As Netflix attempts to set a new standard in film making and home viewing, Triple Frontier feels like both a step forward and a step back for the streaming giant as the film feels like it’s first big blockbuster. One that you get to watch at home, with big stars on your screen. It’s just a shame they’re all guys.
Triple Frontier, directed by J.C. Chandor, follows the story of five former special forces operatives who reunite together to undertake a heist. The heist itself occurs in South America after one of the operatives learns of the location of a cartel leader by the name of Lorea. Lorea is loaded with millions of dollars and the five unsung heroes have to get the money and escape the many borders of South America to get home.
With a huge cast, including Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal and Garrett Hedlund, Triple Frontier is bound to get a lot of attention. Being Netflix’s first big blockbuster film, I can’t think of another film that has this much star power in it from them, Triple Frontier does a great job at remaining grounded and smart.
Where other films would usually have a few unnecessary points/ideas, Triple Frontier never steers into the allout action film that one might assume it would end up being. Marketing wise, most of the film’s action and intense scenes are in the trailers which
Each character is set up well with their own relevant back story to depend on. The lack of in your face action which has been replaced with the five operatives rival opinions and beautiful shots of South America is refreshing to see in an action film. It makes Triple Frontier another example of directors seemingly getting to tell and show the story they want, as opposed to the theatrical version of Triple Frontier which I can only assume would’ve been action heavy.
My only gripe that I have with this smart action/heist film is that it would’ve been nice for at least one of the members to be a woman. Netflix has been pretty far ahead of everyone else when it comes to female leads in their content. Their films however are not as far ahead. Last week Netflix released a romantic comedy with a female lead, the next big film is Triple Frontier and The Dirt, both films about groups of guys. The Dirt obviously being about Motely Crue but then after that is yet another romantic comedy with a female lead.
The one female character in Triple Frontier has a great scene at the very start as she escapes from Oscar Isaac’s character. I was excited to see her action qualities, especially one awesome slide she does. After that scene though she is limited to simply being just an add on part of the plan. Her lines include “I can get the van in”, “what about my brother?” and every other generic female line in an male led action film.
Putting that one gripe aside, Triple Frontier is a smart, sophisticated and refreshing action/heist film. The film, which reminds me a little of Sicario where the action and violence