re- for the network, but it was
Love Me” at her audition, lease from ABC. “This is a canceled in 2016. After two
and she quickly became a full-circle moment both for years off the air, the show
fan-favorite. the show and audiences was revived by ABC and
Underwood has also won at home who have been has aired there for seven
eight Grammy Awards tuning in for over two de- seasons. Perry was the first
and consistently tops the cades. Welcome home, of the revival judges to
charts with her albums and Carrie.” leave the judges’ post.
singles. She will be joining Longtime host Ryan A representative for Un-
Luke Bryan and Lionel Rich- Seacrest, who has been derwood did not imme-
Carrie Underwood appears the Songwriters Hall of Fame
Induction and Awards Gala in New York, June 13, 2024. ie, who each have seven with the show since it pre- diately return requests for
Associated Press seasons of judging experi- miered, will also return. comment.q