Summary

• The Instigators features an ensemble cast with Matt Damon and Casey Affleck as its leads, producing a mix of low-stakes drama and slow pace.
• Directed by Doug Liman, the film delves into a heist narrative that explores the dynamics of trust and deception among its intriguing characters.
• Each actor, like Hong Chau playing Dr. Donna Rivera, brings depth to their role, enhancing the tension and suspense of the narrative.

The Instigators‘ heist comedy narrative is primarily driven by its intriguing characters, portrayed by a talented roster of cast members. Directed by Doug Liman, The Instigators got a limited theatrical premiere in the US on August 2, 2024, but received a wider release on streaming on Apple TV+ on August 9, 2024. The film not only stars Casey Affleck and Matt Damon as its leads but has also been produced by them alongside Ben Affleck.

Despite having a talented director at its helm and award-winning actors as its leads, The Instigators has received mixed reviews from critics. While many critics have complained about the film’s low-stakes drama and slow pace, others have praised the performances of its cast. Since The Instigator‘s actors play a crucial role in making it worthwhile, it is worth exploring who plays whom in the film.

Matt Damon as Rory

Date Of Birth: October 8, 1970

Actor: Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Matt Damon made his acting debut with Mystic Pizza in 1988. Almost a decade after his debut, he gained immense recognition for playing the titular character in Good Will Hunting, which was also co-written by him and Ben Affleck. His performance in Good Will Hunting paved the way for him to star in several acclaimed films, like The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Bourne Identity, and The Ocean’s Trilogy. Nearly four decades after the inception of his acting career, Damon continues to grow from strength to strength as an actor.

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Character: In The Instigators, Matt Damon plays Rory who gets embroiled in a heist due to his desperation for money. Although Rory is an ex-marine, he struggles to understand what he must do to ensure they successfully execute the heist. Unlike Casey Affleck’s Cobby, Damon’s Rory is also relatively more quiet and reserved.

Casey Affleck as Cobby

Date Of Birth: August 12, 1975

Actor: Ben Affleck’s younger brother, Casey Affleck, was born in Falmouth, Massachusetts. After he and his brother worked on several home movies and high-school theater productions, Casey Affleck took his acting career more seriously when he moved to Los Angeles and started living with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. His breakthrough came in 2007 when he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for playing Robert Ford in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Much later, in 2017, he even won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in Manchester by the Sea.

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Character: Casey Affleck’s Rory is a talkative outlaw in The Instigators who rarely shuts his mouth. Despite running his mouth all the time, however, he is relatively smarter than Matt Damon’s Rory and often comes up with viable solutions to their problems. Unlike Rory, his reasons for participating in the central heist are shallow.

Hong Chau as Dr. Donna Rivera

Date Of Birth: June 25, 1979

Actor: Hong Chau was born in Vietnam and grew up speaking Vietnamese as her first language. Although Chau initially took up film studies and acting to overcome her introversion, it eventually paved the way for her acting career. She made her debut in 2006’s Finding My America before landing guest roles in shows like NCIS and How I Met Your Mother. She gained wider recognition and acclaim in 2017 when she starred in Downsizing alongside Matt Damon. In recent years, she has been better known for her performance in The Whale, which even got her an Academy Award nomination.

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Character: Hong Chau’s Dr. Donna Rivera is Rory’s psychologist in The Instigators, who goes a little too far to support her patient in the film. Despite wanting to do nothing with Rory and Cobby, she gets herself involved in their run from the law. Although Hong Chau’s Rivera is only present in half of the film’s runtime, the actress does an incredible job of capturing the multiple layers of her characterization and her relationship with Rory.

The Instigators Supporting Cast & Characters

Paul Walter Hauser as Booch: Paul Walter Hauser, who is best known for his roles in Cobra Kai, Black Bird, and Richard Jewell, portrays Booch in The Instigators. Booch is one of the main men asked to collect the loot from Rory and Cobby after they execute the heist.

Michael Stuhlbarg as Mr. Besegai: Michael Stuhlbarg’s Mr. Besegai is the man who orchestrates the heist by hiring Rory and Cobby. To his dismay, nothing goes as planned. Apart from starring in The Instigators, Stuhlbarg is recognizable for his roles in movies and shows like Call Me By Your Name, Broadwalk Empire, The Shape of Water, and A Serious Man.

Ving Rhames as Frank Toomey: Best known for portraying IMF Agent Luther Stickell in the Mission: Impossible movies, Ving Rhames plays Frank Toomey in the film, who is a detective hired by the Mayor to track down Rory and Cobby.

Alfred Molina as Richie Dechico: Alfred Molina, who is most recognizable for his portrayal of Doc Ock in Spider-Man 2, plays Richie Dechico in The Instigators.

Ron Perlman as Mayor Miccelli: Ron Perlman’s Mayor Miccelli is the man who gets robbed by Rory and Cobby in The Instigators. Before The Instigators, Perlman played many prominent roles in movies and shows, like Hellboy, Drive, Don’t Look Up, and Sons of Anarchy.