The Informant! (2009)

I love dark comedies and this movie makes me adore Matt Damon. I can not emphasize enough how incredible Damon's performance is in this movie. He plays Mark Whitacre, a scientist and VP at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), a large agri-business, who becomes an FBI information. He confesses to FBI Agent Brian Shepard (Scott Bakula - yes, Scott Bakula a.k.a. Quantum Leap) that ADM is involved in an international price fixing scam. Whitacre works with the FBI for years, taping conversations, revealing documents and all the while trying to maintain his own innocence, which turns out to be very difficult. Whitacre gets caught up in a web of ridiculous lies and plagiarisms that he, or the audience, can't tell which way is up.

While Steven Soderbergh directs a masterful mystery thriller and Scott Burns' screenplay establishes some of the most brilliant and funny dialogue I've heard in a long time, this movie belongs to Matt Damon. Playing the best and most challenging role of his entire career, Damon is on point with every desperate explanation, with every innocent gaze, with that psychotic, confused smile. The Informant! is simply hilarious and fun and full of mystery. It's also based on a true story, which is entirely secondary to the awesomeness of the film within itself. I highly recommend it.



Writing: 9/10
Acting: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Visuals: 9/10

In the Loop (2009)

In the Loop is a British comedy that at once reminded me of the British version of The Office. I suppose it's the same sort of dry, subtle, straight-faced humor. It's also filmed in a similarly pseudo-documentary style. Apparently, In the Loop is a spin-off of the BBC television series The Thick of It, but I haven't seen it, so I can't really comment. Anyway, the movie depicts US and UK political relationships during the run up to the Iraq war in 2003.

The movie if filled with brilliantly amusing site gags and absurd quips. At one point, Karen Clarke (Mimi Kennedy), the US Assistant Secretary of State of Diplomacy starts bleeding profusely from the mouth during a meeting. She retreats to the bathroom where she stuffs her mouth with napkins with the assistance of her assistant, Liza (Anna Chlumpsky, the girl from My Girl). Karen gives Liza an order and when Liza clarifies, "You're not going to shout at me if I go and do that, are you?" Karen, with her mouth and hands covered in blood and crammed full of bloody napkins says, "I'm not a monster, Liza, okay?" Another delightful one-liner has Malcome Tucker (Peter Capaldi), the Prime Minister's Director of Communications, saying "'Climbing the mountain of conflict'? You sounded like a Nazi Julie Andrews!"

In the Loop is probably entertaining for those who are familiar with and enjoy British comedy, and maybe some of those who don't. I think deadpan punchlines and absurdity has it's place in American comedy, but it's much more subtle than the more common forms of humor.

Writing: 9/10
Acting: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
Visuals: 8/10

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

While watching the Oscars on Sky Movies HD (some British channel thing) one commenter said that his children didn't care for Fantastic Mr. Fox and that he thought when it comes to animated movies, children should enjoy it, or what's the point? He totally neglects the possibility that maybe some animated movies are made for adults. Avatar, in all rights, was primarily animated, yet was enjoyed by adults worldwide. Fantastic Mr. Fox, however, is for the most part a children's movie. Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox is the story of a fox (George Clooney) and his family who rob the local farmers of their poultry and cider. Wes Anderson is the master of subtlety and using empty space exactly where it's needed. At times awkward, the humor in Fantastic Mr. Fox would be difficult for many children to grasp. However, the escapades of Mr. Fox and friends are entertaining enough visually even for an ADD wonder brat. The entire movie is engaging and engrossing, from the low-tech stop motion animation to the bouncy, fun-loving soundtrack.

Writing: 10/10
Acting (voice): 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Visuals: 10/10