Synopsis: The Informers is a multi-strand narrative about the hedonistic lifestyles of a group of people living in Los Angeles during the 1980s.
Release Date: April 24, 2009 MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre(s): Drama, Crime
Film Review
Production
The Informers is not for everyone. It lacks a great deal of what you would expect from a movie and does not care. It takes patience and a level of acceptance to the nature of the story to truly understand and enjoy the experience of watching the story unfold. For it is full of excess and exaggeration and never actually finds its moment of redemption.
Writing
If you can look past the laughable slang of the 1980s and the self-righteous musings and speeches of the wealthy you will find moments of wisdom and depth in The Informers dialogue. In a world that has little to give, and only seems to take even more from its characters, their dialogue cannot be expected to overwhelm or amaze. That is where the beauty of the screenplay lies, in its lack of emotion, depth, and in its total disregard for attempting to find something more in this empty and soulless world.
Acting
The majority of the performances in The Informers leave little to be remembered or to enjoy for the duration. Two characters, and performances, do stand out above all the rest; that of Brad Renfro as Jack and Mel Raido as Bryan. Renfro brings a complexity to Jack that is a welcome relief to the vapid and self-centered world of the film. He is at once torn between his past and his present, and the choice he must make for his future. It is a performance worthy of watching and appreciating, and a fond farewell to an actor with the capability of bringing life to an otherwise lifeless world.
On the other end of the spectrum in terms of tone is Bryan (Raido). He is incredible as the tortured rock star. He comes across brilliantly as a man obsessed with sex and drugs while trying to find something more in his life, and failing. His demons are on display with such a rawness it is painful to watch at times but thoroughly intriguing to see a man with everything hit bottom and never recover.
Costumes
All hail Ray-Bans. They are everywhere in The Informers and only fitting since it is the 1980s. There is also the sport jacket and t-shirt, the cuffed sleeves, short sequin dresses and the undeniably 80s haircuts ranging from feathered to spiked, to the horribly bleached with roots. It is a true ode to the style and look of the era.
Cast and Crew
- Director(s): Gregor Jordan
- Screenwriter(s): Bret Easton Ellis, Nicholas Jarecki
- Cast: Billy Bob Thornton (William), Kim Basinger (Laura), Mickey Rourke (Peter), Winona Ryder (Cheryl Laine), Jon Foster (Graham), Amber Heard (Christie), Rhys Ifans (Roger), Chris Isaak (Les Price), Brad Renfro (Jack), Mel Raido (Bryan Metro)
- Editor(s): Robert Brakey
- Cinematographer: Petra Korner
- Production Designer(s): Cecilia Montiel
- Country Of Origin: USA, Germany
