Movie with Abe: The Informant!

The Informant!
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Released September 18, 2009

Un-believ-able! That’s what the promotional posters for this film declared about the true story of Mark Whitacre, an agriculture company vice president who proved to be a rather slippery, unreliable witness in a major sting operation. It’s meant to be over-the-top and considerably un-believ-able because it was in fact that way. Yet Whitacre’s tale is presented from the point of view of Whitacre himself, and therefore when Whitacre omits or outright lies and compromises his own case time and again, the viewer cringes because Whitacre wasn’t straight with his audience. Whitacre is just as slimy and unpredictable in his thoughts as he is in his actions, and therefore having him narrate the story is equally amusing and aggravating.

“The Informant!” starts out in a highly stylized manner with Whitacre pointing out simple random facts as he discusses things with daily lives in his daily life. The window into Whitacre’s mind is like a permanently open encyclopedia, and Whitacre’s witty observations are often quite entertaining. Once it becomes clear that Whitacre isn’t always telling the truth, however, the impact of his rattled-off facts is greatly diminished, and they just don’t seem nearly as impressive anymore. For its first hour or so, the movie seems like it’s building to something really big, and Whitacre’s whistle-blowing actions and side narration will all amount to some major takedown or epiphany. But there’s no such satisfying conclusion, and all of the buildup just levels off and doesn’t go anywhere. That seems to be the point of the film, though the movie loses it cleverness well before the end and there’s nothing to make up for the lack of gratification.

Director Steven Soderbergh flip-flops between tiny, very independent artsy projects like “Full Frontal” and the dreadful “The Girlfriend Experience” and big-budget mainstream releases like the “Ocean’s Eleven” trilogy. “The Informant!” is something different, a star vehicle for Damon that still prides itself on a unique viewpoint on life espoused by the title character. The explanation point in the title seems to represent a childlike, excitable take on the film’s characters and events, and that at least distinguishes the film from more serious dramas. Yet this film isn’t hilarious or even terribly humorous, and what could be interpreted as funny is often just too frustrating. Damon has a great time inhabiting the role of Whitacre, and his very silly mustache helps make the character a compelling lead despite the obvious drawbacks of his untrustworthiness and general flakiness. He’s easily the best part of a less impressive movie. It’s the kind of film that looks interesting at the start but just doesn’t ever deliver on its potential.

B-

Watch the Minute with Abe here.