The Informers
The Informers Image
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Metascore
20 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 25 Critics What's this?

User Score
5.3 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 12 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Kim Basinger
  • Summary: In such works as "Less Than Zero" and "American Psycho," Brett Easton Ellis dissects contemporary American society, a culture in which too much is never enough. Now, adapting his own acclaimed novel for the screen, he returns to the Los Angeles of the early 1980's with a multi-strand narrative that deftly balances a vast array of characters who represent both the top of the heap (a Hollywood dream merchant, a dissolute rock star, an aging newscaster) and the bottom (a voyeuristic doorman, an amoral ex-con). Connecting all his intertwining strands are the quintessential Ellis protagonists—a group of beautiful, blonde young men and women who sleep all day and party all night, doing drugs—and one another—with abandon, never realizing that they are dancing on the edge of a volcano. (Senator Entertainment)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 25
  3. Negative: 19 out of 25
  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    75
    Has an air of detachment and sadness, enhanced by the movie's being set a full quarter century ago.
  2. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Noel Murray
    58
    Though The Informers is by no means great--nor wholly true to the vision of Ellis, who co-wrote the screenplay with Nicholas Jarecki--moments sprinkled throughout the film capture Ellis' particular mix of flip yuppie satire and lived-in paranoia better than any big-screen version of his work to date.
  3. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    38
    The Informers is nihilism for nihilism's sake; a bleak and borderline-unwatchable collage of misanthropes, self-absorbed a**holes, and pathetic weaklings as they struggle to move forward during the early 1980s in Los Angeles.
  4. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    38
    Another tale of Tinseltown drugs, sex and excess - has transferred itself to the screen with mind-boggling, laugh-inciting horribleness.

See all 25 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 1 out of 5
  1. RodrigoG
    8
    While it's not an exact word-for-word adaptation, if you enjoyed reading The Informers, you should go see this movie. Jordan's work in weaving together this series of loosely related short stories into a feature film is impressive, and will likely acquire the same cult following as other adaptations of Ellis's novels.… Expand
  2. jonpauld
    8
    I was really excited to see this as an Ellis fan. I peaked at the reviews before hand and was nervous it might let me down. Please ignore the critics, this film was very well done. If you enjoyed "American Psycho" you will most likely enjoy this.… Expand
  3. JayH
    5
    Okay, a bunch of shallow people in a very shallow movie, with shallow direction. Just what we need. The top notch production and cast can9;t save this one. The attempt to capture the 1980's fails miserably. Boring.… Expand
  4. JT
    3
    I have read all of Ellis' work and even I was turned off about the film version of a work of short stories. The simple fact is there is not much time for each character to become fully developed... and the fact that the "vampire" aspect was removed disappointed me greatly. Hopefully, the film version of 'Lunar Park' makes up for this awful flick.… Expand

See all 5 User Reviews

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