Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

The Informer Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 11, 2021

That oft quoted "law of threes" is in full force in something as odd as a review queue, as The Informer now joins the recently reviewed Ghost Story and Drive as the third film in more or less a row (with an interstitial disc or two) that has arrived in my stack of review titles which bears the same name as another, arguably better known, film (in those particular cases, namely Ghost Story and Drive). While it's kind of strangely forgotten today (and looks like it hasn't yet received a release on Blu-ray anywhere in the world), 1935's The Informer bears the imprimatur of one John Ford, who was feted with the Best Director statuette at the Oscars that year for his efforts, and it also allowed Victor McLaglen to take home that year's Best Actor trophy at the same celebration (two other Oscars were also granted the production). That film concerned a rough and tumble type who was caught up in what might be called pre-"troubles" trouble from circa 1919 to 1921. This 2019 The Informer has some of the same elements as the 1935 film, including a rough and tumble protagonist, here named Pete Koslow (Joel Kinnaman), but the "international" conflict is ostensibly between Polish drug runners and American law enforcement types. The real conflict actually turns out to be between two elements of the ostensible "good guys", the FBI, represented in the film by two agents named Erica Wilcox (Rosamund Pike) and Keith Montgomery (Clive Owen), and New York's finest, as exemplified by a cop named Edward Grens (Common). That said, the 1935 film was based on a novel by Liam O'Flaherty, while this film was culled from what sounds like it may have been a relatively more pulpy piece of fiction called Three Seconds authored by the Swedish team of Anders Roslund and Borge Hellström, and in fact the source tome was set in Sweden.

With at least a couple of putative marquee stars, it's maybe a little surprising that The Informer kind of came and went without much notice (at least by yours truly), but that may be due to the fact that while there may be no glaring deficits here, there also frankly may not be enough, especially since, much as with the title itself, so much here has been recycled from other properties. That includes the focus on decent if troubled ex-con undercover "mole" Koslow, whom you are more or less required to root for not just because he has a gorgeous wife named Sofia (Ana de Armas) and an adorable daughter named Anna (Karma Meyer), but because he's also had images of the pair inscribed on his chest as one of his "featured" tattoos.

The Informer delivers an almost overwhelming amount of exposition in its opening scenes, documenting a whole host of interconnections and characters, with Koslow being handled by agent Wilcox, with Wilcox's superior Montgomery looking on approvingly. There is some back story about why Koslow is being handled by the FBI that is doled out somewhat later, but it's interesting to note that the viewer is just kind of plopped down viscerally into a situation where it's clear Koslow is a kind of unwilling pawn not just of the FBI, but also the Polish drug running gang he's infiltrated, which is trying to take over the Fentanyl trade in New York City. What seems to be the kind of sting that would cap another thriller of this sort actually shows up in just the first sequence, but there's an unexpected development which leads to the death of an undercover New York City cop.

That in turn both brings in the attention of Grens, who wants to find out what's happened to his compatrior, as well as threatens Koslow's own "secret identity". Adding even more trauma and tribulation to Koslow, the Polish gang's head honcho nicknamed The General (Eugene Lipinski) wants Koslow to take the fall for the cop's killing, which will put him right back in prison, though this time as a conduit between The General's drug running and ready "clients" in the inmate population. Unfortunately for Koslow, despite some lingering differences of opinion on just how valuable Koslow is as an "asset", the FBI decides it's just great for Koslow to be back in stir, though, again, there may be some differing motivations as to why.

The Informer has some nice, twisty elements, but it travels a pretty predictable path just about every step of the way, down to and including a coda that supposedly delivers one more sting (in both senses of that word), before moving on to a kinda sorta happily ever after. What I found interesting in doing some background research on the source novel for this film, is that Grens is actually a recurring character in the writing duo's works, even if this version probably posits Wilcox front and center more than any of the other law enforcement characters. That said, it might be worthwhile to have Common explore the character of Grens in some subsequent adventures.

The Informer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Informer is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Vertical Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. The IMDb doesn't have much information on the technical side of things, but I found some online data suggesting this was captured with Arri Alexa Minis, and I'm presuming the DI was finished at 2K. This is the first disc in a long time where there's been some aliasing, something that can maybe be made out in screenshot 19, but aside from that occasional distraction, this is a nicely sharp and well detailed looking presentation. Fairly traditional indulgences in a number of grading and/or lighting choices are employed, including quite a few dimly lit interior sequences, but on the whole fine detail levels remain secure. Aside from any stylistic choices, the palette looks natural and well suffused. Some of both the CGI and practical effects might strike some as artificial looking.

The Informer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Informer features DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 audio choices. The surround track offers some good activity courtesy of the urban settings in a number of outdoor moments, but even some interior scenes, notably sequences in the prison, bristle with well placed ambient environmental effects. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly, with some Polish moments featuring forced subtitles, which can actually "get in the way" of some of the optional English SDH subtitles which are also available.

The Informer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There are no supplements on this disc.

The Informer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Koslow is a kind of veritable Job in this story, with one bad thing after another happening to him, but managing to come out of it all relatively intact. Both of the supposed "surprises" this film attempts to dole out with regard to various factions on the law enforcement side of things are probably going to be seen a mile off by many thriller lovers, but performances here are slickly professional, and there's a baseline of angst that keeps things moving along. Technical merits are generally solid for those who are considering a purchase.