Film Review: "Triple Frontier" (2019).

From Netflix, the director of A Most Violent Year and the producer of Wonder Woman and The Dark Knight Trilogy comes Triple Frontier. This action-adventure film directed by J. C. Chandor, and written by Chandor and Mark Boal. Five former Special Forces operatives reunite to plan a heist in a sparsely populated multi-border zone of South America. For the first time in their prestigious careers these unsung heroes undertake this dangerous mission for self instead of country. But when events take an unexpected turn and threaten to spiral out of control, their skills, their loyalties and their morals are pushed to a breaking point in an epic battle for survival.

In October 2010, Paramount Pictures announced the film, under the original title Sleeping Dogs, with Kathryn Bigelow in talks to direct, and Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Johnny Depp, Denzel Washington, Sean Penn, and Leonardo DiCaprio in talks to star. Production was set to commence in early 2011. However, the film was stuck in development hell. However, in June 2015, Bigelow ultimately left the project in favour of Detroit (2017). In September, Chandor was announced to direct, replacing Bigelow. In January 2017, it was reported that Channing Tatum and Tom Hardy were in talks to join the film, with Depp, Hanks and Smith no longer up for roles. In February, Mahershala Ali, Adria Arjona, Tatum and Hardy were officially cast. In mid April, a month before shooting was set to commence, it was reported that Paramount had been dropped the film, and Tatum and Hardy had dropped out due to creative differences. In early May, it was reported that Netflix was in negotiations to acquire the rights to the film with Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal to star, with the Afflecks replacing Hardy and Tatum. However, in early July, Affleck exited the film due to personal reasons. Later that month, it was reported that Mark Wahlberg was in talks to replace Affleck. Production was set to commence in August 2017, in Hawaii and Colombia. By late March 2018, Affleck had signed back on to star with Oscar Isaac to replace Casey, and Hunnam, Hedlund, Pascal, and Arjona still attached. Ali had been forced to drop out of the project when production was delayed. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and wrapped in mid July. Filming took place in Honolulu, Hawaii and Bogotá, Colombia.

The film stars Affleck, Isaac, Hunnam, Hedlund, Pascal, and Arjona. The film was carried off with brashness and momentum by a cast who genuinely seemed to be having a blast. As a result, the film conveys the eerie sense of lying in wait for all its characters, and the paranoia is infectious, with at least two scenes certain to have viewers checking their car backseats upon exiting the theater.

Triple Frontier's action-adventure thrills don't quite live up to the ferocious talents of its cast, but the film's efficient, solidly crafted genre fun is often enough to balance its troublesome flaws.

Simon says Triple Frontier receives:

Also, see my review for All Is Lost.