The Informant! 4K Review: Matt Damon Movie Has Aged Well

Few directors are as versatile and reliable as Steven Soderbergh, who is still going strong, as the releases of Presence and Black Bag earlier this year show. No matter the genre, Soderbergh is able to deliver a compelling watch. 2009’s The Informant! is yet another example of his range as he reteams with Ocean’s Eleven star Matt Damon for a film based on a true story that is so bizarre that it defies easy categorization.

“Mark Whitacre is secretly rolling tape during a meeting of corporate honchos who are illegally fixing the price of food additives. Meeting after meeting, Mark rolls tape after tape. He’s sure the tapes will make him a U.S. hero. What went wrong?” reads the synopsis. “Director Steven Soderbergh reteams with one of his Ocean’s trilogy stars for a snappy skewering of big business based on the true story of the highest-ranking corporate whistleblower in U.S. history. Matt Damon portrays Whitacre, whip-smart and immensely likable even as his schemes become increasingly untethered. Pay attention to the fun and intrigue of The Informant! And be informed!”

Based on a corporate conspiracy revolving around the price of lysine, The Informant! doesn’t seem like the most interesting story on paper. What makes it so compelling is the man at the center of the case, as Mark Whitacre risks his career with no real motive or reason to do so. The unlikely whistleblower basks in the would-be glory of pretending to be a spy. Whitacre is a complex character with plenty of faults and a very likable charm, which is wonderfully portrayed by Matt Damon — who also provides some top-notch narration that is both hilarious and disarming at times.

The Informant! is one of Soderbergh’s funniest movies, even if it’s more of a film that elicits chuckles and intrigue rather than belly laughs. Soderbergh and Damon constantly keep the audience guessing as to just what Whitacre’s true angle is, although I’m not sure if the real-life figure could answer that question himself. It’s a film that is smart in its construction and is appreciated even more with every rewatch, and despite the new transfer being an upscale, it looks much better than the previous Blu-ray and allows Soderbergh’s cinematography to really shine

The Informant! 4K features a few bonus features: the original theatrical trailer, four deleted scenes, and an audio commentary with Soderbergh and writer Scott Burns. The deleted scenes are worth watching once, but won’t add anything major to your experience. However, the audio commentary is quite informative. They discuss the structure of the film and how they use Damon’s unreliable narrator to their advantage, which is a fun listen.

The Informant! 4K Review: Final Verdict

The Informant! 4K is the best version of the film to get for home release. Soderbergh’s tragic comedy thriller is incredibly well made and increasingly entertaining as Whitacre’s life falls apart, making it a joy to revisit. While some additional bonus features would’ve been nice, nothing is lost, and it retains the worthwhile commentary track. Whether you’re looking to upgrade or buy it for the first time, it scores an easy recommendation.

Disclosure: ComingSoon received product from the distributor for our The Informant! 4K review.

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