The Infiltrator (2016)

Awards
- 1 nomination

Trivia
Remarkably cool-headed during most of the undercover mission, Evelyn Mazur, the wife of Robert Mazur, admitted she did encounter one sticking point when it came to her husband's alternate identity. "The most challenging part of the whole case, to be honest, was the idea of Bob having a fiancé and planning a wedding. For me, that was like time-out." Robert Mazur recalled: "Ev ultimately came to the decision that it would be better for me just to go and stay in deep cover. I could come home when I finished the job and at that point we'd determine whether or not we still had a life together." Mr. and Mrs. Mazur survived the rigors of Operation C-Chase and three decades later remain a happily married couple.

Goofs
Barry Seal was assassinated by Cartel assassins in Baton Rouge in 1986. At the time he was a DEA informant and was never part of Operation C-Chase which was a US Customs operation run out of Tampa.

Quotes
Robert Mazur: Roberto, I am glad you are here. But there is a part of me that wishes you hadn't taken that risk.
Roberto Alcaino: Without family or friends what kinda world it is be. There will be no reason to be alive. Hmm? It's a good day.

Crazy credits
At the end of the film, there are summaries of subsequent events, as well as that of various principals' fates, alongside photos of both the actors portraying them and the real people. This is followed by the credits proper, accompanied by evidentiary photos.

Connections
Featured in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Bryan Cranston/Kate McKinnon/The Julie Ruin/Thomas Lang (2016)

Soundtracks
Tom Sawyer
Written by Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee, Neil Peart & Pye Dubois
Performed by Rush
Courtesy of Anthem Records/Ole & Island Def Jam Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Operations Ltd, Anthem Records/Ole & Ole Core Music Publishing
(c) 1981 Ole Core Music Publishing (SESAC/SOCAN)
All rights reserved, used by permission
Administered by Ole

There are many reasons to like The Infiltrator. It takes place in the '80s, it's suspenseful, and it gives us a really gritty inside look at what life is like for a good guy who goes undercover to work with the Colombian drug cartel.

Which is what Bryan Cranston's character does. He's a guy on the verge of retirement and could easily leave to spend time with his wife and kids, but takes this one last job. And it proves to be the toughest one yet as he poses as a money launderer to try and take down Pablo Escobar's entire drug trafficking network.

It takes place in the Reagan-'80s and so there's this whole overt camera filter over the whole film. It's not too distracting, but it's also not terribly necessary. But it's minor.

The whole thing plays out as one giant sting operation. And the filmmakers understand that in a 2 hour movie, you don't need to run through all the details in one quick dialogue-filled scene. However, it would've been nice if they had given us a little more along the way.

It starts unraveling a little over an hour in. There's about a 30 minute stretch where you're looking at the person sitting next to you saying, "What's happening?" There's a lot left unexplained, but I guess there was more concern about the movie not becoming any longer.

The film is long at 127 minutes, but it's never really an issue. We need the time to process what's happening and for Cranston's character to evolve over the course of the film.

It tightens back up in the home stretch, culminating in an emotionally impressive final scene.

The always-under-appreciated John Leguizamo plays Cranston's partner and does a very good and believable job.

There seems to be this slightly neglected theme intermittently placed throughout the film about the American economy collapsing without laundered money. It's an interesting idea and one that should have been touched upon way more.

Twizard Rating: 80