Synopsis – An ex-convict working undercover intentionally gets himself incarcerated again in order to infiltrate the mob at a maximum security prison.

My Take – Yes, the title of this film is as generic as it can get. Still due to release in the U.S. in January 2020, this film from director Andrea Di Stefano (Escobar: Paradise Lost), based on the Swedish novel Three Seconds from crime-writing team Anders Roslund and Borge Hellström, at first glance looks like the sort of thriller that’s trotted out just about every year, with little in the way of variation.

However, it turns out it also one of the more pleasant genre surprises, in which every element is just a notch smarter than you’d expect. Sure, it doesn’t bring anything new to the crime thriller genre, doesn’t encourage repeat viewings and by the end of the year, you’ll probably have forgotten all about it.

That being said, the film doesn’t try to be something that it’s not and though far from memorable, it’s still a very well-constructed film with a solid script, strong performances and it’s definitely worth watching at least once. Generic though the film may look and feel, it holds together absorbingly, thanks to a sturdy script which ups stakes and adds characters with cunning and intelligence.

Nevertheless, I did get frustrated seeing how director Stefano all too quickly wanted to also set up a sequel/franchise in the lines of the John Wick series, with a somewhat rushed ending.

The story follows Pete Koslow (Joel Kinnaman), a former solider and ex-convict, whose sentence had been cut to undertake a dangerous FBI undercover assignment to help take down a dangerous Polish drug lord known as The General (Eugene Lipinski), with the ultimate goal of securing freedom for himself, his wife Sofia (Ana de Armas) and his young daughter.

But when an undercover NYPD cop is killed during his secret operation, his FBI handlers, Wilcox (Rosamund Pike) and her boss Montgomery (Clive Owen), abandon him. Leaving him indebted to his drug lord boss, Pete is forced to go back to prison for five years to pay off his debt and to handle their inside operation.

Making matters worse,  police officer Grens (Common) has taken it upon himself to find out what happened to the deceased cop, therefore, Pete finds himself facing danger from many sources on the inside like incarcerated gangsters, Grens’ contacts, rivals, among others. And with the FBI constantly leaving him high and dry, mobsters threatening his family on the outside, Pete must do what he can to make it safely back to his family.

Think Prison Break crossed with Escape Plan crossed with Brawl in Cell Block 99 and we’re vaguely along the lines of corruption and brutal violence on display here. As I mentioned above, the film seems to have no pretension about what it is doing, it doesn’t attempt to be deep or meaningful, but instead it simply exists to provide 113 minutes’ worth of decent entertainment.

While the film starts off on slightly shaky ground as it is initially a little difficult to ascertain just who’s who, and what everyone’s relationship to everyone else is, it does slowly get things into focus, and gradually becomes a solid crime thriller with plenty of danger and a couple of interesting characters, nothing more. Ignoring the tendency to stray into narrative clichés of the given genre, the script proves a solid thriller that genuinely kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I genuinely found myself questioning just who to trust as motivations became blurred and allegiances often shifted, keeping me guessing right till the very end.

Andrea Di Stefano‘s direction also works well here as the pacing is smooth, the emotional moments aren’t manipulative, the tone is well judged, there’s no superfluous material, and in the more frantic scenes, it’s easy to gauge just what’s going on.

For fans of gore and violence, you’re sure to get it in this film too, as it doesn’t mess around when it comes to making the audience squirm as the film sugar coats nothing, with the terrors of organized crime laid out on the screen, in this world, its kill or be killed.

Broken into two parts, outside and inside the prison walls, the film maintains its upwards trajectory to an inevitable bloody climax, stimulating a genuine feeling that no one is safe in Koslow’s world. It doesn’t necessarily bring anything particularly new to the table, but the film still stands as a dark, fun, well-acted popcorn film all the while.

However, the third act proved somewhat problematic and bloated, as a rather ridiculous prison riot steals a little too much of the run time, leaving the ending feeling frustratingly rushed. There are also a couple of bits in the film that infuriate the faculties somewhat.

For example; Koslow’s better half and little girl need to wait until an occupation is over with for their very own well-being, illogically she winds up not waiting and is captured by the Polish drug cartel. The writers of the film could have come up with something bit more imaginative here. Also, other parts of the script weren’t all that invigorating in terms of memorable quotes either but it does provide tension where needed and action when required.

Performance wise, Joel Kinnaman delivers a raw, sledgehammer-like performance as he becomes fully absorbed in the role of Pete Koslow. Kinnaman is a mighty anchor that advances the film beyond cliché and to something with further depth, specifically seen through his physical gestures and movements.

He is also backed by a rather-stellar supporting cast, which includes, Rosamund Pike, who as-per-usual delivers, Ana de Armas, who manages to elevates a simple wife role, Clive Owen, who is pleasantly unpleasant as the amoral FBI boss, Common, who is always admirably charismatic and strong in his role, and Eugene Lipinski, who is fantastic as the icy, eerily calm mob boss. On the whole, ‘The Informer’ is a hard-edged, old-school crime thriller that despite a familiar premise manages to be filled with intrigue and thrill.

Directed – Andrea Di Stefano

Starring – Ana de Armas, Rosamund Pike, Joel Kinnaman

Rated – R

Run Time – 113 minutes