The Informant!

The Informant! (2009)

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Starring: Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale

Rating: R (Language)


This movie was...interesting. I've decided I actually need to see a movie that doesn't have plot twists so I can go a little bit more into detail about it without spoiling it for everyone who hasn't seen it. I didn't expect this movie to be this way, but it was, so I'll do the best I can!

Matt Damon stars as Mark Whitacre, a biochemist for ADM, which is a agricultural company that creates food products. In this true story, Whitacre decides to become a whistleblower after witnessing and being forced to partake in illegal activities. He goes to the FBI with his information and becomes involved in an investigation that soon makes him think that he's in way over his head. Things are going well for the FBI in their investigation until it becomes clear that everything is not what it seems.

In my opinion, the movie didn't quite meet what I was expecting. I was expecting a laugh-out-loud comedy, but it more of a quirky drama. I enjoyed the move, it just wasn't what I thought it would be. What I did find to be hilarious about the film was Whitacre's rambling narration of the film that would come randomly about topics that didn't have much to do with the current scene other than the fact that the situation seemed to trigger a memory in Whitacre's mind. An example is he is in a restaurant, and then in narration, he says: "I saved a guy in a restaurant once...He was choking on a chicken bone and I bent him backwards in his chair to clear his airways. He sends me cards during the holidays....just to say thanks...and tell me what his kids are studying in school."

If you are a fan of movies that contains mostly dry humor, then you would probably enjoy this movie. If not, it might not rank in your top ten. Matt Damon does give a good performance; I must admit it was different seeing him with the added thirty pounds that he put on for the role...not exactly reminiscent of Jason Bourne.

Overall, an okay movie with some humor, that seemed to drag on longer than I thought necessary, and wasn't what I was expecting. Because of that, I rate this movie a 5 out of 10.

Rest in Peace Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze: August 18, 1952 - September 14, 2009

Live Action Star Wars TV Show

For a while there have been rumors of a TV series of Star Wars that will run on network television. It seemed that the show might never take off, but at a recent DragonCon, Steve Sansweet, a LucasFilm executive, gave a few details that the Star Wars show is still in the making with writing taking place. According to Sansweet, production should begin in 2010 with the first season airing in 2012.

Obviously, for Star Wars fans everywhere, the thought of a TV show is incredible. It will be interesting though to see how it plays out. It would be a little awkward at first if Luke, Leia, and Han were still in the story because the thought of anyone other than Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford playing these characters would be a little hard to handle. It's for that reason that George Lucas announced that the show would not be centered around the Skywalkers or characters from the films.(E! Online.com) I think this is a smart move and also opens up the possibility for great characters and story lines from the multitude of Star Wars books to get their shot on the screen.

But even though it Star Wars wouldn't be the same without Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford, I would still love to see another Star Wars trilogy based on the Grand Admiral Thrawn books! That would be sweet! Thrawn would be an amazing villain not to mention getting to see his elite bodyguards, the Noghri, in action! (By the way, the Thrawn trilogy books are: Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command by Timothy Zahn)

Gladiator and Braveheart on Blu-Ray!

Just learned this exciting piece of info! Two amazing films, Gladiator and Braveheart have both been released on Blu-Ray!! These movies were amazing before but now to be able to see them in the incredible clarity that is Blu-Ray will be a whole new experience! Now just to get a Blu-Ray player....

State of Play

OUT ON DVD TODAY!!

STATE OF PLAY (2009)

Director: Kevin Macdonald

Starring: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachael McAdams, Helen Mirren

Rating: PG-13 (some violence, language including sexual references, and brief drug content)





I have anxiously awaited the release of this film! I saw it in theaters and it definitely places in my Top 10. With an ensemble cast comprised of Russell Crowe, Rachael McAdams, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, and Robin Wright-Penn, State of Play is an exciting movie that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Plot Summary:

When a member of Congressman Stephen Collins' (Affleck) staff is murdered he launches an investigation into PointCorp, a private defense contractor with controversial dealings. Collins believes that his murdered staff member might have been killed to keep Collins away from PointCorp. Along side Collins' investigation, reporter Cal McCaffrey (Crowe) launches his own investigation into the matter.

This is a great political thriller that kept me guessing through the whole film, therefore, I give it a 7 out of 10.