Triple Frontier Review – Decent Action-Heist Film

BOTTOM LINE: An action-thriller with more heart than blood

Rating: 2.75/5

Platform: Netflix

Genre: Action

What is the Story about?

Triple Frontier follows a handful of vets, who are brought out of retirement after being let down by the system, to join hands as they plan to kill a drug lord and steal his fortune worth $75 million. The heist goes as per plan, but the escape does not.

Performances?

Netflix pulls a casting coup by bringing together Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund and Pedro Pascal. It’s interesting how a project that was initially supposed to mark the collaboration of Kathryn Bigelow and Tom Hanks paved the way for an exciting ensemble cast of a few really underrated actors.

Even though enough time is not spent on making us invest in the relationship between the lead characters, it’s amazing how the actors still manage to bring out the camaraderie, as they play off each other with nice chemistry. One wishes that all the characters are nicely fleshed out; nevertheless, Affleck and Isaac steal the spotlight by turning in very memorable performances.

Isaac’s character is shrouded in mystery, and it’s tough to guess if he’s the good guy or bad one. By coming together, all the actors really make us invest in the sense of terror and dread that lingers throughout the film.

Analysis

Triple Frontier is one of those action-based heist films where the focus is not on the action but on the characters’ psyche and how their greed for money drives them to take all the wrong decisions. Director JC Chandor focuses on the human drama surrounding a heist when things go wrong. It isn’t something new, but a clear vision always helps.

More than an action film, Triple Frontier works effectively as a slow-burn thriller as it takes its own sweet time to really invest in its characters and the proceedings, working as an action flick with more heart and drama than blood.

Triple Frontier is not a flawless film. Tipped as the biggest action flick from Netflix; one wishes for more tension in the screenplay. In the third act, the sharp focus is lost. The chain of events look rushed and lacks surprise. The dialogues become trite after a point and sequences feel disjointed. But the film still makes up for it with a mostly gripping narrative. The movie is definitely a step above any typical Hollywood pot-boiler, and that’s good enough reason to motivate someone to watch Triple Frontier.

Put selfish greed and violence together and what you get out of this combination is what Triple Frontier wants to showcase. At times, the film does tread in the territory of Hurt Locker, and if not for Mark Boal’s writing, which really elevates most scenes, the film wouldn’t have been as impactful as it is now.

Highlights?

Performances of the ensemble cast

Realistic action and drama

The attack and the heist

Drawbacks?

Pre-climax

Writing towards the end

Will you recommend it?

If you like action films that are not just about blood and violence, then this is the film for you.

Triple Frontier Review by Haricharan Pudipeddi