Review of The Infiltrator (2016) by Steve W — 13 Aug 2016

A great soundtrack and good players doesn't save a mediocre film. Bryan Cranston produces and stars in this thriller about a US customs agent who went deep undercover in order to infiltrate Pablo Escobar's people in 1985.

Too bad the movie never reaches its cinematic heights, and ends up feeling like a TV movie. The tense scenes are always resolved through luck, and one truly great moment (cake scene) doesn't make the movie.

The soundtrack and cast is game, but the story and plot is rather weak. Also keep in mind the movie has two glaring people who are totally into being typecast. Amy Ryan played a CIA boss earlier this year in Central Intelligence, and she's worse as a cliche mean boss exposition lady.

Also being typecast is Benjamin Bratt, who already played a slick smooth talking criminal crime lord in this year's Ride Along 2. Talk about double trouble. John Leguizamo was actually the best part of the film, because Cranston can't quite get into focus since his character is supposed to be Parcheesi playing family man but also sinister crime man too.

The difference is not explored through seasons like in Breaking Bad, so the film feels phony with the occasional burst of violence. The Infiltrator is a missed opportunity.