What a fun movie!
I’m talking about The Informant!, Steven Soderbergh’s quirky, breezy foray into the corrupt culture of corporate America.
Though set in the 1990s, The Informant! is a throwback to the caper comedies of the 1960s. Everything about the movie is a shout-out to the decade. The cinematography (Soderbergh under his pseudonym Peter Andrews) sets the tone. He fills the film with rich, sweeping shots of business offices, conference rooms and other favorite stomping grounds of the business elite, mixing them with the all-too-familar staid, medium shots that proliferated the films of that era. But what really solidifies the ‘60s feel is the bouncy score by Marvin Hamlisch. Channelling Henry Mancini, Hamlisch lifts the proceedings at every turn. The music does a great deal to fuel Soderbergh’s mischievous intentions. And believe me, his intentions are totally mischievous.
It’s no real stretch to imagine Jack Lemmon, James Garner or Steve McQueen in the title role. But, I don’t think any of them could have brought more to it than Matt Damon. Sporting a bristly, thin moustache and an endless array of fashionable neckties, this is one of the most unique characters Damon has ever played. We completely buy his characterization of a corporate executive with a conscience. Damon makes sure of that. But the plot and his character really start to thicken as we go along for his wild and twisting ride as a corporate whistleblower for the FBI.
Based on the events documented in the 2000 book The Informant: A True Story by journalist Kurt Eichenwald, The Informant! centers around Mark Whitacre, a biochemist and rising golden boy at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), a multibillion dollar U.S. corporation specializing in corn-based food additives. When ADM’s hot new product runs into problems in development, Whitacre reveals to his boss that the reason may be sabotage by a rival Japanese company. How does he know? He’s been approached by a mysterious businessman willing to reveal all for the right price. His boss decides to bring in the FBI to investigate. The bureau sends Special Agent Brian Shepard (Scott Bakula) to tap Whitacre’s home phone. As he does, we get the first of many twists in this story. Mark confesses to him that the corporate sabotage is small potatoes. The real crime going on is a global price-fixing conspiracy, led by ADM, that is elevating the cost of just about everything on the local grocery store shelf.
The FBI launches a major undercover investigation into Mark’s allegations. But the only way to prove it is to turn him into an informant. Initially, he waivers between being an enthusiastic participant to not wanting to have anything to do with the case. But once he agrees to help and wear a wire, he relishes the assignment. Whitacre fancies himself a secret agent in the mold of 007. These sequences are some of the funniest in the movie as Damon accentuates the character’s goofy side.
Whitacre’s efforts help the FBI build a solid case, ultimately leading to a sweeping raid on ADM. But once the indictments have been issued, the proverbial you-know-what hits the fan. It appears that Mark may have a credibility problem. As everybody -- including the audience -- learns a little too late, he likes to lie. It isn’t long before we all realize you can’t believe anything Mark says. It begins to look as if our hero may be the biggest crook of all.
Or is he?
That’s the beauty of The Informant!. Soderbergh, adeptly abetted by screenwriter Scott Z. Burns, playfully strings us along all the way, before gleefully yanking out the rug from underneath our feet.
Damon is hilarious as an overeager undercover operative, but the real juice of The Informant! is seeing this character’s layers peeled away, revealing the multiple dimensions of his personality. The clues are there right from the start. Most of his actions are punctuated by a funny, inner monologue that gives insight into what Mark is really thinking. Oftentimes, his thoughts have little to do with what is actually transpiring on the screen.
The supporting cast adds to the mischievous spirit. Key roles are played by familiar television favorites known for their atypical characters. Two and a Half Men’s Melanie Lynskey (Rose) plays Whitacre’s ever-loyal and supportive wife Ginger. E! Entertainment’s Soup host Joel McHale gets laughs for his deadpan portrayal of Bakula’s FBI partner. 30 Rock’s Scott Adsit also shows up. Stand-up aficionados will have a field day spotting the numerous comedians peppering the proceedings, including Rick Overton, Tom Papa, Patton Oswalt, Jimmy Brogan, Andrew Daly and Bob Zany. And for the piece de resistance, Soderbergh throws in cameos by both Smothers Brothers -- Tom and Dick.
Sure, we’re being played. But Damon and Soderbergh do it so well, we don’t mind. We’re too busy having fun. And that’s why The Informant! is worth catching.
Would I lie to you?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
