The Informers (2009)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Gregor Jordan

Writers (WGA):

Bret Easton Ellis (screenplay) &
Nicholas Jarecki (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

11 June 2009 (Israel)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Greed is good. Sex is easy. Youth is forever.

Plot:

A multi-strand narrative set in early 1980's Los Angeles, centered on an array of characters who represent both the top of the heap (a Hollywood dream merchant, a dissolute rock star, an aging newscaster) and the bottom (a voyeuristic doorman, an amoral ex-con). Connecting the intertwining strands are a group of beautiful, blonde young men and women who sleep all day and party all night, doing drugs -- and one another --with abandon, never realizing that they are dancing on the edge of a volcano.

Plot Keywords:

Drug | Party | Sex | 1980s | Doorman

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
Austin Nichols	...	Martin
Lou Taylor Pucci	...	Tim Price
Mel Raido	...	Bryan Metro
Brad Renfro	...	Jack
Theo Rossi	...	Spaz
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Milena Arango	...	Miss Nebraska
Denise Bradley	...	Mourner
Suzanne Ford	...	Bruce's mom
Valentina Garcia	...	The P.A.
Cameron Goodman	...	Susan Sloan
Aaron Himelstein	...	Raymond
Simone Kessell	...	Nina Metro
Diego Klattenhoff	...	Dirk
Noli McCool	...	Joe
Katy Mixon	...	Patty
Daniel Rosenberg	...	Rocko
Angela Sarafyan	...	Mary
Peter Scanavino	...	Leon
Gabriel Schwalenstocker	...	Walter
Jessica Stroup	...	Rachel

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, drug use, pervasive language and some disturbing images.

Runtime:

USA:98 min | Germany:100 min (European Film Market)

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44674) | Finland:K-15 | Ireland:16 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company:

Senator Entertainment Co

Trivia:

Brad Renfro's final film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When talking to the film producer, Bryan Metro's manager mentions/regrets that Bryan decided not to play 'Amadeus' in the movie. But 'Amadeus' was released September 1984, one year after 'The Informers' takes place.

Soundtrack:

Shadows of the Night

Bad Information to tell you!

I feel betrayed, disillusioned, disappointed, and misinformed!!! "The Informers" based on Bret Easton Ellis' best selling book was an infertile cinematic offering. When I was informed of the premise of "The Informers", I was incredibly intrigued! Based in Los Angeles during the early 80's, "The Informers" indulges in various L.A. socialites entangled in intersecting story lines. It also co-stars two of my favorite charismatic celebrities: solid dude Mickey Rourke and cool crooner Chris Isaak. So what can go wrong? Lots!!!! I got tons of information for you on the catastrophe of "The Informers" but I will try to be brief. The film primarily revolves around Graham played by Jon Foster (Foster- that's American for "bad actor"). Graham is a spoiled rich looker in his late teens who takes his daily religious dosage of sex, drugs, and narcissism on a clockwork schedule. This Graham cracker also has a gorgeous nymphomaniac girlfriend Christie, which also sexually mates some of his arrogant mates. Amber Heard's performance as Christie does not bring too much to the thespian table except for her curvaceous unclothed body; and that is the naked truth. Ms. Heard, you might want to polish up on your acting skills or else you will be unheard of in the movie business. Graham's parents are divorced William & Laura, a wealthy movie producer and a pill-popping cougar who try to reconcile for the sake of….. I do not even know and don't care. Veteran actors Billy Bob Thornton and Kim Basinger whom play William & Laura should care that they were provided this stale material. We even get a Winona Ryder sighting as a news anchor who had been romancing William in the past. Who shoplifted Winona into this mess? Mickey Rourke plays a scumbag child abductor who bullies his nephew Jack to use his house as a refuge to store the kidnapped children. Mickey, why? You should not have wrestled with this character and passed on. I do give credit to the late Brad Renfro for effectively playing the nerve-wrecking Jack. It was Renfro's last performance, and there was a strong case of the heebie-jeebies when Renfro's character vocalized "something bad is going to happen" in one of the film's climactic scenes. Renfro died of a drug overdose a short time after filming wrapped. Chris Isaak plays Les Price, a nonchalant middle-age father who tries to bond with his estranged son Tim by traveling to Hawaii together. Maybe for a less price they could have gone to Las Vegas instead? Tim (Lou Taylor Pucci) is an introvert and Les is extrovert, so it is a wicked game to think that they will ever form an authentic pa & son relationship. Let's just say that The Prices are not Right. And let me not inform you about the despicable storyline of the pedophile rock star Bryan Metro; so we will not be riding on the Metro for this one. Director Gregor Jordan does not give us anything at all for us to care about any of these shallow, damaged characters. Michael Jordan could have done a better job in directing this film, and that is a slam dunk statement. Nicholas Jarecki & Bret Easton Ellis's screenplay was lifeless, lackluster, and flimsy. Jarecki & Ellis (The Misinformers themselves) wrote such ridiculous lines as "I want to know what is good, and I want to know what is bad". Ouch!!! You want to know what is bad? Recite your screenplay guys!!!! Sorry that I did a T.M.B.I. (Too Much Bad Information) on "The Informers" and did not keep it brief. But make sure you inform yourself and others to stay away from "The Informers". ** Needs Improvement