One of the most challenging things”: Matt Damon’s ‘The Instigators’ Features 1 Heart-Stopping Scene So Difficult To Film, The Director Had to Unleash All of His Expertise
- Doug Liman used all his filmmaking skills to tackle a complex scene in ‘The Instigators.’
- Liman aimed to make the interior scene as gripping as the high-speed exterior chase.
- Filming the intense dialogue while managing a high-speed chase proved to be demanding.
Acclaimed filmmaker Doug Liman has directed some of the most iconic action sequences in cinema. From the mind-bending time travel in The Bourne Identity (2002) to the high-energy aerial battles in American Made (2017), Liman has always pushed filmmaking to new limits.
Yet, even for a director of his caliber, the car chase in his latest film, The Instigators, proved to be a tough nut to crack. Still, he put all his effort into directing the scene and ended up really enjoying its dynamics.
Doug Liman Discussed Challenging Car Chase in The Instigators
Recently, Doug Liman chatted with Collider about his recently released film, The Instigators. The movie centers on Rory (Matt Damon) and Cobby (Casey Affleck), two mismatched partners who team up for a heist.
When things go wrong, they must escape from the police, corrupt officials, and a furious crime boss. When asked about the toughest scene or sequence he’s directed despite his many impressive achievements, Liman replied:
I mean certainly the car chase in Instigators was like one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done.
The sequence, shot entirely in Boston, featured a high-speed chase through the busy streets. What set this chase apart was the intense drama happening inside the car. While the exterior shots were undeniably thrilling, Liman was determined to make the interior of the car even more gripping. He explained:
I set as a goal for myself that I wanted what was happening inside the car which is like a four page dialogue scene to be more exciting than what’s happening outside the car.
The scene shows a heated argument between the film’s stars, Damon and Affleck, as they speed through the city while being chased by a relentless police force.
Doug Liman’s Juggling Act to Make the Scene Work
The challenge was indeed huge for Doug Liman. He had to figure out how to show the intense emotions and fast dialogue inside the car while also balancing the chaotic energy of the chase outside. It was a tough job that took all of his directing skills.
“I love the dynamic between these three characters,” the 59-year-old said in the same interview, referring to Damon, Affleck, and Hong Chau, who plays Damon’s therapist. “But how can I film a dialogue scene while the car they have hundred police cars from multiple England states chasing themselves?” he questioned himself.
The answer, it seems, was a blend of meticulous planning and on-the-spot adjustments. The director said that to make it work, he had to use everything he had learned as a filmmaker.
The Instigators is now playing in theaters and is also available for streaming on Apple TV!
