ViewGuide

Created Mar 16, 2010 07:26AM PST • Edited Mar 17, 2010 06:30AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Barely OK 2.0

   Embarrassing to all concerned: mostly to the real life subjects of this semi-true story, but also to Steven Soderbergh and Matt Damon. The exclamation point after the title – The Informant! – is a clue that director and star needed to turn this morality tale into an overwrought human interest story in order to fatten it up to feature film worthiness. They barely succeed.

   Yes, agribusiness titan Archer Daniels Midland engaged in pervasive price fixing, which the movie shows. Yes, whistle blowing ADM executive Mark Whitacre was a congenital liar and industrial-scale embezzler, deeply complicating the government’s case against ADM. Does this make The Informant! a compelling movie for anyone not interested in corporate intrigue, the workings of industrial food markets, or for those besotted with Matt Damon? No.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Matt Damon pudged up to play corporate lackey Mark Whitacre. While he nails Whitacre’s supposed personality tics, this performance hardly rates as one of Damon’s best.

   The rest of the cast are passable but not distinctive. That said, it’s always nice to see the Smothers Brothers out and about. Here Tommy cameos as ADM paterfamilias Dwayne Andreas, while Dickie cameos as the Judge who finally calls bulls**t on Whitacre’s serial lies.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars OK 2.5

7. Female Costars OK 2.5

8. Male Costars OK 2.5

10. Film

    Barely OK 2.0

    Steven Soderbergh’s arch tone might have been the right idea for this tale of convoluted mendacity. His overwrought execution leaves something to be desired however. For instance, he gives the film an almost 60s Get Smart feel, including title cards done up in pop art font, notwithstanding that the story is set in the 90s. What up.

11. Direction Barely OK 2.0

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music Barely OK 2.0

14. Visuals OK 2.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.1

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Gentle 1.0

19. Rudeness Polite 1.3

21. Reality

    Glib 1.2

    The redoubtably Left Wing filmmakers seem interested in shining a light on the crimes of Big Agribusiness. These include price fixing most obviously, but also extend to the pervasive pushing of corn syrup and other corn-based prepared food ingredients. Fair enough, especially since ADM was guilty of breaking the law in the case of the former and is a primary exponent of the latter.

    But why stop there. ADM’s Dwayne Andreas used his unparalleled political clout to push ethanol on the country. Why? Because it’s made from corn of course and ADM is in the business of creating new markets for corn (soybeans also). Maybe Executive Producers Jeff Skoll and George Clooney will make a movie about that next. Then again probably not, since Lefties generally approve of government intervention in fuels markets.

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.5

    The opening title card says the movie takes liberty with the events of the actual story. Be warned.

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0