Cinema Society

THE INFORMANT!

Average
Rating

2.8

Tuesday, September 15, 2009, AMC La Jolla 12 Theatres

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

7:10PM: Introduction, Auditorium 4

7:15PM: Introduction, Auditorium 5

7:30PM: THE INFORMANT!

Auditoriums 4 & 5

Discussion will follow screening in Auditorium 4

AMC La Jolla 12 Theatres

THE INFORMANT!

What was Mark Whitacre thinking? A rising star at agri-industry giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Whitacre (Matt Damon) suddenly turns whistleblower. Even as he exposes his company’s multi-national price-fixing conspiracy to the FBI, Whitacre envisions himself

being hailed as a hero of the common man and handed a promotion. But before all that can happen, the FBI needs evidence, so Whitacre eagerly agrees to wear a wire and carry a hidden tape recorder in his briefcase, imagining himself as a kind of de facto secret agent.

Unfortunately for the FBI, their lead witness hasn’t been quite so forthcoming about helping himself to the corporate coffers. Whitacre’s ever-changing account frustrates the agents (Scott Bakula and Joel McHale) and threatens the case against ADM as it becomes

almost impossible to decipher what is real and what is the product of Whitacre’s rambling imagination.

Academy Award® winner Matt Damon (“Good Will Hunting,” the “Bourne” movies) stars in “The Informant!,” based on the true story of the highest-ranking corporate whistleblower in U.S. history. Co-starring Scott Bakula, Joel McHale and Melanie Lynskey, the film was directed by Oscar® winner Steven Soderbergh (“Traffic,” “Ocean’s Thirteen”) from a screenplay by Scott Z. Burns, based on the book The Informant (A True Story), written by Kurt Eichenwald.

A Warner Bros. Release, THE INFORMANT! opens commercially in San Diego on September 18th.

Running Time: TBA

Rated R (for language)

Send a Comment

8-Oct-09: M.Roe - Rating: 4

I liked this film and I liken it to "Burn After Reading" (which I also liked). Though Informant didn't have as many big name stars, I thought the style and pace were similar. I thought the music/score was another character and was delighted by the tone. The Cinematography I found to be interesting at times like why were some/most of the shots from the inside looking out through a window/glass there was a hazy look like when you've opened your eyes in a pool and the chlorine has made your sight foggy. I thought Matt Damon did a great job (as did Joel McHale, I love him on The Soup)....and just a little observation (just my opinion), when it comes to the Cinema Society members, the more "commercial" the film the less they like it....but I like to seem 'em all (big and small).

23-Sep-09: Mark - Rating: 2

What a disappointment. Instead of telling this serious and potentially compelling story in a clear, linear fashion, Soderbergh seems to go out of his way to muddle the narrative and mock the characters, presenting the story as a kind of inside joke. The incongruous music and ever-present voice-over (on which Soderbergh relies far too heavily as a substitute for dramatic story-telling) have the effect of distancing the audience, making it impossible to lose oneself in the movie. The only thing that saves this movie from a rating of 1, in my opinion, is Matt Damon's characteristically fine acting. I cannot understand, however, why he felt the need to gain 30 pounds for this role, which could have been played with equal skill and effectiveness at his normal weight.

Soderbergh seems to have peaked too early in his career, with Out of Sight, The Limey, and Erin Brockovich standing as his best efforts. Everything he has made since then, in my view, has been narcissistic -- apparently done for his own pleasure and with a disregard for his audience.

23-Sep-09: pb - Rating: 3

I didn't hate it.

23-Sep-09: Georgi Bohrod Gordon - Rating: 4

So there: absolutely an enjoyable film told from a director's point of view with really fine acting. The look and feel were spot on.

18-Sep-09: ms - Rating: 4

I can see the point of those who did not enjoy it but I enjoyed the film. I like odd ball humor and it struck my funny bone.

I did hate Scott Bakula's hair though, so there.

17-Sep-09: jh - Rating: 2

Steven Soderbergh's smart, entertaining film, THE INFORMANT!, trivialized corporate crime and personal and family tragedy. So there.

17-Sep-09: jf - Rating: 2

Wow. He gained 30 pounds for this?

16-Sep-09: ebee - Rating: 3

not my favorite Cinema Society movie. Matt Damon was good, but the movie itself was really slow. Funny to see the Smothers Brothers, but if that is what I remember ~ then "not so much" on the movie. And the actress who played his wife? wow. Not great... just "eh"....

16-Sep-09: Jacquie - Rating: 2

I have never reviewed a movie before but wanted to say that I thought this movie was not up to the normal caliber of movies shown at the Cinema Society. I felt the music trivialized the story and was almost annoying, the plot was very complicated and not easy to follow. While Matt Damons acting was good, it could not make up for the other flaws. I would not recommend this movie to my friends.