The Informant! (2009) R - 3 Stars

Based on the true story of Mark Whitacre, the highest-ranking corporate whistle blower in U.S. history, who worked for agri-industry giants, ADM. While it eventually became an interesting movie to me, the beginning seemed to feel like it takes place in the 70's. The style of font used on title pages, the musical accompaniment, even the style of the FBI agents with their primitive looking wire taping, all led to the impression of a different time period than it actually was. That constantly threw me off relating it to the 1990's. I also wonder if this is an accurate depiction of the mind of Mark Whitacre, as Matt Damon does a good job playing the role of this preoccupied compulsive liar.

Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon), is a rising star of the agri-industry giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM). When he becomes aware of price fixing at his company, he imagines himself becoming a hero in the eyes of his fellow men, and getting a hefty promotion with the company, for exposing these grredy owners with their price fixing. As a matter of fact he's so set on bringing these men down while taking himself to the top, his brain works overtime. Constantly inventing new stories, he manages to throw everyone off their track, while thinking he's coming out smelling like a rose. FBI Special Agent Brian Shepard (Scott Bakula), and Bob Herndon (Joel McHale), are eager to make their case work and stick it out with Whitacre to obtain information. Whitacre offers to wear a wire and keep tape recorders in his briefcase, showing his cooperation with the FBI. But the FBI soon becomes leery of Whitacre's ever constant changes and start to do a little investigating of their own. Whitacre's greed for recognition, causes the hire ups at ADM to uncover enough damaging evidence on Whitacre, to send him to prison.

Jaffe/Braunstein Films, Groundswell Productions, Participant Media, Section Eight, Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer: Scott Z. Burns
Producers: Greg Jacobs, Kurt Eichenwald, Michael Jaffe

I viewed 3/10