Location: Nevada
"The Informer"
Directed by Abel Ferrara
Written by Jimmy Santiago Baca
Based on the novel "The Informer" by Liam O'Flaherty
Cinematography by Matthew Libatique
Edited by Roberto Silvi
Art Direction by Dante Ferretti
Music by Joe Delia
Produced by Brian Grazer
Main Cast
Javier Bardem - Gypo
Benicio Del Toro - Commadante Guillermo
Rudy Youngblood - Frankie Felipe
Rosanna DeSota - Mrs. Felipe
Laura Harring - Maria Felipe
Samantha Ives - Katrina
Kirk Acevedo - Bartolo
Jesse Borrega - Pedro
Edward James Olmos - "Judge" Fernandez
Scott Glenn - U.S. Army Officer
Tagline: "Dropped the dime for a nickel, now he's a rat on the run"
Synopsis: The year is 2016, and the United States occupies most of the northern half of Mexico. Because of the influx in drugs, illegal immigration, and the ultimate collapse in the Mexican government to control it's crumbling society and drug lords, the United States President deemed it necessary to invade and neutralize it's borders for good. Mexican uprising groups are formed to take back their land and freedom, most notably the MRA (Mexican Republican Army), inspired by the Irish Republican Army of Ireland.
On the 100th anniversary of Ireland's Easter Rising, MRA foot soldiers, the brute and slow-witted Gypo (Javier Bardem) and the anxious-intelligent Frankie (Rudy Youngblood) assassinate a high ranking U.S. officer (Scott Glenn). Frankie has been ID'd by authorities and is on the run while Gypo flees undetected. A handsome reward is promised to anybody with information leading to Frankie's arrest. Unfortunately, Gypo arrives home to find his girlfriend, Katrina (Samantha Ives) turning tricks as a prostitute for American soldiers. Enraged and without many options to keep his girlfriend off the streets, Gypo drops the dime on Frankie, but comes to find his reward is not so handsome. Gypo, in his tattered garb and cheap reward is now on the run from the group he had sworn allegiance to. He comes to find Frankie's mother (Rosanna DeSota) uncontrollably distraught, while Frankie's sister, Maria (Laura Harring) strikes Gypo with immense guilt when she informs him of Frankie's suicide upon apprehension from the military. He's only got a few places left to hide and nobody else to turn to. Hot on his trail is his old friend and MRA Commadante, Daniel Guillermo (Benicio Del Toro). A compassionate but determined hard-nosed leader who draws upon influence from legendary IRA leader, Michael Collins. Now he must keep his two trigger-happy assassins, Bartolo (Kirk Acevedo) and Pedro (Jesse Borrego) at bay. With the apathetic head of the MRA "Judge" Fernandez (Edward James Olmos) undermining Guillermo at every turn, he must bring the informer to justice or watch Gypo suffer under the hands of his unforgiving comrades. Gypo, was once his toughest foot soldier, but is now way past redemption, drowning his guilt and sorrow in the bottle. A battle of wit versus brawn in the midst of honor and friendship, Commandante Guillermo knows what he has to do, but can he?
What the Press would say:
Director Abel Ferrara's modern adaptation of the classic novel, "The Informer" marks a refreshing conflict of Man vs. Man and Man vs. Himself. In the real world there is no black and white, there are shades of gray. Ferrara, director of such acclaimed films as "The Bad Lieutenant" and "The King of New York", known for the brutal honesty of his characters who often fight within themselves, trying to hold onto their last piece of faith, he brings not one, but two souls into the forefront, Commadante Guillermo and Gypo. Two completely contrasting figures who represent the same fight within themselves. Latino heavyweights Javier Bardem and Benicio Del Toro take on these roles with such vulnerability, that your stomach drops as if you were in their shoes. Bardem's Gypo is a ship that's sinking. We see a transformation from a thick-headed massive thug, and into a sincere, yet tragic being. While Del Toro's Commadante Guillermo, a no non-sense leader, begins a spiraling downfall, as he struggles with the job of having to save or kill a friend. Guillermo represents us, the viewer and how we perceive Gypo's unforgivable actions, but as we see him deteriorate, our compassion grows as well as Guillermo's. As the catalyst to Gypo's fate lies Mrs. Felipe, played with such grace by the undeniable Rosanna DeSota. By forgiving Gypo for causing her son's death, she unleashes a pain inside him that will carry with him forever. While DeSota's pushes Gypo to the brink of self-destruction, Edward James Olmos' magnificent portrayal of "Judge" Fernandez, who is out for blood, pushing Bardem's Gypo into a survivor's state of mind, leaving him in limbo. Ferrara has created a world in the future, yet not so distant, and all too familiar. We leave "The Informer" thinking days past what we would have done under such intense circumstances. A triumphant and bold undertaking, "The Informer" hits every mark as a truly thought-provoking masterpiece.
Best Picture
Best Director - Abel Ferrara
Best Actor - Javier Bardem
Best Actor - Benicio Del Toro
Best Supporting Actor - Edward James Olmos
Best Supporting Actress - Rosanna DeSota
Best Adapted Screenplay - Jimmy Santiago Baca
Best Score - Joe Delia
Best Cinematography - Matthew Libatique
Best Editing - Roberto Silvi
Best Art Direction - Dante Ferretti
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