MovieChat Forums > The Informant! (2009) Discussion > Soderbergh's mistake

Soderbergh's mistake

posted 13 years ago by gottfrid
5 replies | jump to latest

Well, to me Soderbergh is the best american film maker in activity today. He is one of a few that could go mainstream(traffic, 11, 12, 13 men, erin brockovich) without losing his alternative roots(bubble, kafka, the limey).

But this one was a disapointment.

Of course he does everything right. Right editing, right music, right lightning, right acting(Damon is superb; Bakula is the perfect casting for the role), actually, everything on this film is professionally handled.

So, what the heck went wrong?

The story. In the end of the view, I felt it wasnt a story that deserved to be told in such a top notch way. There are at least 100 more interesting subjects he shouldve chosen and applied all the conjunt effort he was able to gather for this. He couldve told the story of the first african-american president of the USA; the Oliver North story; the story of how Shackleton saved his crew, and so forth. There are a lot of better true stories to be told. Soderbergh chose this one. Not to my liking. Well, he is entitled to that. He is human!

"No... no... notorious" (Duran Duran)

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[–] briar_A 13 years ago

Wow, that's a first for me. I've never seen someone say they were unhappy with a movie because it wasn't a completely different movie. I understand that you feel that this particular story is beneath Soderbergh's ability and he should spend his time telling more "worthwhile" (however that's defined) stories. Okay, fair opinion, but I wouldn't let that cloud my enjoyment and final analysis of a film.

For example, that would be like me saying, "Sure, I think Raging Bull is the best movie based on a real person in the last 30 years, but it's an ultimately disappointing film because it didn't tell the story of Abe Lincoln, which I think people would find more interesting."

Please understand, I do see your point (and I agree that Soderbergh has talents waaaay beyond this particular material), but I just feel that we ought to judge The Informant! on its own merits as a standalone movie and not some other movie we wished he'd make instead.

[–] gottfrid 13 years ago

Well, actually it is not an interesting story as I see it; Jake Lamotta in Raging Bull, well, a lot of interesting stuff happened to him... we see the rise and fall of a guy who has to use his fists to be somebody, in a very unfair sports community that decides that at 45 you are already too old.

Even Unstoppable had some interesting stuff going on; Avatar was predictable, but what happens to those blue aliens/marines is the story of Pocahontas told in space, I mean, an interesting story after all!

The other informant film we all know, with Russel Crowe, it has a point, it wants us to be aware of power of tobbacco industry; the british film The Informer(was it the name???) is the best ever done on the troubles in Northern Ireland, and it clearly stablish there is no black or white in the conflict; and the original Informer, by John Ford... no comments!

But this one???? Some of the greatest storytellers of our time put together to tell this??????? Well, a big surprise for me!

"No... no... notorious" (Duran Duran)

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=558536338&ref=name

[–] deftonesguy 13 years ago

its quite obvious that the word "interesting" is different for everyone

[–] pbstuckey 13 years ago

I thought the story was fascinating because the man was fascinating - a complete conundrum to everyone around him. He caused chaos, lied compulsively, was in a sense truly brave, was a brilliant scientist and a completely charming devious schemer.

It's worth noting that the FBI agents who worked with him really like him a lot to this day, although he was a nightmare to them.

If you've ever met a person like this (and I have, they're out there) you recognize how beautifully this story was told and how brilliant Damon's performance was.

This movie gives insight into the amazing complications of the human psyche.

"So she can one day become president and declare war on Germany like back when we were awesome."

[–] franzkabuki 8 years ago

Any story's worth telling as long as it's told right.

"facts are stupid things" Ronald Reagan