Director: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Matt Damon, Scott Bakula and Joel McHale
‘A Spectacular Satire’
Not many actors have achieved recognition of Matt Damon. Ever since his rise to fame in the 1990’s, Damon has become a beloved icon. Whether it’s space scavengers, gifted janitors or soldiers, Damon has portrayed many strong characters. Arguably, Damon’s finest strength as an actor has often been his strong commitment to his craft. He is one of those actors that has always had talent for stealing the show in supporting roles which have limited screen-time. Even when he isn’t a main focus of a movie, Damon has always left a lasting impression. Through his capability to portray characters that are engaging, Damon has created a legacy that’s lasting. Although he is best known for his iconic role as Bourne in the spy franchise, Damon has proven that he can make engaging movies in every single genre. Throughout his career, Damon has made several unforgettable movies which are worth talking about.
I’m a huge fan of Damon and adore all the movies he has made in his career. However, “The Informant!” Is his most overlooked film. Released in 2009, Steven Soderbergh’s film offered a strong portrait of informants which face adversity. Packed with bold production, engaging storytelling and powerful acting, it is a spectacular spies satire. At a centre of it all is an exceptional performance from Matt Damon, who portrays an FBI informant that faces tension. Although “The Informant!” is a captivating crime thriller, it isn’t a flawless movie. It suffers from uneven pacing testing viewers’ patience. Nevertheless, it provides engaging entertainment that will absolutely satisfy fans of satires.
“The Informant!” tells the story of a strong FBI informant. Matt Damon portrays Marc Whitacre, a brave whistleblower that isn’t afraid to expose information about secret corporations. Marc has often gotten away with resolving crimes without experiencing any serious price to pay. However, Marc’s life forever changes when he exposes grim secrets about companies causing disaster. As all odds are stacked against his favour, Marc questions whether it’s possible to be a strong whistleblower. Facing resentment, he is forced to question whether it’s possible to be an effective informant.
Steven Soderbergh is fascinated with lives of spies enduring disaster. His iconic movie “Ocean’s Eleven” offered a bold portrait of spies committing heists of casinos causing tension. With “The Informant!”, however, the filmmaker created his first espionage thriller. It was the filmmaker’s attempt capturing the lives of FBI informants facing adversities but he succeeded tremendously. Using powerful cinematography, Soderbergh captures the life of an FBI informant that embarks upon a journey. Inspired by Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed”, Soderbergh effectively employs montages to capture the lives of FBI agents that are conflicted. For instance, montages enhance the informants scene. During this unforgettable scene, Marc introduces that he is an informant to a corporation. Using stunning montages, Soderbergh creates a portrait of informants which is compelling. Montages are tricky techniques. As Gus Van Sant’s “Good Will Hunting” proved, montage elevates coming of age movies. However, it works immensely. Using captivating visuals. Soderbergh conveys tension that informants are facing.
Another strong aspect of “The Informant!”that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best espionage movies which you will ever. Evoking Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me if You Can”, Soderbergh effectively uses costumes to capture the lives of FBI informants which have a plan. Throughout the movie, Marc’s costumes showcase his transformation into a strong FBI informant that’s compelling. For instance, costumes enhance the FBI scene. During this unforgettable scene, Marc has a serious confrontation with fellow FBI agents causing tensions. Using stunning costumes, Soderbergh creates a portrait of FBI agents that’s engaging. Moreover, the music score is magnificent. It gives the movie an intense atmosphere capturing the painful burdens FBI agents bear. Using powerful production, Soderbergh captures informants which face tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “The Informant!” Is a film about FBI agents which is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses monologues to illustrate hardships informants experience. For instance, the monologues enhance the FBI farewell scene. During this memorable scene, Marc delivers a strong speech that showcases his strong views on informants. Through dramatic monologues, Soderbergh creates a portrait of FBI agents audiences relate to. Monologues are not always easy to employ in movies. As Anthony Minghella’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley” proved, dramatic monologues enhance con-artist films. That being said, it works immensely in this movie. Through a fantastic screenplay, Soderbergh captures informants that experience a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Matt Damon delivers one of his best career performances as Marc Whitacre. Damon earned appreciation for playing janitors in coming of age films. With “The Informant!”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray an FBI agent facing adversities but he succeeds tremendously. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charming and utterly emotional in his most memorable role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and reckless nature of a corporate whistleblower. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most commemorated actors today.
While the movie is arguably a showcase for Damon, the supporting cast is also excellent and worthy of appreciation. Scott Bakula is spectacular, capturing the charisma of an FBI agent that endures a dilemma. Melanie Lynskey is magnificent, bringing authority to a female FBI agent experiencing adversities. Lastly, Clancy Brown merits appreciation. As a senior informant, he is unforgettable.
Although “The Informant!” is a spectacular satire, it isn’t a flawless film. If there’s one shortcoming to the movie, it lacks strong pacing. Soderbergh’s decision to integrate subplots about political figures into the film is bold but doesn’t succeed. Due towards this faulty technique, scenes capturing the politics of FBI informants aren’t always as engaging as his journey. As Alan J. Pakula’s “All the President’s Men” proved, subplots about political figures enhance journalism movies. Therefore, “The Informant!” can’t quite capture the hardship that informants experience.
Nevertheless, fans of Matt Damon would definitely enjoy “The Informant!” and so would movie-goers seeking meaningful entertainment. A terrific spies thriller, it honours a legendary actor.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking crime film about an FBI informant, it’s a riveting reminder about an actor with strong commitment towards his craft that has built a legendary legacy by his ability to portray compelling characters that experience resentment in unforgettable movies which have stood the test of time as iconic entertainment.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 