"THE INFORMANT!" Review

I think the most confounding about the movie The Informant is that it's a true story. We know that going into it, but throughout the movie, while it makes for great humor, it's hard not to think, "Well, nobody can be that stupid." But apparently, somebody can, and it cost him ... dearly.

Matt Damon stars as Mark Whitacre, an agricultural company executive. He normally is filled with useless information such as the fact that they sell used girl's underpants in vending machines in Japan. Yet he does have enough useful information that the FBI wants to hear it. He tells them about a guy who is blackmailing them, but he knows even more, and just can't keep it inside. Eventually when FBI agent Brian Shepard (Scott Bakula) comes to set up the wiretapping on Mark's phone, Mark lets loose with everything he knows, which includes a price-fixing scheme in the industry that everyone is in on from the United States to Asia and elsewhere.

This is of course stunning information, and the FBI definitely wants to take care of the situation, but first they need some proof, other than just Mark's easily spillable information. Instead of taking it all as seriously as he should be doing, Mark just walks around saying that he likes Brian. He thinks he's a good listener. He might even try calling him "Bri." Mark could see the two of them going fishing. Meanwhile, "Bri" and his partner, Robert Herndon (Joel McHale) are putting their whole reputations with the FBI on the line for Mark.

It starts with Mark being wired and feeling like he needs to "narrate" the tapes. He's also been set up with a recording device in his briefcase, and he sets it up and checks to see how well it's working on top of the table, right in the middle of the conference he's having with the people he works with. Every single time he turns around he's doing something stupid. Just when they think they have the proof they need, after years of audio and video tapes, their bosses tell them they need even more proof, and they're forced to go back to Mark for more information.

The whole story has you slapping the side of your face in disbelief. Every time you think it couldn't get any worse, it takes another incredulous step, that has you not knowing whether to slap your face again or shake your head in disbelief. The acting throughout is superb from Damon to Bakula to McHale to everyone else, and the story is an unbelievable one to begin with, but the writing and direction, just carries it to great limits.