Why Were Matt Damon and Casey Affleck Freed From Jail?

The Instigators on Apple TV+ is a new movie featuring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck that quietly released on streaming today.

Despite its ensemble cast—comprising Damon, Affleck, Hong Chau, Michael Stuhlbarg, Paul Walter Hauser, Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina, Toby Jones, Jack Harlow, and Ron Perlman—the movie hasn’t seen much hype. Perhaps Apple realized it couldn’t compete with the latest box office titan. (That statement is made in jest.)

Directed by Doug Liman and written by Chuck Maclean and Casey Affleck, The Instigators stars Damon and Affleck as the lone survivors of a botched heist. Naturally, the movie is set in Boston. Following a brief theatrical release, it is now available on Apple TV+. Though marketing was minimal, Apple TV+ subscribers will likely be intrigued. The movie’s end might leave viewers puzzled, but deciphering it isn’t too challenging.

Warning: Spoilers for The Instigators ahead.

We meet Rory (Matt Damon) during an appointment with his therapist, Dr. Rivera (Hong Chau). Rory confesses that he has wrecked his life with his ex-wife and his son, and sees no possibility of mending it. He reveals a plan from a year ago, which was to wait a year and decide whether to “cash in his ticket”—a euphemism for taking his own life.

Meanwhile, Cobby (Casey Affleck) is introduced bypassing a mandatory breathalyzer test using a child so he can drive to a bar. At the bar, Cobby receives a call from an old friend, Scalvo (Jack Harlow), who is in trouble with mafia boss Mr. Besegai (Michael Stuhlbarg). Scalvo needs Cobby’s assistance for a heist to make amends and promises a sizable payout.

When Cobby arrives for the job, Rory is also present. Rory knows Scalvo and agrees to the heist only if he receives a specific payout of $32,480. Mr. Besegai explains that they are to rob Boston’s corrupt mayor, Miccelli (Ron Perlman), who is anticipated to receive hefty illegal donations on election night.

Things go south almost immediately. They fail to obtain the cash, prompting Scalvo to rob the mayor and his associates at gunpoint. Scalvo is then shot and killed. Rory and Cobby grab the stolen goods and make their escape.

Rory and Cobby spend the rest of the movie on the run. Rory involves Dr. Rivera to treat Cobby’s gunshot wound, promising to turn himself in once he secures enough money to cover his son’s child support, mortgage, school fees, and other debts.

Meanwhile, Mayor Miccelli is desperate to retrieve a bracelet that was stolen during the botched heist. It contains the combination to his safe, which houses evidence of his corruption and embezzlement. He sends Officer Toomey (Ving Rhames) to retrieve it.

After an altercation with Toomey, Cobby realizes the bracelet numbers are the combination to the mayor’s safe. This discovery leads Rory and Cobby to plan another heist. Disguised as firefighters, they manage to break into the mayor’s office and open the safe, finding a trove of money.

During this heist, the mayor’s assistant Alan (Toby Jones) is present. Jones, unwilling to be implicated in the corruption, provides hard drives containing years of incriminating evidence. Dr. Rivera, acting as the negotiator, offers to handle the money for Rory’s son and give them a head start to evade the police. She also helps Rory realize he doesn’t want to end his life.

Despite their escape, Detective Toomey captures Rory and Cobby. Cobby offers Toomey the evidence-laden hard drives in exchange for their freedom. But in a twist, Rory and Cobby end up in jail.

In a fast-moving scene, Mayor Choi learns about the hard drives and the huge sum of unaccounted stolen money. He can either return it to the city or keep it for himself. If Rory and Cobby are prosecuted, the hard drives will become court evidence, preventing Choi from taking the money. Therefore, Choi chooses to let Rory and Cobby go free to protect himself.

In the final moments, Rory attends his son’s hockey practice, and Cobby visits Dr. Rivera, presumably for much-needed therapy. The movie wraps up with this resolution.

Source: Decider