THE INFORMANT ! 2.5*** (almost 3.0***) This is an offbeat movie with a serious subject but done with an overall comic touch. The subject is very contemporary…corporate greed on a huge scale both internally, exorbitant salaries and bonuses, as well as internationally, massive illegal price-fixing by international companies on a far-reaching global scale.

Matt Damon stars in the movie…in fact he is the movie. As Mark Whitacre, an ambitious, fast rising executive with ADM , the internationally corrupt company, he is the exact opposite of his Bourne character. At times he reminds me of the George Costanza character in the Seinfeld TV series. Damon put on about 35 lbs for the role, wears an awful looking hairpiece and does a great job of pulling of the demure but cagey character.

At a point in the story, the FBI commences an investigation of ADM, and Damon is the focus point. As the story moves along, it becomes a baffling mystery as to whether Damon is the puppet or the puppeteer..the victim or the villain.

There is a lot of voice over where Damon is revealing his thoughts, remembrances and observations…narrated but not spoken. This is where the persistent humor and comic overtones come into play both from Damon’s spoken and unspoken thoughts and his actions. At times its hilarious and at all times its captivatingly puzzling.

Another quirky aspect of the film is the musical score….it has a jazzy ’70s vibe by Marvin Hamlisch (side-note: he’s one of the few people to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, a Tony, a Golden Globe and a Pulitzer Prize) who brings a retro hipness to the already wacky and fun film.

An interesting and funny film…good but not great although Damon is close to great.

Clark