Quentin Tarantino Hates Modern Hollywood, but This New Crime Drama Melted His Heart

Quentin Tarantino is a renowned critic of modern cinema. In his Sight and Sound column, he called Hollywood a "flavorless sausage factory," admitting that he was so disillusioned with modern cinema that he turned to books.

He believes that flaws, implausibility, poor casting, and stupidity ruin any new project coming out of Hollywood. And yet, Tarantino made an exception for one action flick.

Quentin Tarantino Despises the Modern Industry, but Praises 'The Rip'

Regarding modern cinema, Tarantino said:

“It seems almost impossible for a new movie to come out that I don't pick to death. Flaws, implausibilities, audience pandering, miscast performers or just plain stupid shit usually torpedoes every new movie coming out of the flavorless sausage factory that used to call itself Hollywood.

These days, the entire concept of what is a movie is more inclined to inspire contempt in me than generosity. Which is fair enough, because by comparison the movies of the last six years make the 80s seem like the 30s.”

However, Tarantino is effusive in his praise of The Rip, starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. He calls it "suspenseful new movie" that "held me for its entire duration."

The director praised everything, from the direction to the brilliant cast to the visuals. However, he considers the movie's true gem to be its stunning script.

What Is 'The Rip' About?

In Miami, Jackie Velez, the head of a local drug enforcement task force, is killed while on a mission. Her subordinates, including Lieutenant Dumars and Sergeant Byrne, struggle to cope with the loss while confronting inquisitive FBI agents and searching for those responsible.

Some time later, Dumars receives a tip from an informant about a suburban stash house where several hundred thousand dollars are being stored illegally. Upon arrival, the team discovers over $20 million in cash inside the building.

A woman named Desi greets the team and begs them to take the money and leave immediately before things get worse. The mission soon turns into a game of survival.

'The Rip' Is a Confident And Gripping Crime Drama Perfect for Fans of the Genre

The plot of The Rip is based on a true story: police officers find $20 million in an abandoned house and decide to keep the money for themselves – this lead to a rift within the team.

Joe Carnahan directed this solid, tense thriller that keeps you on your toes from start to finish. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck transform their characters into cops who are also people torn by moral conflicts.

If you're craving confident, brutal, and intelligent crime dramas reminiscent of the best of the 90s and 00s, The Rip is exactly what you need.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Rip'?

• The Rip has 77% from critics and 65% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.8/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Rip scored 3.1/5.0.

Where to Watch 'The Rip'?

The Rip is available to stream on Netflix.