The Informant!

Name: The Informant!
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Comedy
Released: September 18, 2009
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Matt Damon

2009

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critics

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 161 Ratings

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5.2

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5.2	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 161 Ratings

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THE INFORMANT

Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: September 18, 2009

Starring: Matt Damon

Summary: What was Mark Whitacre thinking? A rising star at agri-industry giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), 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. But before all that canWhat was Mark Whitacre thinking? A rising star at agri-industry giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), 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. But before all that can happen, the FBI needs evidence, so Whitacre eagerly agrees to wear a wire and carry a hidden tape recorder in his briefcase, imagining himself as a kind of de facto secret agent. Unfortunately for the FBI, their lead witness hasn't been quite so forthcoming about helping himself to the corporate coffers. Whitacre's ever-changing account frustrates the agents and threatens the case against ADM as it becomes almost impossible to decipher what is real and what is the product of Whitacre's active imagination. (Warner Bros.)… Expand

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 108 min

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Awards & Rankings

86	#86 Most Discussed Movie of 2009
89	#89 Most Shared Movie of 2009

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert

As Soderbergh lovingly peels away veil after veil of deception, the film develops into an unexpected human comedy. Not that any of the characters are laughing. Read full review

Chicago Tribune - Michael Phillips

More than any previous screen role, this one affords Damon a chance to work his sly comic chops. Read full review

Washington Post - Ann Hornaday

With composure so out of fashion these days in the public square, Steven Soderbergh's adamantly restrained The Informant! arrives like a cleansing tonic. Read full review

ReelViews - James Berardinelli

With Steven Soderbergh at the helm, this has become a whimsical, semi-comedic romp, complete with a score by Marvin Hamlisch that recalls kitschy '70s TV shows, cutesy captions, and a tongue-and-cheek approach to the entire story. Read full review

Film Threat - Jessica Baxter

It’s not a perfect film, but it’s definitely the Soder-side I prefer. Read full review

Time - Richard Corliss

The Informant! may end up closer to the non-starters. Its lunacy is too deadpan, and its denouement too drawn out, to appeal to those who liked the Bourne movies, or, for that matter, the Gore. But it's worth seeing, and a salutary achievement. Read full review

Wall Street Journal - Joe Morgenstern

It's overextended and exhaustingly comic. Read full review

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User Reviews

SS.

Oct 16, 2009

Very well done. Matt Damon plays completely against type, and pulls it off.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

PeterK

Sep 19, 2009

Crazy convoluted and wickedly funny tale based on a true story. Great cameos from the Smothers Brothers and a terrific soundtrack by Marvin Hamlisch make this a must-see for anyone over 40. (Catch Me If You Can is in a similar league.)

0 of 1 users found this helpful

jredekop

Nov 13, 2011

Quirky and witty, 'The Informant!' is a great film. Mat Damon did a great job of portraying Mark Wittaker, a man high up in a corrupt corporation. He did a great job of portraying Wittaker as a man that thought he was a lot smarter and a lot nobler than he actually was. The acting wasQuirky and witty, 'The Informant!' is a great film. Mat Damon did a great job of portraying Mark Wittaker, a man high up in a corrupt corporation. He did a great job of portraying Wittaker as a man that thought he was a lot smarter and a lot nobler than he actually was. The acting was fantastic, the story intriguing, and just slightly off. The only issue I had with 'The Informant!' was that the pacing slowed dramatically for the last half an hour.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

InsanityOnABun

Dec 21, 2012

This film is funny enough and executed interestingly enough, that the confusion of Damon's character's wavering stories are tolerable, but not quite enough to sail this movie along.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

cabrita

Jan 23, 2012

A dull boring film that is not funny or engaging. The film's style is stupid and ultimately the film's writer and director let it down. Matt Damon is as good as you can be in a bad movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AlainA

Sep 25, 2009

This movie is well acted and well directed, but it is incredibly boring. I cannot believe it got a 66 score on metacritic. I wish I could have my two hours back. The trailer looked good, it got 66, so I gave it a chance. Avoid this movie.

2 of 2 users found this helpful

MatthewXploder

Oct 16, 2010

One word to describe this movie, bad. Tell you the truth I couldn't even finish watching because it was so uninteresting and NOT funny, actually, was this movie suppose to be funny?

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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