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Massawyrm! Digs! THE INFORMANT!
Hola all. Massawyrm here.
You would think that after Che and The Girlfriend Experience that Steven Soderbergh would be due a commercial film. After all, that’s how he works - an indie style arty film or two between each, bigger studio endeavor. And on the surface, this appears to be his big, star studded mainstream picture. But it’s not. Sure, it’s got a big cast with a lot of incredibly talented people, but it isn’t really all that commercial. That’s not to say that this is another jaunt into his somewhat more self-indulgent endeavors, but it certainly isn’t anything resembling a mainstream comedy. And really, that’s the best part about it.
To say that the trailer to this film is a bit deceptive is something of an understatement. There’s a lot being hidden and quite a bit of the comedy being oversold. Matt Damon’s Mark Whitacre (based on a real person) is not the dim, bumbling dolt he’s being sold as. On the contrary. He’s smart, crafty and even on occasion devious. That’s not to say that he’s Batman or Einstein, but the advertising makes this look like it’s about a couple of FBI agents following around a feckless moron as he tries to somehow blunders his way in and out of awkward situations while taping his co-workers. It’s not. He embarrasses himself a few times, sure; but he’s a real, honest to god believable character.
Most importantly, the humor doesn’t really stem from his occasional gaffes. It’s mostly character stuff that makes you laugh. A lot. We’re occasionally treated to narration that is nothing more than the inner dialog of Whitacre thinking about the completely inane things people are prone to think about; and Damon delivers these moments with such beautiful deadpan that it gets funnier and funnier every time we find ourselves wandering through his thoughts.
Damon nails this and delivers the kind of inspired, brilliant performance we all know he’s capable of but rarely is offered the chance to really give. It’s subtle, understated and altogether perfect – exactly the kind of performance which will garner him an Oscar nod without being so powerful or over the top to actually get it for him. But it is a Kobe Beef performance at the end of a Salisbury steak summer and is more than welcome.
While I don’t feel the film has any “problems” per se, it is, like many of Soderbergh’s films, going to have problems connecting with a broad audience. While the film is sharp and very funny, there is a major character turn towards the end of the second act that puts the film into something of a freefall. Discerning audiences will love where this goes - as it plumbs territory we’re not accustomed to seeing in this kind of film - but there is a period of time in which it feels like it is in a tailspin and might not be able to recover. Instead it pulls out right on time and brings everything together perfectly, because everything is as the film initially intended. It just wasn’t the film you thought you were there to see.
The only thing questionable about the film is that Soderbergh populated almost every single role in the film with stand up comedians…but then put most of them in characters that weren’t in any way meant to be funny. So there are a few moments where you recognize people and say “Hey, it’s that guy,” taking you out of the film without giving you the payoff you’d expect from those particular comedians. It lends itself to convincing the audience that the comedian’s appearance will be wacky, zany or bitingly clever, when in fact most of these actors are in fairly mundane roles that would normally go to unknown character actors. I mean, it’s great to see longtime AICN favorite Patton Oswalt in a film of this caliber – but not being given any depth to work with, nor allowed to do something either involving blowjobs-on-a-stick or Star Trek references, some folks are going to wonder what he’s doing there rather than just drinking in the film and its subtleties.
Personally, I think seeding it with stand ups was a great experiment – but then again, I walk into everything Soderbergh does expecting something experimental. Not everyone does. The upside is that we get to see performances out of people like Joel McHale (of The Soup fame) stealing scenes right out from under FBI partner Scott Bakula and even Damon himself on a number of occasions. Outside of Damon, McHale gets some of the movie’s biggest laughs and earns every one of them with his pitch perfect delivery.
Overall, THE INFORMANT! is a solid, fun, wonderfully different treat the likes of which Soderbergh fans will dig the hell out of, but their friends might scratch their heads at. I don’t think many people are going to be particularly baffled by this one – but it does skew a bit darker than it lets on and goes places not everyone will want it to go. But that’s Soderbergh for you. This one comes Recommended for anyone looking for something a little off the beaten path.
Until next time friends, smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em.
Massawyrm
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Dude, what is your day job?
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this is the first time in my moviegoing existence where I celebrated the demise of the summer movie season. I'm just bummed that they moved The Wolfman to next year. I'll check this out the next day off I have.
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Because critics are getting behind this movie like its going out of style. This movie looks fine and all, but screams rental. Nothing about it makes me want to see it on the big screen. Like Extract, there is no weight behind either movie saying that its worth my money.
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This movie isn't great--it isn't bad either, but it's just 'pretty good.' The story meanders a lot in the beginning and takes a long time to build up steam and by the time you get there, it's a little late. The performances are stellar but the movie as a whole just didn't work as well as it did for everyone else.
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Paul Giamatti will to play the tyrant King John in Ironclad, a medieval-era action film that will begin production in Wales next month. Jonathan English (Minotaur) is set to direct and James Purefoy to star.
Written by Erick Kastel and English, the drama pits a member of the formidable Knights Templar (Purefoy) and his "Magnificent Seven" cohorts who defend Rochester Castle against King John and his army in 13th century England.
Rick Benattar, who worked with Giamatti on Shoot 'Em Up, will produce alongside Andrew Curtis (Lost in La Mancha).
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In addition to last night's news that Mädchen Amick had joined the cast of director Scott Stewart's Priest, Stewart himself announced on his Twitter account that Christopher Plummer and Brad Dourif are on board as well. No word yet on who they will play in the comic book adaptation.
Opening in theaters on August 13, 2010, Priest is set in a world ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampire. It follows a warrior priest (Paul Bettany) who turns against the church to track down a murderous band of vampires who have kidnapped his niece.
Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q, Karl Urban, Stephen Moyer and Lily Collins co-star. -
He's our new Woody Allen (post outrageous funny years) and Robert Altman rolled into one.
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to the book that it is based on. This is a true story about the largest anti trust case in the US, if not on the planet. I read it for an Economics course in college. Great story!! Looking forward to the movie. http://www.amazon.com/Informant-Movie-Tie-Story-Random/dp/0767931254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253295691&sr=8-1
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Just sayin'...
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I've liked Soderbergh. Is Damon finally going to start delivering on the promise of his early career? Other than Departed, what movie has he done in the last 7-8 years that made you marvel at his chops? Bourne? Ocean's? Don't think so...
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until i read the review from my main man MASSA! i dig matt damon, but at first glance this movie looked like a reprise of the kind of roles he did for the ocean's series. after seeing this review tho, i think it'll be worth chekin out. i'm also very interested in the soup dude's role. i saw community the other night and enjoyed it. probably wont see this in theaters tho...
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on this site? Where every post has at least three of the things? !!!
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It looks like a Chuck episode blown up for the big screen.
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Yup. That's how we roll.
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And! man! sex!
This is clear from the way he blows Damon in this "review." Did he let you take a picture with him or something?
Pathetic. -
I'm on the fence about some of his stuff, but this smells like a strong B+ keeper. Kinda hoping it comes off like "The Insider" but with funny.
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Maaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttt Daaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmooooooonnnnnnnnn
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Worth a rental at best. Do not waste your money. It's convoluted and it really loses momentum about half way through. It never really recovers. Do not listen to the AICN reviewers on this. Informant is quite boring actually.
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been all down hill since Schizopolis.
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Done with the guy.
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Sep 18, 2009 9:38:14 PM CDT
his best films might be behind him...but i will still see it.
by future help
my favs of his, in this order: Sex, Lies and Videotape, the Limey, Out of Sight. did not care for his Oceans...kinda' want to check out the Girlfriend Experience.
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you're a miserable little man if you're that up in arms about a silly comedy. and if it makes you dismiss one of the best directors of our generation, that's truly idiotic.but hey, they're making Bad Boys 3 soon, so you'll have SOMEthing to see at least.
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fall is here and i'm most in the mood for this kind of fun.
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My favorite Soderbergh film. :)
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I quote: "That’s not to say that he’s Batman or Einstein" I'm sure Einstein would be happy to know he's about as smart as Batman.
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But I'm sure he's not on the same level as freakin Einstein !!!!!!
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You got the wrong guy. I'm not up in arms. I'm non-plussed. I said it was a mediocre film. Not awful. Mediocre. I then said I'd never see a Soderbergh film again. The guy bores me. I didn't say he was an awful director. He's obviously talented; I just don't dig his stuff. Spare me the Bad Boys snark, ok? Just because someone isn't into a particular "auteur" doesn't mean he's a drooling, Michael Bay, GI Joe-loving troglodyte.
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"No, it's a scientist.""Batman's a scientist!""It's not Batman!"
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Talked about the actual case the movie was made on. Looks like an interesting story.
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I don't trust him.
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Damon couldn't open his fly much less a movie
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I like Damon, but I can't watch a film from a guy who blows Che Guevara--a mass murdering coward and failure with no redeeming qualities. Wearing a Che t-shirt in Miami is akin to wearing an SS uniform in a synagogue.
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I wanted to commit several fist-to-face collisions to the people that recommended that piece of shit. All the hype over Matt Damon's mind-fucked character and an incredibly idiotic movie. I am going to see the Informant today, because Matt redeemed himself in the Bourne series. But I have lost $8 froever, and I can never un-see Ripley.
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Uh, I went to see this last night. Was in a great mood, looking forward to it-- It sucked. I don't say this lightly. I mean, I was totally annoyed and not impressed. DID NOT LIKE IT & DON'T RECOMMEND. NOT FUNNY. A couple strained chuckles does not a movie make.
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"The cove" instead. The cove has superb reviews, this movie has badly mixed reviews.
Rotten tomatoes Informant: 77% the cove: 94%
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In the middle of a decent movie, he sticks this pseudo-70's score that makes no sense, annoying and distracting; and why were the titles so seventies-looking, too?
In other words, why the 70's references? -
Sep 20, 2009 2:38:18 PM CDT
I'll take Hamlisch's wacky, 60's TV sitcom music...
by nasty in the pasty
...over any piece of crap being written today. Even when it was annoying, the Informant! score was constantly in there pitching instead of just droning away in the backgroud, filling space.
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at times, it completely took me out of the movie; it was a good film, but there was no reason to have that irritating elevator music in there. Bad choice for Soderbergh.
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Some morons on here claim it's horrible, those saying they didn't like it that's fine. Those who claim that it is somehow the worst movie and to avoid it are idiots or they didn't see the movie. I'm sorry but if you're a moron and you just can't understand movies please stop going and giving your point of view.
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I like it that there are still some guys out there who think it is funny to type "Maaaaaatt Daaaaamoooon" into a tb forum - Matt and Trey really out did themselves with that lame soundbite (watch, another dullard will do it again before this tb is finished). I like it that Einstein and Batman are now the standards by which we gauge genius - I look forward to saying "Is he smart? Sure...But Batman smart? No, I don't think so..." I like it that McHale will have a movie career to fall back on since Community really sucked (sadly) - that guy is funny.
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He's got great presence. So, what a let down it was seeing him in a completely cardboard role in this movie. Stiff and dull. What a waste. I hope McHale gets a chance to show his stuff in a quality role.
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No, thankfully.
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Anyone think the trailer for the Bruce Willis movie looks like Die Hard Five?
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No 12 Monkeys level of cool, but could have potential.
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