For the past 20 years, Steven Soderbergh has proven himself to be a filmaking chameleon, rarely repeating himself with the exception of the Ocean films. After his two part Che Guevara biopic last year, and his indie curiosity The Girlfriend Experience earlier this year, Soderbergh is back, and once again teaming with longtime collaborator Matt Damon in the Scott Z. Burns penned adaptation of The Informant!Adapted from Kurt Eichenwald's book of the same name(minus the exclamation), The Informant! tells the story of Mark Whitacre, effortlessly played by Matt Damon, a rising star at ADM, a corporation based out of Illinois, who turns informant for the FBI in regards to the companies' price-fixing activities. The movie deals with Whitacre's ordeal as he struggles with bi-polar disorder, his own misdeeds, and the stress caused by three years of wearing a wire.
While the film is not what I would call a lough out loud comedy, it is smartly written and quietly hilarious throughout, allowing for the comedy to come from the character's actions and reaction
s to the events that unfold. Soderbergh's direction serves the film well enough, and I have to agree with Variety's review which called the film "Soderbergh's Richard Lester" movie. Damon is wonderful as the increasingly out of it Whitacre, playing him confidently and sharply, never making light of Whitacre's convictions and belief that he is doing the right thing, even when he isn't. The rest of the cast does well enough, Melanie Lynskey does her best with her role as Whitacre's devoted wife Ginger, even though there relationship and her character is weak and underwritten.
s to the events that unfold. Soderbergh's direction serves the film well enough, and I have to agree with Variety's review which called the film "Soderbergh's Richard Lester" movie. Damon is wonderful as the increasingly out of it Whitacre, playing him confidently and sharply, never making light of Whitacre's convictions and belief that he is doing the right thing, even when he isn't. The rest of the cast does well enough, Melanie Lynskey does her best with her role as Whitacre's devoted wife Ginger, even though there relationship and her character is weak and underwritten. In the end, The Informant! is just about as good as one would expect from Damon/Soderbergh corporate dark comedy. Its funny without being flash, smart without placing attention on it, with good direction, a great adaptation by Scott Z. Burns, and a fantastic star lead from Matt Damon in his best role since The Talented Mr. Ripley more than a decade ago. While the film may not set the box office afire, I feel assured that Matt Damon will certainly find himself in awards contention, along with Burn's for adapted screenplay and it's great score which feels like a character unto itself at time. I would definitely suggest seeing this film in theatres.
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