The Informant trailer, you guys:

Huh. I actually read The Informant, Kurt Eichenwald’s account of Mark Whitacre’s enthusiastic participation in a covert FBI investigation into Archer Daniels Midland (supermarket to the world). I read it after hearing a really good episode of This American Life dedicated to Eichenwald’s/Whitacre’s story. You should listen to it, it’s really interesting. But I don’t remember it being as wacky, or as fixated on how funny mustaches can be. I also don’t remember Mark Whitacre’s chubbiness being one of the main things that was interesting about the story, but I guess when Matt Damon puts on 30 pounds for a role, you have to make the most of it. THE MOST OF IT! (Get it? Fat.)

In any case, according to IMDB Patton Oswalt is also in this. And I do love Steven Soderbergh for the most part. So I suppose I can put aside my understanding of the FACTS and try to enjoy what looks like the madcappiest comedy about agro-industrial espionage and white collar malfeasance of 2000forever.

Comments (25)
  1. Zingers  |   Posted on Jul 1st, 2009 +19

    Tony Hale AND Joel McHale? My favourite Hales! I’m in

  2. ModernMANdroid  |   Posted on Jul 1st, 2009 +8

    Gabe, you’re never able to put aside ANYTHING to enjoy ANY film.

  3. sparky  |   Posted on Jul 1st, 2009 -4

    Your mention of Soderbergh reminds me: A nominee for TWMOAT — “Traffic”, the “Crash” of its day, which finally answered the question, “What if someone remade ‘Reefer Madness’, but tried to make it edgy and contemporary?”

  4. Ashley  |   Posted on Jul 1st, 2009 +6

    I think I’m more likely to see this now. Thanks, wackiness!

  5. You know, if there was one thing Michael Mann’s The Insider needed, it was hijinks.

  6. quadruple x  |   Posted on Jul 1st, 2009 -1

    Is there an indignationathon you are training for? Because that is the only reason I can think of that you’d need to strain your indignation muscles as hard as you are in this post.

    • Providing people with some links to the interesting source materials that this movie is based on and pointing out that the real life story was not a madcap comedy, while still remaining open to the possibility of enjoying the movie on its own terms, is being overly indignant?

      Are you training for a ridiculouscommentsathon?

    • That’s funny. It’s like quadruple x is guilty of the same thing he accuses Gabe of just by posting the comment! Isn’t it ironic…? I’ll ask Alannis.

  7. Mandy  |   Posted on Jul 1st, 2009 +1

    i really didn’t know how to process the zaniess of this trailer. it was really hard for me. the whole thing left me really confused, which shows how conditioned to understand movie trailers i am.

  8. justthecrust  |   Posted on Jul 1st, 2009 +3

    Paul F Tompkins and Jimmy Pardo are also in this among many other comedians! I am excited. It looks funny. Sometimes you are too critical Gabe! I didn’t even realize he put on weight for this..

    • And that’s a problem how again? That’s pretty much why most of us come to this site to LAFF. Gabe puts things at critical mass. Ahem. How else would you know that Matt Damon gained 30 lbs? Think about it.

  9. Santa  |   Posted on Jul 1st, 2009 +4

    After hearing the This American Life episode, I’m leaning towards reading the book just because I think the story is a little bit bigger & more intriguing than madcap Hollywood. I’m sorry Hollywood, you can have my 12 bucks when Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2: Electric Boogaloo comes out.

  10. mighty undies  |   Posted on Jul 1st, 2009 -6

    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see

  11. tangodiva  |   Posted on Jul 1st, 2009 +1

    Where is the Bakula love?

  12. Matt Damon = Fatt Damon

  13. What’s insane is how much more attracted I am to fat, mustachioed Matt Damon. What the fuck.

  14. Murphy Brown  |   Posted on Jul 2nd, 2009 0

    Wait, you mean to tell me they’re making a movie that doesn’t adhere strickly to the source material it’s taken from?!

    Just wait till John Stossel gets a hold a this one!

  15. K  |   Posted on Jul 2nd, 2009 +2

    “Would I Lie to You?” is the go-to zany song people use to zanify trailers. Science. Also, why can’t I log in? Help me, Lawnmower Man.

  16. Abalogariz  |   Posted on Jul 3rd, 2009 -1

    Matt Damon looks like Philip Seymour Hoffman in this movie. Probably due to the glasses and the extra girth.

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