My reason for watching The Informant! was because it's directed by Steven Soderbergh and not because I'm trying to catch up with as many potential award winners before the Oscars in February. Strange then, that the overriding thought when viewing this adaptation of a true story is, "Why hasn't Matt Damon been recognised for his fine work with more award nominations?"
Informant is loosely based ("so there!" states a pre-credit disclaimer)on real life informer, Mark Whittaker, who after working with the FBI in the early 90's to bring down a corporate corn producing entity due to global illegal price fixing, decided to profit from his double dealings and make millions. Damon plays Whitaker as a flake. A dreamer. A man who thinks he's far cleverer than he actually is (given a wire taping device he thinks he's 0014...because he's double James Bond's 007) and a man who can never stop lying, no matter the sincerity of all those around him (his wife, colleagues, lawyers, FBI) to tell 100% the truth. Damon is both mesmerising and embarrassing to watch as you see him test the patience and intelligence of those he's both trying to help and trying to deceive.
Soderbergh directs with style, as always. Despite having a 90's setting, the film is shot and designed like a late 70's early 80's piece of cinema, aided by Marvin Hamlish's period style score. Script wise it's rather meandering and a bit repetitive as Damon gets more and more entwined in his own lies. As with most Soderbergh efforts the humor is of the dry and reserved variety...but not always as funny as it thinks it is. Still this is worth watching for Damon alone. He got a Golden Globe nomination for his supporting role in Eastwood's Invictus...but did practically bugger all to deserve it. Here, the man is a legend.
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