Based on a true story, Steven Soderbergh's 'black comedy' follows whistleblower and closet psychopath Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon). When the FBI are called in when ADM employee Whitacre reports some apparent dodgy dealings with a Japanense rival company, he reveals a price-fixing scandal. Employed by the FBI to act as an undercover agent, Whitacre's delusional state of mind causes him to become fully engrossed in his role, picturing himself as some kind of super-spy. But Whitacre has a little secret - he's making practically everything up and soon sees the investigation turn on him. As he digs himself into a deeper hole of shit, Whitacre must lie and cheat his way out, the only problem being that he can't let go of his new role.
What is an absolutely fascinating story is royally fucked up by Soderbergh. Why he chose to make this film into a comedy is beyond me. Actually, I retract that, why he decided to make this a comedy completely devoid of laughs is beyond me. Soderbergh insists on making this apparent to the audience by placing silly trumpet music over every scene, even though it's played relatively straight. It's a silly device for a film that would have worked much better as a serious drama into the mind of a seriously disturbed man. That said, there is still some things to enjoy - Matt Damon's impressive performance, moustache and all, is convincing. And the story is interesting enough to carry the film along. Mark this amongst Soderbergh's dodgy films.
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Country: USA
Rating: ***
Tom Gillespie
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