The Next Reel Film Podcast The Informant! • Member Bonus
Jan 31, 2026
11:15
“There should be a TV show about a guy who calls home one day and he's there, he answers, he's talking to himself, only he's someone else. He's somehow divided into two, and the second one of him drives away and the rest of the show is about him trying to find the guy.”
Corporate deception spins out of control when an executive's cooperation with the FBI takes unexpected turns. In "The Informant!", Steven Soderbergh directs Matt Damon in a darkly comedic true story that pushes the boundaries of unreliable narration. As a member bonus episode of our True Lies series, we explore how this 2009 film uses innovative voiceover techniques and tonal shifts to keep viewers questioning every revelation.
We dig deep into Soderbergh's careful visual approach to corporate environments, examining how Marvin Hamlisch's playful score creates fascinating tension with the serious subject matter. Damon's against-type performance as Mark Whitacre anchors our discussion of how the film handles complex questions about truth and perspective in whistleblower narratives. The way "The Informant!" balances its comedy with serious themes about mental health and corporate malfeasance makes it a uniquely compelling entry in Soderbergh's experimental period.
We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel—when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
🎬 Watch & Discover
This is a member bonus episode! While we'd love your support, you'll love what membership brings: monthly bonus episodes like this one, ad-free listening, early releases, exclusive Discord channels, and voting rights on future member movies. It truly pays to be a member.
Ready to join? Visit TruStory FM to learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.
Corporate deception spins out of control when an executive's cooperation with the FBI takes unexpected turns. In "The Informant!", Steven Soderbergh directs Matt Damon in a darkly comedic true story that pushes the boundaries of unreliable narration. As a member bonus episode of our True Lies series, we explore how this 2009 film uses innovative voiceover techniques and tonal shifts to keep viewers questioning every revelation.
We dig deep into Soderbergh's careful visual approach to corporate environments, examining how Marvin Hamlisch's playful score creates fascinating tension with the serious subject matter. Damon's against-type performance as Mark Whitacre anchors our discussion of how the film handles complex questions about truth and perspective in whistleblower narratives. The way "The Informant!" balances its comedy with serious themes about mental health and corporate malfeasance makes it a uniquely compelling entry in Soderbergh's experimental period.
We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel—when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
🎬 Watch & Discover
- 🍿 Watch the Film: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
- 📽️ Original Theatrical Trailer
- 📚 Adapted from The Informant: A True Story by Kurt Eichenwald
- The Next Reel
- Our True Lies series
- Our Oceans Franchise series
- Contagion (part of our Disease Films series)
- The Film Board
This is a member bonus episode! While we'd love your support, you'll love what membership brings: monthly bonus episodes like this one, ad-free listening, early releases, exclusive Discord channels, and voting rights on future member movies. It truly pays to be a member.
Ready to join? Visit TruStory FM to learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.