It’s already shaking up to be a good year for Netflix, with over 7,000 movies for you to watch. Some are obviously more worthwhile than others, which is why I’ve put on my streaming cap to recommend a few for the week, using metrics like popularity, ratings on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, and personal preference. Hollywood’s most loyal buddy duo are topping the charts right now, so first watch The Rip and then some other Affleck / Damon classics and claustrophobic siege movies.
The Rip
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have been doing the interview circuit over the past week or so to promote The Rip, their new movie with director Joe Carnahan and Oscar-nominated One Battle After Another actress Teyana Taylor. The boys play Miami cops who raid a stash house and discover $20 million in cash in the attic. Required by procedure to count it before they leave, things get tense when the cartel that controls the area learns they’re there. It’s a taut, fun little crime thriller with some nice twists, so it’s no surprise it’s Netflix’s most-watched movie this week.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Based on the incredible novel by Patricia Highsmith, The Talented Mr. Ripley is one of Matt Damon’s favorite starring roles. Thomas Ripley is an amoral con artist who accepts $1,000 to travel to Europe and persuade the scion of a rich family to come home to America. Unfortunately, things get pretty complicated on the Continent, and Ripley ends up killing his target, stealing his identity, and worse. It’s a killer performance, literally, building empathy for Ripley’s character even as you’re disgusted by his actions.
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Director: Anthony Minghella
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Cast: Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow
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Genre: Thriller
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Rating: R
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IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Triple Frontier
Ben Affleck, on the other hand, leads an impressive ensemble cast in this made-for-Netflix 2019 action movie. Triple Frontier sees him play a Special Forces operative who reunites with four of his former cohorts to raid a South American crime lord’s mansion, where they’re told they can find $75 million in cash. If you squint, you’ll see some similarities with The Rip, but Triple Frontier has a more expansive scope, with helicopter crashes, jungle survival, and more fun. While it’s no masterpiece, the cast elevates the material to a good time.
Game Over, Man
Let’s get a little sillier with the next pick, an action movie set in a confined space like The Rip and also starring long-term Hollywood buddies Adam Devine, Anders Holm, and Blake Anderson from Workaholics. Game Over, Man casts the trio as aspiring game developers who work low-wage hotel jobs. When a potential funder gets kidnapped by terrorists at a hotel party, they must save the day against all odds. It’s a bit of a mess and exceptionally vulgar, but there are laughs and thrills to be found.
Recommended by Our Editors
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About Our Expert
K. Thor Jensen
Contributing Writer
Experience
K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.
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