The Informant

[Dragonfire]

The Informant

This movie is based on the true story of Mark Whitacre and how he becomes an informant for the FBI against the company he was working for.  Mark cooperated with the FBI for a few years, taping conversations and meetings. Things get more complicated when some inconsistencies start coming out.

The pace is a little slower at times, but I never felt like it was dragging.  Time is taken to show that Mark and his wife have a good life before he gets involved with the FBI.  Mark first meets the FBI at work for a completely different matter and then he just starts sharing all sorts of information about price fixing.  The movie is very interesting, especially consider that it is a true story.  Matt Damon did a really good job as Mark.  I thought the movie was very entertaining overall and deserves to be seen, though it won’t appeal to a lot of people.

I want to mention something else here that will be a fairly big spoiler I think.  So don't click on the button thing unless you are sure you want to know more specifics about something. 
You have been warned.

Spoiler (hover to show)

Throughout the movie, Mark keeps lying about various things.  It seems to just be little things here and there and that he did it because of panic.  All through the process of working with the FBI, they discover that he has lied about some things, but they keep working with him.  Then they are ready to move against the company, and all of his lies start coming to light.  When confronted about something, he would adjust and come up with a new lie.  The FBI agents would press to make sure he was telling the truth and he always said he was..then a while later, a lie is uncovered.  He even did it with his lawyers once things went bad.  It seems like he was incapable of telling the truth.  Some people may have trouble believing that part of the movie, but I didn’t.  I know a woman who is like this.  She lies about everything, and will twist things around to show her in the best light.  She even brags about being a good liar, something Mark didn’t do, but otherwise, she is very much like him.  Of course what I’ve seen her do is on a smaller scale, but I have no doubt, based on what I’ve seen her do, that she would flat out lie to the police or FBI as well if she came into contact with them for some reason.  It comes out in the movie that Mark is bi-polar and that is a reason for his lies.  I don’t think she is, though at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised.  Anyway, if I didn't know her and hadn't seen first had how she does, I think I would have found it a little hard to believe how he kept lying, even after confronted with evidence that contradicted things he said.

I did get a review posted on Epinions - that doesn't include the specifics in the spoiler I have here.

The Informant

[goodguy]

Not to hijack this thread, but has anyone seen Soderbergh's previous one, The Girlfriend Experience? With Sasha Grey (Jimmy? )

[Jimmy]

Not yet, since it will be release this week here. I've it on my wishlist for an order thursday. No idea if the film is good, but the synopsis had get my attention and of course Sasha Grey is a nice looking girl (I haven't seen any of her other film since I hate those films even more than Hollywood productions).