You Won’t Believe Who Stars in This Hidden Netflix Gem

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Six years ago, in 2019, seems like a different era altogether. Before the onset of the pandemic, before significant upheavals in the entertainment industry such as writers’ and actors’ strikes, and before dramatic geopolitical changes that have unfolded over the past five years. Despite all the chaos that has ensued since then, it’s surprising to see that the action thriller Triple Frontier, which hit Netflix in March 2019, didn’t receive the acclaim it deserved given its impressive lineup – an acclaimed director, a stellar cast, and a budget of over $100 million.

Although Triple Frontier didn’t make much of an impact initially when it was released, six years down the line, the movie remains just as compelling.

Triple Frontier Examines Modern Life After Military Service With Plenty of Twists and Turns

In the movie “Triple Frontier,” Santiago “Pope” Garcia (Oscar Isaac), who was previously part of the U.S. special ops, is now working as a military contractor in Colombia. When Yovanna (Adria Arjona from “Star Wars: Andor”), one of his informants, asks him to help smuggle her and her brother out of the country away from Colombian drug lord Lorea (Reynaldo Gallegos), Pope sees a chance not only to aid Yovanna but also to recover the wealth he believes he deserves for his loyal service under the American flag. He subsequently travels back to the U.S. to enlist his former comrades-in-arms from his Delta Force days, planning a daring heist to pilfer the millions that Lorea has hidden in a jungle safe house.

In contrast to Pope, most others have transitioned from their busy professional lives. Tom “Redfly” Davis (Ben Affleck) is now in real estate, Francisco “Catfish” Morales (Pedro Pascal) has a newborn baby and a temporarily suspended pilot’s license, William “Ironhead” Miller (Charlie Hunnam) delivers speeches to veterans, while his brother Ben Miller (Garrett Hedlund) is a mixed-martial-arts competitor. Initially, Pope’s plan meets resistance from his former comrades, but their discontent with civilian life eventually leads them to join him. Pope succinctly expresses the core problem when he tells Redfly, “You’ve been shot five times for your country, and yet you can’t even afford a new truck.

Skilled experts managed to penetrate Lorea’s secure hideout and ended up with nearly three times as much money as they had anticipated taking from both Lorea and Pope. As promised, Pope arranged for Yovanna and her brother to leave Colombia safely. Yet, the real test began when the former soldiers attempted to transport the stolen funds back to the United States. The prospect of their substantial payout vanished, replaced by a struggle to return home alive.

Pedro Pascal Established Himself as an Action Star in Triple Frontier

In a more straightforward rephrasing: J.C. Chandor, both co-writer and director of “Triple Frontier”, constructs a deep and engrossing plot about a botched revenge mission. Instead of presenting a simple, modernized Robin Hood narrative with military undertones, Chandor complicates the storyline by challenging the moral justification behind the group’s theft from the wealthy to rectify their perceived injustices. However, this is not done through criticism or moralizing, but rather by highlighting the immense pressures placed upon veterans due to a system that has failed them. The film remains action-packed, filled with unexpected twists and turns, but it deliberately deviates from traditional genre norms.

Although Triple Frontier concludes with a surprisingly optimistic finale, it leaves us feeling more subdued than anticipated, and surprisingly relevant given America’s current tense geopolitical situation. It’s plausible that Triple Frontier and J.C. Chandor’s other significant work, A Most Violent Year, played a role in him securing the director position for Kraven the Hunter. While he may not be solely responsible for Kraven’s failure, revisiting Triple Frontier makes us hopeful that he will revisit gritty thrillers and steer clear of studio-produced superhero movies in the future.

Talking about superhero films, what makes “Triple Frontier” stand out from being overly melancholic is its remarkable cast. It’s a delight to see Mr. Fantastic, Moon Knight, and Batman collaborate, even without their unique powers and costumes. Pascal, Isaac, Affleck (not forgetting Hunnam and Hedlund), all superb and captivating actors, make for an unmissable on-screen dynamic. Adria Arjona’s character Bix Caleen, as the informant Yovanna, adds even more charm to this talented group, as she brings a rich depth and complexity to her role that was seemingly missing on paper.

It’s quite probable that Triple Frontier made a comeback on Netflix’s Top 10 list in 2023 due to its impressive cast. We believe the resurgence was driven by admirers of Pascal, during the gaps between seasons of The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, and Isaac enthusiasts, as they anticipate Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse and any updates about Moon Knight rejoining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As fans prepare for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, revisiting Triple Frontier is quite delightful. In 2019, Oscar Isaac and Ben Affleck were established action stars, but Pedro Pascal was merely starting his rapid rise to fame. Sharing the screen as action stars in Triple Frontier with co-star and real-life friend Isaac gave the film an extra special touch.

Triple Frontier is currently streaming on Netflix.

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2025-07-05 18:40