This is the true story of Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon), a high-level corporate executive who blew the whistle on a major food additive company for their international price fixing.

As the 2-3 year investigation continues, Whitacre’s FBI handlers discover to their chagrin that their informant is not the “white hat” that he pretends to be.  He might, in fact, be living in a world of fantasy and be guilty of crimes more serious than those committed by the people on whom he is informing.

CRITIQUE

The Informant! is a clever dark comedy featuring a protagonist who is part chameleon.  Or, maybe he’s all chameleon.  We’re never quite sure.

Matt Damon successfully flexes his acting chops in the role of Mark Whitacre, the biochemist, corporate vice-president who, apparently out of a feeling of guilt, tells the FBI about his company’s illegal price fixing.

Not only does Damon pack on several extra pounds, wear glasses and a less-than-cool hairstyle for the role, but also he’s also willing to play a first-rate shmuck.

Correction: a first-rate idiot.

When the FBI asks Whitacre to wear a wire, he does so willingly…and even “narrates” the recordings.

When the Feds are ready to spring an unannounced raid on the key corporate execs, Whitacre decides to alert some of his closest associates in advance.  “I had to tell my secretary,” he explains.

When both the FBI and his personal attorney tell him not to talk to anybody about what is going on, Whitacre holds press conferences.

Whitacre’s fantasy is that, once all the legal issues are ended, all will be forgiven and he will become the company’s president.

However, as we roll into the second half of this multi-layered film from director Steven Soderbergh, we begin to see that Whitacre may, indeed, be a shmuck, but that he is also a thief and a compulsive liar. 

Is there anything that he has told the FBI (or anybody else) that is true?

Scott Bakula and Joel McHale play the frustrated FBI agents, and Melanie Lynskey is Whitacre’s loyal and seemingly totally naïve wife.

Like his Out of Sight and Ocean Trilogy, Soderbergh’s The Informant! is filled with many unexpected and amusing plot twists.  Except, this story actually happened.

THE VIDEO

The widescreen presentation is a bit on the soft side and the colors seem slightly “yellowish”.  On the other hand, this could have been director Soderbergh’s intent.

THE AUDIO

The Dolby Digital Surround 5.1 Sound has no problems.

THE EXTRAS

The only extra is four deleted scenes.

FINAL THOUGHT

The Informant! is an entertaining, off-beat film that contains several surprises.