‘Triple Frontier’ a durable, dependable action film

Now that Netflix is staking its claim on become its own mini-Hollywood, its releases are growing on a larger scale, as evidenced with last year’s Oscar-nominated “Roma.”

It’s next “big” release was the fourth film from an acclaimed director, J.C. Chandor, featuring an all-star cast who have all seen Oscar nods of their own, including Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac and Charlie Hunnam.

And while its title, “Triple Frontier” is a bit of a head-scratcher, it’s narrative is rather straightforward, even though it may have a bit more to say than it initially leads on.

Chador has crafted critically acclaimed features such as “All is Lost,” “A Most Violent Year” and “Margin Call,” and “Frontier” has spent the better part of a decade in development, changing out cast and crew members along the way.

“Frontier” is perhaps not as polished as Chandor’s usual output, but he does bolster the proceedings by adding a slight nuance to the script (with the help of Oscar-winner Mark Boal of “The Hurt Locker”) and attracting a stellar cast that elevates what typically would be a men-on-one-final-mission action thriller.

After serving in the U.S. military for years, Santiago “Pope” Garcia (played by Oscar Isaac) is a private gun-for-hire who happens upon the potential to score $75 million in drug money deep in the mountains of South America. He persuades his former soldier buddies (played by Affleck, Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund and Pedro Pascal) to join him in the potential payoff.

Each of them decide to join for their own particular reasons, and off they go on their mission. If it sounds like the setup of countless other genre films of this ilk, it is. But that does not make it less engaging. Chandor and Boal punch up the script and leave it in their capable actors’ hands.

They all seem to have a genuine affection for one another, but each suggests doubts as to whether they can carry out their mission.

Since society has turned their back on the main characters, this desperate grab for cash is perhaps all they have left as thanks for their service. This leads to a mounting tension between the characters, as they all realize what they are doing is illegal, but trying to not further cloud their already-unethical behavior is a continual dance throughout their mission.

Affleck is Tom “Redfly” Davis, now a real estate agent sporting a spare tire and a barely-there relationship with his teen daughter.

It’s easy to tack on Affleck’s own personal issues to the role, but that is to his performance’s advantage, and he seems stronger here than anything he was given while donning the Batman suit.

Isaac, as always, is equally strong. He is the closest to the film’s “hero,” but as he is nagged by his lack of virtue in this mission, and Isaac wears it like backpack throughout the film.

Hunnam, as the more ethical William “Ironhead” Miller, is more centered from a moral perspective, and provides perfect balance when Garcia’s plans start to unravel while in the jungle heat.

The film’s second act shows the men attempting to haul the cash back across the border, and doubt shadows the men during their arduous task, resulting in the men slowly doubting each other, themselves, and the entire mission.

Sadly, this is also when they film begins to slip into precariously predictable territory as well, but thanks to its cast, and director of photography Roman Vasyanov, we can still soak in our lush South American vistas that fill every inch of the screen.

“Triple Frontier” (the name refers to the borders of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay where some of their cash was scattered) does little to re-invent aspects of its various genres, but it handles all solidly enough to show a definitive leap from such other high-profile critical flops like Will Smith’s “Bright” and “The Cloverfield Paradox.”

And if you are searching for a durable, dependable action film led by a sturdy, striking cast, it’s certainly a capable entry that is no home run, but a solid “Triple.”