The Informant! (2009)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Steven Soderbergh

Writers (WGA):

Scott Z. Burns (screenplay)
Kurt Eichenwald (book)

Release Date:

18 September 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Based on a tattle-tale

Plot:

The U.S. government decides to go after an agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president turned informant Mark Whitacre.

Plot Keywords:

Pathological Liar | Punctuation In Title | Exclamation Point In Title | Based On Novel

US Showtimes:

Culver Plaza Theatres

12:20pm | 5:20

(personalize)

Cast

Matt Damon	...	Mark Whitacre
Lucas McHugh Carroll	...	Alexander Whitacre (as Lucas Carroll)
Eddie Jemison	...	Kirk Schmidt
Rusty Schwimmer	...	Liz Taylor
Craig Ricci Shaynak	...	Discouraged Foreman
Tom Papa	...	Mick Andreas
Rick Overton	...	Terry Wilson
Melanie Lynskey	...	Ginger Whitacre
Thomas F. Wilson	...	Mark Cheviron (as Tom Wilson)
Scott Bakula	...	FBI Special Agent Brian Shepard
Scott Adsit	...	Sid Hulse
Ann Dowd	...	FBI Special Agent Kate Medford
Allan Havey	...	FBI Special Agent Dean Paisley
Howie Johnson	...	Rusty Williams
Joel McHale	...	FBI Special Agent Bob Herndon
Nick Craig	...	Kid at Pool #1
Cody Puckett	...	Kid at Pool #2
Andrew Daly	...	Marty Allison
David Campbell	...	Budweiser Client Representative
Carolyn R. Feltner	...	Budweiser Receptionist
Jean-Pierre Gillain	...	Zurich Bank Security Officer
Elena Eustache	...	Zurich Bank Receptionist
Hans Tester	...	Peter Dreyer
Ludger Pistor	...	Reinhard Richter
Rome Kanda	...	Hirokazu Ikeda
Yoshio Be	...	Kazutoshi Yamada
Raymond Ma	...	Kanji Mimoto
Hervé Deschamps	...	Philippe Rollier
Pascal Ifri	...	Alain Crouy
Ann Cusack	...	Robin Mann
Dann Seki	...	Joon Mo Suh
Jayden Lund	...	James Mutchnik
Chic Daniel	...	FBI Agent at Raid
Joe Chrest	...	Visiting Client
J.D. Mathein	...	Phone Agent
William Marsh	...	FBI Special Agent Ken Temples
Tom Smothers	...	Dwayne Andreas
Clancy Brown	...	Aubrey Daniel
Bob Zany	...	John Dowd
Tony Hale	...	James Epstein
Richard Steven Horvitz	...	Bob Zaideman (as Richard Horvitz)
Tara Barrett	...	Reporter #1
Tim Cain	...	Reporter #2
Ken Frye	...	Reporter #3
Huey Freeman	...	Reporter #4
Brian Gallivan	...	Ron Henkoff
Daniel Hagen	...	Scott Roberts
Patton Oswalt	...	Ed Herbst
Samantha Albert	...	Mary Spearing
Jimmy Brogan	...	Dr. Derek Miller
Paul F. Tompkins	...	FBI Special Agent Anthony D’Angelo
Adam Paul	...	FBI Special Agent Michael Bassett
Wayne Pére	...	Sheldon Zenner
Scott England	...	Local News Anchor
Joshua Funk	...	FBI Special Agent Robert Grant
Candy Clark	...	Mark Whitacre's Mother
Frank Welker	...	Mark Whitacre's Father
Larry Clarke	...	Whitacre's Second Attorney
Dick Smothers	...	Judge Harold Baker
Steve Seagren	...	Correctional Officer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gene Fojtik	...	Lawyer
Joe Hammerstone	...	Airport Restaurant Patron
Troy Hayes	...	New Home Owner
Ted LeBlang	...	Country Club Dinner Guest
Elizabeth Zephyrine McDonough	...	Sweater Girl
Jaxon Stanford	...	Businessman Walking Thru Airport
Roy Allen III	...	Office Manager (uncredited)
James Gianoulakis	...	Airport Traveler (uncredited)
Richard Hoffman Jr.	...	Payroll (uncredited)
Don Kress	...	Lawyer (uncredited)
BJ Lange	...	Airline Passenger (uncredited)
Dan Latham	...	CTA Passenger (uncredited)
Joseph Mazurk	...	Federal Plaza Lawyer (uncredited)
Cameron Potter	...	Businessman (uncredited)
Mallory Scott	...	Business Traveler (uncredited)
Malik Simmons	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Errol James Snyder	...	Golfer (uncredited)
Erik A. Williams	...	Airport Traveler (uncredited)

Directed by
Steven Soderbergh

Writing credits (WGA)
Scott Z. Burns		(screenplay)
Kurt Eichenwald		(book)

Produced by
Howard Braunstein	....	producer
George Clooney	....	executive producer
Kurt Eichenwald	....	producer
Jennifer Fox	....	producer
Gregory Jacobs	....	producer
Michael Jaffe	....	producer
Michael London	....	executive producer
Michael Polaire	....	co-producer
Jeff Skoll	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Marvin Hamlisch

Cinematography by
Steven Soderbergh		(as Peter Andrews)

Film Editing by
Stephen Mirrione

Casting by
Carmen Cuba

Production Design by
Doug J. Meerdink

Art Direction by
Billy Hunter		(as William O. Hunter)
David Scott

Set Decoration by
Daniel B. Clancy
Curtis Maneno

Costume Design by
Shoshana Rubin

Makeup Department
Christine Beveridge	....	makeup artist: Matt Damon
Barbara Cantu	....	assistant hair department head
Gloria Pasqua Casny	....	hair department head
Latrice Edwards	....	additional makeup artist
Kay Georgiou	....	hair stylist: Mr. Damon
Jules Holdren	....	hair stylist
Connie Kallos	....	hair stylist
Elisa Marsh	....	makeup department head
Marsha Shearrill	....	assistant makeup department head
Vicki Vacca	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Gilles Castera	....	production manager: France
Renee Confair	....	production supervisor: Hawaii
David Kirchner	....	post-production supervisor
Robin Le Chanu	....	production manager: Illinois
Mark Scoon	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gilles Kenny	....	first assistant director: France
Lynne Martin	....	second second assistant director
Lauren Pasternack	....	dga trainee
Jody Spilkoman	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Andrew Alward	....	art staff assistant
Tim Alward	....	art staff assistant
Dawn Brown	....	set designer
Joanna Bush	....	illustrator
Robert J. Carlyle	....	construction coordinator
Genelle Ciccarelli	....	set decorating coordinator
Jeff Creath	....	assistant props
Richard Ewan	....	painter
Jimmy Flores	....	lead propmaker foreman
Thomas J. Glynn	....	set dresser
Jeffrey Paul Johnson	....	property master
Paul Knubley	....	set dresser: St. Louis
Chris Larsen	....	set dresser
Craig K. Lewis	....	set dresser: Hawaii
James R. Lord	....	propmaker gang boss
Christopher Morente	....	greens foreman: Illinois/Montana
Matthew J. Norskog	....	second on-set dresser
Michael Okuda	....	graphic designer
Jason Perrine	....	art department assistant
Leia Pratapas	....	art department coordinator
Shane Reed	....	leadman: Los Angeles
Francis J. Roix	....	carpenter
Scott Schutzki	....	set dresser
Alex Sessing	....	greens foreman
Julie Smith	....	assistant set decorator
Scott Troha	....	leadman
Jane Wuu	....	set designer
Jim Tudor	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Clark Woodman	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Larry Blake	....	sound re-recording mixer
Barry Donnelly	....	adr recordist
Javier M. Hernández	....	boom operator
Steve La Fayette	....	sound utility: IL, MO
Marcus Ricaud	....	sound utility
Mark Shehab	....	adr recordist
Billy Theriot	....	assistant sound editor
Dennis Towns	....	production sound mixer

Special Effects by
Ron Bolanowski	....	special effects coordinator
Daniel Yates	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Heather Elisa Hill	....	visual effects project manager: CIS Hollywood
Lisa Maher	....	visual effects producer: CIS-Hollywood
Jesse Morrow	....	visual effects artist
James P. Noon	....	tracking
Liz Radley	....	video & computer graphics supervisor
Thomas J. Smith	....	visual effects supervisor
Xye	....	tracking
Chris B. Schnitzer	....	director of visual effects: Warner Bros. (uncredited)

Stunts
Sean Graham	....	stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt performer
Tom Lowell	....	stunt double
Daniel Maldonado	....	stunt driver
Scott Philyaw	....	stunt driver
Steve Schriver	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Claudette Barius	....	still photographer
Chris Dame	....	crane technician: Technocrane
Greg Fausak	....	best boy grip
John-Anthony Gargiulo	....	dolly grip
Jeroen Hendriks	....	camera technician
Nicholas Kaat	....	assistant chief lighting technician
April Kelley	....	second assistant camera
John Joseph Minardi	....	key grip
Glenn E. Moran	....	rigging gaffer
Patrick B. O'Brien	....	camera operator
Michael J. Schwartz	....	electrician
Mark N. Woods	....	technocrane operator

Casting Department
Helen Geier	....	casting associate
Mike Ketcher	....	extras casting: St. Louis
Rich King	....	extras casting
Claire Simon	....	casting: chicago
Erin Stewart	....	extras casting assistant
Teresa Thoma	....	casting associate
Jonathan Kinnas	....	extras casting: Chicago (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jessica Albertson	....	set costumer
Danielle Baker	....	costumer
Rebecca M. Graves	....	costume assistant
Brad Holtzman	....	key costumer
Sandy Kenyon	....	costume supervisor
Valerie T. O'Brien	....	costumer
Barnaby Smith	....	costumer: Mr. Damon
Melissa Stinson	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Matt Absher	....	first assistant editor
Corey Bayes	....	assistant editor
Matthew Blackshear	....	colorist: dailies
Jimmy Fusil	....	digital intermediate producer
Tim Stipan	....	supervising digital colorist
Michael P. Whipple	....	digital intermediate engineer
Lee Wimer	....	color timer
Benjamin Sutor	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Missy Cohen	....	music editor
Larry Hochman	....	orchestrator
John Moses	....	musician: clarinetist
Laura Sherman	....	musician: harp soloist
Tim Starnes	....	auricle programmer

Transportation Department
Jalal Aqdim	....	picture car assistant coordinator: france
Arnold Bucher	....	driver: director
Shane Greedy	....	transportation coordinator
Charles Heidet	....	picture vehicle coordinator: Paris Unit
Steve Lewis	....	driver
Lin C. Smith	....	driver
Alexandre Thiery	....	unit driver: Paris (uncredited)

Other crew
Sara Bartkiewicz	....	assistant production coordinator
Selena Carrillo	....	production coordinator
Lauren Cokeley	....	office staff assistant: Illinois
Paul Conti	....	video playback engineer
Rose Cox	....	craft service
Myke Dixon	....	dailies assistant
Bryan Dobrik	....	set staff assistant: Illinois
Ron Durham	....	assistant location manager: St. Louis
Pablo Gambetta	....	production assistant
Liz Goldsmith	....	assistant location manager
Callie Hersheway	....	production secretary: Illinois
Trevor Johann	....	office production assistant
Lynn Josephson	....	executive assistant to producer
Arnaud Kaiser	....	location manager: france
Sarah P. Koeppe	....	accounting clerk
Ken Lavet	....	location manager
Keri Littledeer	....	key set medic
Marlene Marks	....	payroll accountant
Arnaud Mathey-Dreyfus	....	location scout: Paris
Robert O'Quinn	....	production assistant
Tim Patterson	....	production secretary
Shaunessy James Quinn	....	office staff assistant: Illinois
Michael Roccuzzo	....	post accounting
Taffy Schweickhardt	....	key first assistant accountant
Michael Serrano	....	set production assistant
Ashley C. Smith	....	assistant production coordinator: Hawaii
Spooky Stevens	....	unit publicist
Dane Story	....	set production assistant
Anthea Strangis	....	additional first assistant accountant
Justin Tolley	....	key production assistant: Hawaii
Anthony Vallejo-Sanderson	....	production assistant
Bernadette Wilson	....	location aide
Jeff Winn	....	key craft service
Victoria Wong	....	third assistant accountant

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
• Participant Media (in association with)
• Groundswell Productions (in association with)
• Section Eight
• Jaffe / Braunstein Enterprise

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2009) (Malaysia) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Warner Filmes de Portugal (2009) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Village Films (2009) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Polska (2009) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Turner Network Television (TNT) (2012) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Atmosphere Casting of Chicago  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• LCW Props  set equipment
• New Line Records  soundtrack
• Nuncle  title design
• Pivotal Post  Avid HD editing equipment
• Red Digital Cinema  camera equipment provided by
• Star Waggons  cast trailers
• Star Waggons  hair and make-up trailers
• Star Waggons  wardrobe trailer

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44918) | Ireland:15A | Finland:K-3 | Italy:T | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:7 | Canada:G (Québec) | Australia:M | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:15 | Japan:G | Portugal:M/12 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Germany:12 (f) | Netherlands:AL | Hong Kong:IIB

Filming Locations:

Blue Mound, Illinois, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The line about him being agent "0014" is almost exactly the same as was used in "Gilligan's Island: The Invasion (#3.11)" (1966). In a dream sequence where Gilligan is playing the part of agent 014, Mrs. Howell states, "You're twice as smart as 007".

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The film takes place from 1992-1994, yet the cars have Illinois license plates that first appeared in 2001.

Quotes:

Mark Whitacre: Polar bears cover their noses before they pounce on a seal. How do polar bears know their noses are black? Did they look in the water one day, see their reflection and say, "Man, I'd be invisible if it wasn't for that thing."

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Late Show with David Letterman: (#17.8)" (2009)

Trust, Lies and Videotapes

I suppose I will always find something to like in a Soderbergh movie. The real joy is in never knowing just what that will be. Even in his most mainstream projects he is exploring some new skill. Here it is the notion of narration.

I'll have to see this a second time with a DVD stop button to be able to fully catalog all the various modes that our filmmaker skips seamlessly through. The main device he weaves these modes around is the spine of the untrusted narrator. We have all sorts of layers and nodes of deception with the only ones we can really trust being the guys usually are the bottom of the garbage bin: the massive greedy company.

We have this fellow being dishonest to everyone, including himself. We have no idea where the line is that he actually believes and we hear only from him. Some of the internal dialog is hypnotizing: we are lulled into accepting it because so much of it is appealingly funny. It is a great trick of misdirection, allowing us to associate with this slippery reality.

Folded into this is are the watchers, nominally the FBI, then various lawyers and the wife, but us of course, punctuated by a video at the end directly to us (with the FBI behind a mirror).

A second surprise awaited me beyond the Soderbergh stretching. Matt Damon finally does something impressive. He is truly something worth watching here. I never would have guessed. I never would have believed. In fact, this wouldn't have worked at all, this suspended belief within the story, if he had not so believably become the character.

Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.