The Infiltrator

Dir: Brad Furman

2016

*****

2016's The Infiltrator is a bit like 2015's Trumbo in that both star Bryan Cranston, both are brilliant and both seem to have been overlooked by the general cinema-going public. I'm not sure which film out of the two features Bryan Cranston's best performance in a feature film, but it is definitely one of the two up to this point in his career, he is clearly relishing in the once in a life-time part, which only enhances the act. His performances is incredible, especially the way he switches from one character to another while always reminding the audience that he is also the other guy. It's looks so effortless and is utterly convincing. It needed to be too, as Robert Mazur's story (the film is based on his autobiography) is so incredible, it could easily be seen as farcical in places. Mazur was a U.S. customs agent who realized that instead of following the drugs to get to the drug lords, they should instead chase after the money. He led a team that would go on to help capture Pablo Escobar's money-laundering organization, arresting drug dealers, gangsters and corrupt bankers. What's really amazing about Mazur and his team is that he would switch off character and go home to his wife and kids and enjoy a very normal life after spending most of the day with some of the worst criminals in history. Mazur and team got their opportunity thanks to colleague Emir Abreu who is played by the brilliant John Leguizamo. On one particularly awkward meeting in a strip club, Mazur avoided being forced to cheat on his own wife by pretending he had a fiancé. This meant that another undercover agent had to be brought in, Kathy Ertz, and the story took an interesting but effective development. Ertz is played by Diana Kruger in what I think is her best performance since Inglorious Basterds and I would argue that this is probably Leguizamo at his best. The shoot changed locations quite early on in the film from Florida (where the story took place) to London and Paris. Not sure why but I'm glad it did as it meant the inclusion of some of my favourite actors. Daniel Mays has a great little short but sweet role as a drug dealer and Jason Isaacs, Art Malik and Said Taghmaoui were also very nice surprises, all four on top form. There isn't a bad performance in the whole film to be fair, Benjamin Bratt is utterly convincing as drug boss Roberto Alcaino and Yul Vazquez is amazing as Javier Ospina, a character a hugely enjoyable and terrifying character. Cranston and Leguizamo appeared before in Brad Furman's The Lincoln Lawyer and it was a huge hit. His follow up, Runner Runner was a bit of a let down, so it is nice to see a return to form, although I would say the The Infiltrator is much better than The Lincoln Lawyer. In fact, I think The Infiltrator deserves to sit beside other great film's in the specific genre such as Serpico, The Departed and even White Heat. The story is always thrilling and never side-steps away from the main story. The characters are amazing, especially given that they are all real but each actor brings their all to the table. Towards the end of the film, Mazur says to Abreu that he loves Bob Musella, the character he's been playing. I felt the same way. Frustratingly overlooked, The Infiltrator is one of the classiest, most exciting and brilliantly acted film in years.