User reviews

If you go into this expecting a $100 million action blockbuster you will be dissapointed. What this film delivers is a solid crime drama with some gritty and tense action scenes. A strong lead performance by Joel Kinnaman holds the story together and the film moves swiftly at a pace that never drags. If you want a film that gives you actual story over mindless hollywood CGI action, then give this one a chance.

If I had read the critics I would have ignored this film.

I read a good review in The Sunday Express and went to see the film and liked it a lot.

I will give no plot spoilers but if you like tough but not dumb crime films you will like this one. It does not have the biggest budget or the biggest action sequences but it is a good film.

The plot is fine but the film also benefits from good locations and a talented cast.

See this if you get the chance I think you will be glad you did.

First of all, I must say, that this movie, a B-movie, with AAA elements, with some expertise takes us as the viewer and drops us into an already well-developed story which has obviously been on-going since well-before we are introduced to Joel' character. It is done quite well as we are dropped into this plot right at a watershed moment as the FBI manipulate and connive their way into complete control with a very realistic, not just lack of care, but straight malcontent for our hero's safety. That's all I will say of the plot, other than how I really admired how each character we are introduced to feel just as well thought out as our main character and how even a character we see only for -45 seconds does, says or even implies something which is crucial in developing the whole story.

This movie reminds me of one of old where it's focus is singular and therefore much stronger in delivering a few, simple messages or invoking a few complex emotion's and I really cared about our hero, his family and even felt compassion for one of the main villains by the end.

I dont know why the pro-review world bombed this so hard. Are they uncomfterble with this movie's (true) statements on the twistedness of law-enforcement corruption which has only evolved terribly into something more undetectable and probably more damaging than that of old?

I don't know, but for a dark movie, released in a crap year with some strong and noble statements, I was quite impressed. And a few weak-performances from one of the cop's (mostly at the beginning) didn''t end up detracting from my enjoyment and I ended up quite enjoying this flick.

I was Surprised by how good this was. It doesn't feel like anything particularly special but it was a good watch.

Great Scene with the police surrounding the Building.

I came across this movie on Amazon streaming, my wife looked at the trailer and chose to skip. It isn't a pleasant, happy movie. It involves characters who are Polish drug smugglers, later characters who are hardened criminals in a large prison. Though it is fiction it all seems very real and very dangerous.

All the actors are fine in their roles, there are crosses and double crosses but in the end there is hope for the "informer" and his young family.

Very well made movie for its genre.

Not perfect, but great movie overall. If at the end you have the feeling you're only 45 mins in, the movie did what it was supposed to do.

I could whine about some details not so plausible, but they never break the story. So great work for the whole crew.

The Informer is an enjoyable and well made thriller, despite the generic plot and some predictable moments. Joel Kinnaman gives a great lead performance with good supporting performances from Common, Rosamund Pike, Clive Owen and Ana de Armas. It's also well paced with an intense fight scene and tense gunfight in the third act.

I didn't know what to expect with this movie as I had no previous exposure to it or even it's trailer. I saw the cast and there was enough familiar actors to get my attention. I think the movie was mostly realistic and believable. The acting was good from most.

If you have seen the trailer this film does what it says on the tin. It is a decent cop/bad guy film that is a little different in its storyline.

The film rattles along a decent pace and has some good scenes. There is some quite good suspense and action along the way as well.

Where the film is let down is the ending is just so clear, aside from a tiny twist, from about half way through the film and even then, when it happens it's quite a damp squib. There are also parts of the story that just don't stack up, which is a shame as it has good potential.

I've never heard of this film, nor seen any trailers, so I wasn't expecting much and decided to give it a go since there wasn't anything I haven't already seen to watch. Well, wow!

I'm shocked at some of the negative reviews so far. It goes to show you that you can't please everyone. It's either too Hollywood-ish or not Hollywood enough lol.

Here's why I REALLY liked it; For starters, this is actor Andrea Di Stefano second ever attempt at directing and writing, and compared to some of the films that have come out lately - and from seasoned writer and directors, he nailed it. Was it flawless? No. But considering is wasn't a big budget Hollywood production with seasoned filmmakers and with all lead cast being A-listers, but instead a British-made B-grade film with newb filmmakers, this was produced exceptionally well and is a winner imo.

I found the story very realistic and un-Hollywood-ish, which is refreshing for a change. Sure this story has been done many times before, but this one felt authentic. The last time I saw this type of genre movie that surprised and impressed me, was Shot Caller.

Casting was perfect, with all leads playing their respective roles on point, especially Joel Kinnaman who nailed his character.

Cinematography was great, the score/sound was fitting, and the production/location sets authentic. My only critique would be the pacing needed picking up in some parts, and/or the 113 min run-time trimmed down at least 10-15 mins.

Aside from that, this was one of the best B-grade films I've seen, with its unpredictable plot turn at every corner, excellent central performances, all packaged really well by an newbie filmmaker. It's a solid 9/10 from me!

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If you're born in the seventies and miss how movies used to be like, you'll like this one.

This movie is a prime example of a terrible script screwing up a film. The acting is good and the directing okay but the story is so bad that you stop believing in the horrible plot, and they add a terrible finale that suspends any chance of belief that you just laugh and smirk that anyone thought this was a good idea of a story line. Plus the ending is so preposterous it feels like it is a tv series with a part 2 To be Continued. As if this piece of crap would have a sequel.... A 5 for the acting

Ok so it started quite well but it's soon took a dip. The film had promise to be a good solid crime/drama however it started to complicated itself with too much material. With having said all this I think go and judge it for yourself. The best critic is yourself. Had moments but couldn't sustain it

WOW!!! what an intense & gripping Crime Thriller "The Informer" is & i was totally engrossed by it's realism & suspenseful story!!!

Now i have to say how I'm a huge fan of the excellent "Joel Kinnaman" to me he's the absolute best of the "New" wave of actors out there, he's the absolute best of the bunch by that he's better than Ryan Reynolds, Chris Pine, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Chris Evans, Stephen Amell, Ryan Gosling & many more, this guy Kinnaman is one intense & fantastic actor & i loved him in the underrated but excellent "Suicide Squad" & the fantastic "Run All Night" & even as the new "Robocop" i love his work & he is a "Movie Star" with an intense presence on screen. Here the excellent Kinnaman plays an ex-con named "Pete Koslow" who has to help the FBI put away a polish Druglord but he gets into a hell of a lot of danger when an undercover Cop gets killed & he has to go back to prison, that's a little bit of the big complex story, just watch the incredible performances from Kinnaman, Common & Roseamund Pike, all give it their all in this gritty & incredibly intense Crime Thriller, there's Corruption here & a harsh reality to this movie, it's totally believable & you really feel for Kinnaman as Pete as he has a wife & a little girl, so the stakes are high here & the drama is engulfing. Kinnaman & Rapper turned excellent Actor, Common both also starred together in the Liam Neeson Crime Thriller Run All Night, also an incredible film.

Seems to be my immediate reaction ater viewing ''the informer'' it is by all means a terrificly good thriller with a lot of suspence and heavy intrigues, but i still feel especially in the second half we are robbed for some good plotparts that shouldve been there or havent been made at all. that there will be a sequel to this is for sure. there are also a high score on underdeveloped characters to make this a superb juristiction battle with undertones of politics, and screenplay wise its not much the filmstars can make a difference on when shut up or cut off by the editors and directors hand.

but by all means, its thrilling, even though the grumpy old man as a consultant could have made it even better, but i dont think they have the budget to economic power to hire me for consultancy. but have a look, i can recommend that

I'm not sure why The Informer didn't get much publicity when it was released last summer , perhaps it didn't get a cinematic release here in the UK ( Even though Wikipedia calls this a British thriller for some reason ! ) because it's a pretty good crime thriller that deserves an audience.

It's the story of ex-convict working undercover in a polish crime syndicate who intentionally gets himself incarcerated again in order to infiltrate the mob at a maximum security prison.

With a really good cast such as Common , Rosamund Pike and Clive Owen , this really does feel like a blockbuster movie. Sure , it's ridiculously far fetched but it's one of those films that you are not meant to take seriously.

I found it entertaining despite it being unbelievable at times . I'm not a massive fan of Clive Owen but he's not the star here . That's Joel Kinnaman . A seriously underrated actor .

If you want 100 adrenaline filled minutes then I can definitely recommend The Informer .

An absorbing thrill ride of a crime thriller. Unlike some reviewers I actually found this well paced with enough twists to keep it interesting and a ruthless violent edge alongside the drama. Was tempted to even rate as a 9 until near the end but I just can't stand open endings to these things no matter how minor unless we know there'll be a sequel I just want to know how the story is resolved fully. Nevertheless one of the better thrillers of the year so far and well worth a watch.

Enjoyable, entertaining thriller. Worth a watch. Good acting.

What a nice change to get away from the 'typical' Holywood action flick and to get into a grittier, morally ambiguous, uncompromising drama. Rosamund Pike continues to prove what a great actor she is with a performance that echoes her character in Beirut. Joel Kinnaman gives a performance that is just as conflicted and compelling as Altered Carbon. Altogether a great cast that manages to build realistic characters. My only criticism of the script is the overly detailed explanation of fentanyl that Pike gives to her team on FBI agents - it's the only point where you feel the film patronises the audience. Other than that, a thoroughly enjoyable movie.

An unremarkable action thriller which isn't particularly good or bad, just mediocre. It's a bit boring at times, a bit too cliché at times and a bit implausible at times, but the story is gritty, the action scenes are well put together and the acting and characters are good, if a bit 1 dimensional.

Pete Koslow (Joel Kinnaman) is a convict forced to work for FBI agents Wilcox (Rosamund Pike) and Montgomery (Clive Owen) to infiltrate a Polish drug gang led by The General. An undercover NYPD cop tries to make a buy from Montgomery. He quickly makes the cop and tries to talk him out of the situation. Instead, The General's nephew Stazek kills the cop. Pete is forced to take fall as Stazek holds his wife Sofia (Ana de Armas) and their daughter Anna. Pete has to go back to prison. NYPD detective Grens (Common) investigates and suspects a cover up.

It tries to be a harden police corruption crime drama but it can't measure up. My initial feeling about the killing is that it's unlikely. While the bad FBI agents are a good excuse, the movie doesn't really explain why Pete was kept off-books. Pete also has the annoying habit of keeping Sofia in the dark. That leads to the annoying repetition of scenes where Sofia keeps pleading with Pete. At this point, the FBI has the drug deals and Stazek for murder. If they can't use the evidence for that, then there is no point in the undercover work in the first place. This is a simplistic thriller trying to sell itself as something more sophisticated. As long as one doesn't ask too many questions, this is a fine little thriller.