Review of The Infiltrator (2016) by Jimmy H — 12 Jul 2016

Trying to bust drug pushers and money launderers isn't as easy as it sounds.

A Fed Robert Mazur (Bryan Cranston) who just recently made a bust has been offered a sizable retirement package but turned it down for one last go. He is accompanied by his colleague Emir Abreu (John Leguizamo) and his fake fiancé Kathy Ertz (Diane Kruger) to take down an over seas drug cartel. As he gets deeper and deeper he starts to feel like he's in over his head.

Bryan Cranston was in the zone. He did an authentic, genuine job of playing a Fed who is seemingly in over his head as he tries to take down a drug trafficker.

Diane Kruger does a fantastic job like she usually does. She sometimes just steals the show as the eager agent who is quick on her feet. I mean when you watch her in her character you immediately think that this dude would be dead in the water without her. The performance from everyone was top notch. The pacing and atmosphere that was set kept you on the edge of your seat with every turn that brought the characters closer and closer to not making it home. You come to like all the players and really feel for them as they have to do the hardest of tasks just to stay undercover. So many compromising situations that tested their sanity and virtue. Even the "bad" guys you start to feel for or least one of them. Benjamin Bratt (Robert Alcaino) played a cartel member who feels that he is a victim of circumstance. He expresses that he never wanted to be in this business and wanted to be a chef instead because he loves cooking. They give you a good representation of this man being a genuine God-fearing person who just wants to raise his family in peace while cooking for his friends. Solid performance from Benjamin even though it is all too familiar with the role he played in "Ride Along 2". As a matter a fact Amy Ryan (Bonni Tischler) is in here playing pretty much the same role she played in another Kevin Hart movie, "Central Intelligence". She is the head of another investigation and is the boss of Robert Mazur (Bryan Cranston). Her role was good and well done by her because she is a great actor but it was not as extensive like it was in "Central Intelligence" though it still put you in mind of exactly that.  John Leguizamo is pretty much a chameleon nowadays. He can play practically any role and can blend in with the best of them.  It is so good to see him being taken seriously as an actor and not just a comic. Special shout out to Joseph Gilgun (Dominic) who played a guy being released from jail to be used by Robert (Bryan) to add to his persona of a tough money launderer. Another shout out to my man Jason Isaacs. it was good to see him again. If you looked quick he would look like a thinner Hugh Jackman with that beard he had. .

All in all it was a solid and great movie that is definitely worth a watch. .