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The Informant!
2009 108 min United States of America R 18+
★6.6
Drama, Comedy, Crime
Director: Steven Soderbergh
🎭 Based on
«The Informant»
byKurt Eichenwald
Trailers
Description
A rising star at agri-industry giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Mark Whitacre suddenly turns whistleblower. Even as he exposes his company’s multi-national price-fixing conspiracy to the FBI, Whitacre envisions himself being hailed as a hero of the common man and handed a promotion.
Budget:
$22M
US Gross:
$33.32M
Worldwide:
$41.77M
Starring
Matt Damon
Actor
Tony Hale
Actor
Patton Oswalt
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2010
— Best Actor (Comedy or Musical)
Golden Globe 2010
— Best Original Score
Key opinion
The Informant! is a cerebral, dryly satirical exploration of corporate greed and pathological dishonesty that polarizes audiences with its unconventional tone. While many praise Matt Damon’s nuanced portrayal of a complex whistleblower, others find the narrative pacing disjointed and the protagonist’s erratic behavior difficult to engage with.
| Theme | The narrative presents a sharp critique of corporate and judicial systems, highlighting the irony that small-time theft is punished while systemic billionaire corruption goes unchecked. | |
| Acting | Matt Damon's performance is highly divisive; supporters laud his nuanced transition into a complex, reality-detached protagonist, while detractors find his portrayal flat and unremarkable. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is viewed as challenging, with some viewers appreciating the slow-burn, cerebral nature of the film while others find the narrative structure choppy and the plot progression tedious. | |
| Humor | The film's tone creates a barrier for general audiences, as the mix of dry satire and tragicomedy frequently leaves viewers unsure whether to laugh at or pity the protagonist. | |
| Screenplay | The supporting character writing is frequently criticized for lacking depth, with most roles reduced to stereotypes that pale in comparison to the central lead. | |
| Score | The soundtrack is a point of contention, with some listeners finding the light, 1960s-style music a charming stylistic choice and others labeling it as mismatched and tonally confusing. |