El informante

Yes, there are better gangster movies.

But this is not a bad movie. Be patient and go along with the story and it's just a fine movie to watch. That is, when you like gangster/thriller movies, with some violence (bad things off camera) and the unavoidable foul language that goes with it.

Worth a watch when you wait until the story develops.

The fact that this movie is slow adds to the style. If you want a fast action movie watch something from the 80's 90's or early 2000's. If you cannot see that movies have changed a lot since then I'm not exactly sure why you are even bothering to read this review.

The new style of filmmaking is less obvious. We live in a world where more people than you realize do not want to be involved anymore, so we turn to movies and television or just media in general. The big studio productions are wasting all the money, energy and talent into creating obnoxious fantasies of real life that do not represent much at all. I, for one, am sick of that. I grew up on big budget action movies and now every time I see a new one I get bored. We need more small movies like this to take a chance by not pretending it is something it is not, an interesting theme to the movie as well.

It is a very direct approach to filmmaking. Take the story and put it up on the screen. Don't worry about framing everything perfectly and getting 20 guys to fiddle with electric cables and lights. Can we see the actor? Great! Just make an action drama with few elaborate set pieces and don't try to trick people by fancy spectacles. The way the filmmakers combined shots on the streets of New York City with alleyway driving car stunt stuff (not a New York City thing in the least) was very well done and it didn't necessarily take me out of the experience.

The only thing that did take me out of the experience was the music. I hate to say anything specifically bad but it sounded like it was from one of the Jason Borne movies. Just very much out of place.

It is a very solid movie but you won't get any kind of mind-blowing experience here but in a way there is a straightforward method of storytelling here that I think is great. Obviously could've pushed itself further but as I was saying the new trend is for less sensational movies so this type of low budget thing isn't going to be able to afford to take those big risks. I would recommend.

Nooo Spoilers!! So Listen up people.. This is one of the very very decent thrillers that has come out in the past 12 months and trust me there has been very few that are well done and when I say we'll done I mean an original story that on its own could keep you on the edge of your seat if someone just told you about it just verbally!!! The story is the movie for me and then comes level of execution relative to the budget thats how I rate them and this one for me gets a straight 7 in that Genre and I rate movies based on Genres and intentions of the movie plus excution ofcourse for how many decent stories were ruined by film makers!!! This is very decent indeed and original and those who say its slow are not appreciating or understanding the idea of the story which is lame to me... Anyways go see it and I know if you are a smart viewer who has seen them all like me you'll definitely enjoy this one considering it's just above small budget but professionally done giving it the kick it needed!

Strong performances, intimidating villains, claustrophobic situations; this level of authenticity is very seldom (if ever) found in Hollywood where they go for safe and cheap thrills. There's no superheroes here, no easy resolutions, no good guys. It's all gritty and grey and asphyxiating in its determination to drive the plot forward without relying on the usual stupid (albeit entertaining) tropes.

Somehow, in this age when we've already seen all there's to be seen in such a thoroughly explored genre as this (crime, drugs, gangs), this movie still manages to deliver and I applaud it.

All in all, Realistic: 8, Immersive: 8, Entertaining: 5, Resourceful: 7, Suspenseful: 7.

This is novice writer, director and actor Malik Bader first writing attempt, and yes, it certainly needed tweaking in his screenplay, and the directing wasn't top notch, but for a low budget indie film, I actually enjoyed it - on a lazy Sunday popcorn flick. Casting was decent all around and everyone performed their characters quite well. The score was absent and subtle for the most part, but felt little overwhelming in some scenes. The cinematography was on point and I loved the old 80's themed setting. Certainly not worth all the 1's and 2's... based on the filmmakers repertoire and experience, as well as the low budget, it's well deserving of a 6.5 rounded up to a 7 due to the wannabe critics giving 1 and 2's. I do with the budget was a little bigger to have a seasoned screenwriter and assistant director, as that would've made this film great I'm still trying to find out if this was actually based on true events after reading the closing credits.