DVD Reviews

The Informers – Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Aug 27, 2009, 15:37 GMT

In such works as "Less Than Zero" and "American Psycho" Bret Easton Ellis brilliantly dissects contemporary American society, a culture in which too much is never enough. Now adapting his own acclaimed novel for the screen, he returns to the Los Angeles of the early 1980s with a multi-strand narrative that deftly balances a vast array of characters who represent both the top of the heap (a Hollywood dream merchant, ...more

I have to inform you that the Informers is not a very good movie. It’s another period piece set during the greedy 80s, but the story meanders through several characters - none of them are particularly compelling.

It’s the 1980s and everyone is more concerned with themselves. We have Graham (Jon Foster) whose parents, William (Billy Bob Thornton) and Laura (Kim Basinger), have split because of his father’s affair with newscaster Cheryl Laine (Winona Ryder).

Graham’s girlfriend Christie (Amber Heard) seems to have the same problem as his father. Meanwhile, rocker Bryan Metro (Mel Raido) is distressed because his ex-wife (Simone Kessell) has left with their son. Actor/doorman Jack (Brad Renfro) is distressed when his uncle Pete (Mickey Rourke) shows up and kidnaps a kid that he houses at Jack’s house. Tim (Lou Taylor Pucci) and Les (Chris Isaak) are a son and father having trouble connecting.

To say that The Informers is a mess would be an understatement. It’s based on the collection of short stories by Bret Easton Ellis that reflects back on the 1980s. Supposedly the first scripts cast the film as a satire, but the original director was replaced and the focus of the film changed. Some plotlines were also dropped.

The original stories and script had a vampire and supernatural angle. All the supernatural bits were then taken out of the film. I wasn’t familiar with The Informers novel, but was at least a little interested when I came across it on a list of upcoming vampire flicks.

By the time the actual film hit theaters all of those elements had been excised and so had my interest. Brandon Routh was even cast in these sections of the film. The problem with the film is that we have characters we don’t care about doing things we care even less about.

The acting is not the best and nearly everyone seems to be sleepwalking through the picture. To add to the almost cursed feeling of the film, it turned out to be Brad Renfro’s last film as he would die soon after. Very young, but he doesn’t seem well during the movie.

Another selling point is the presence of 80s icons Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger, but they don’t add much to the show either. There’s no investment by the audience and most will consider it a waste of their time.

The Informers is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (2.40:1). Special features include a commentary with director Gregor Jordan, Jon Foster, and Lou Taylor Pucci. The only other feature is a high definition 15 minute making of. Oddly there are no deleted scenes.

The Informers is a film that meanders over the lives of several different characters. The problem is that we never invest in them enough to care about the film. It seems to me that he plots that might’ve added some interest have been left on the cutting room floor. They might’ve injected some fresh blood [insert rimshot here].