The Informant! — The Fix Is Out

The plot: Afraid that he would be brought down if it came to light, Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon, playing the role with a decidedly un-Bourne-like pudginess), a mid-level manager at the agri-business giant Archer Daniels Midland, decides to come forward to the FBI with allegations of international price-fixing himself. From late 1991 to 1996 Whitacre gleefully turns informant for the FBI to bring down ADM, collecting hundreds of hours on tape and surpassing the wildest expectations of his federal contacts (the always straight-laced Scott Bakula and a surprisingly straight-laced Joel McHale). In the process, however, Whitacre brings to light not only the price-fixing information, but a slew of other crimes that muddy the waters for everyone concerned.

The verdict: This is one of those stories that, if it weren’t based in truth, it would fall apart because no one would buy these characters. It’s a good movie, but the marketing was pretty inaccurate. From the trailers and commercials (and even the poster), you would think this film is going to be a laugh-a-minute farce into the world of big business; it’s almost a character study of a fascinatingly flawed man, and if he’s behaving because he thinks it’s the right thing to do, or because he just can’t help himself. While there’s humor in it, it’s not as overstated as you might be expecting. That’s the key to enjoying this film – don’t go in expecting what you’re expecting, and you should have a fine time.

Interesting Tidbits:

• In 2000, the NPR program “This American Life” spent an hour speaking with Kurt Eichenwald, who wrote the book The Informant ( A True Story), which this movie is based upon. Listen to “The Fix Is In” here.

• Screenwriter Scott Z. Burns also wrote the screenplay for “The Bourne Ultimatum,” also staring Damon. These are two very, very different movies. Not an explosion or a shakey-cam shot to be had here.