I really dug the retro stylin', but damned if Soderbergh could ever hold a narrative together anymore even if his life depended upon it. Yeah, yeah... I know it's intentional. Don't remind me - - that don't make it no better! He sucks the life out almost* every film he makes, and his same old, same old in this one are especially disappointng given the quality of the story and acting.



The Informant!, which is already very funny, could have been a dramatically better film with the direction of someone who didn't have his head up his own ass...


out of

* The exceptions naturally being SL&VT (his awe full debut), The Limey (his masterpiece), and O12 (his unsung comedic gem)...



{Also, on a sidenote: I haven't seen this many walkouts from an opening night movie since the Solaris remake! Couples and small groups kept getting up and never coming back. There must have been 35 people leave by the halfway point of The Informant!... }

The Informant! is more of a film to appreciate/admire than to actually love, but the fact remains that Steven Soderbergh makes a subtly funny and zippy film here. It also pulls a bit of a fast one on the audience, as it seems to begin as more of a caper film before delving into something else a bit harder to explain. An unrecognizable Matt Damon disappears into his character, delivering a brilliant performance in a challenging role; Whitacre has to be a bit goofy but simultaneously based in reality, and Damon never goes over-the-top. Scott Bakula, Joel McHale and Melanie Lynskey are all solid in supporting roles, and Soderbergh uses the interesting approach of filling out many of the small, "laugh-free" characters of the film with actors generally known for comedy (McHale, Tony Hale, Patton Oswalt, etc.). Some of the film's pacing is a bit off and it ultimately ends up being a bit slight. But it's an interesting picture regardless. B

Terrible film with, like Bradley said, copious narrative problems that you just stop caring. Hollywood, how about at least trying to make something interesting. The whole idea behind this movie elicits a big who gives a crap.

Dull, dull, dull. A laugh or two would have been nice. Or more than a fleeting moment of interest.

Libs summed it up perfectly. I enjoyed it, but can easily see why people would find it boring. B-

Review:
http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2009/09 ... spy-farce/

Podcast:
http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2009/09 ... informant/

Eh, it was kinda fun in a less deathly Burn After Reading way. Matt Damon was fantastic, totally believable as the character. I definitely didn't see the last third of the movie coming, crazy how twisted he was. I loved how nearly all the supporting cast came from previous comedic roles from Biff Tannen to Buster Bluth to Joel McHale. Definitely a slow movie like others are saying, but it's not that brutal.

8.7

The Informant! is one of 2009's brightest spots so far though the film may be a bit too much for the general audience. Matt Damon plays company vice-president turned informant Mark Whitacre who helps the FBI crack down his company's price-fizing ways. However, Mark throws out lie after lie and pretty soon they'll catch up to him. The entire premise is very smart and the jokes are right on. Damon is superb in his role and should be considered for a golden globe nom atleast this upcoming award season. Other highlights include Scott Bakula and Joel McHale's role as FBI agents Brian Shepard and Bob Herndon. Both actprs perform their roles in a very serious fashion but can still provide some of the best laughs in the film especially from one scene where the two talk with Damon at a local restaurant. It's another thumbs up on director Steven Soderbergh's resume and just an overall joy. ***1/2

Apparently The Informant!'s primary problem is that it's just too darn smart for a lot of people.

Well, that would be one explanation.

Another would be that it's director can't tell a story worth a damn...

It was a great movie. I didn't get the direction Soderbergh took like many, but the story itself and Damon are intriguing enough to pull you in. B+

No, this was like worst film ever bad. I didn't think Soderbergh capable of making such a bad movie until I saw this. Oh wait, I forgot about Full Frontal.

C


I am pretty much on Magnus' and yoshue's side here, though I can't help, but point out where the film excels.

First of all - the score. It's pretty damn terrific. Hamlisch was simply snubbed at the Oscars for this. One can say many things about this film, but it was very well-scored. The second thing is Matt Damon. He really does his best here and gets as much out of the material as possible.

The problem lies with the screenplay which is never sure whether it is depicting a real-life portrayal of a mentally unstable individual...or just playing the whole thing for laughs. Either way, it fails with both. I was not invested into Whitacre's character, despite Damon's good job with it and I think I laughed about once. The film is just there and most of the time it is pretty dull. Considering how ridiculous the whole true story is, I think a whole lot could have been made out of it, but this just goes on to show that Soderbergh is one of the most overappreciated directors of our times.

I disagree.

I dig this movie. A lot. I saw it twice in theatres, and I've watched it several times on HBO these last few months. A zany caper unfolding in a square, sterile Midwestern environment--the tone is just perfect. And Damon nailed the role. And the narration! "I've been to Tokyo. They sell little-girl underwear in the vending machines right on the main drag, the Ginza, or whatever. Guys in suits buying used girl panties. How is that okay? That's not okay."

I can't believe you only laughed once, Lecter.

That quote is actually not funny...

And I think I laughed one time more than yoshue did anyway.

I found Damon's delivery of "How is that okay? That's not okay." hilarious. *shrugs* I loved how the narration never reflected the events on the screen, how unreliable Whitacre is. I thought it made the movie.

7/10 -> B-

The thing I liked the most in this one was the music. It's definitely setting a great mood to the proceedings in the movie itself.

The movie is slightly bloated. There's a lot of empty walk, but Damon's charm and especially the quick-zip narrations that pop out from time to time make this a very enjoyable viewing. The story packs enough twists (some really good, some not so much) that keep the story in constant move and make the whole thing really unpredictable.

The comedy is pretty hit-and-miss, but it hits a lot more than it misses and Matt Damon is rather terrific. The narration is hilarious.