Field Trip

This past Wednesday night was a field trip for today's Austin Friday and NE joined me on this mission to gather information on The Informers.

And where would you go for best information, a seat of higher learning of course, and there is no seat higher (or at least they seem to think that) than Harvard University. So just off Harvard Square, we went to check out The Informers at the Loews Harvard Square just us and 4 other people ( hey private screening with stadium seating) and here is our virtual coffee talk follow up.

NE: I really liked The Informers, because I was starting to have sympathy for the characters - it was like a character study.

SK: I liked what I saw but I kept thinking did I miss the beginning ? Wait we've been here since the previews. It just seemed like they chopped the start off. I felt like I got dropped into a movie that already started. I don't think they really gave a back story to anyone. I was missing the 90 minutes they cut five minutes in. And I realize now that a lot of the Austin stuff from the original trailer is in that 90 minutes.
So what did you like?

Especially Brad Renfro's character, and Kim's character. As you say, it seemed like there should have been more, and I read a little bit about the book of stories by BEE and some of the stories seemed slightly different, like the Mickey Rourke/Brad Renfro story. BEE did co-write the screenplay tho. I think it would make a very interesting read. Mickey was beautiful, and a great actor; he really becomes a character, but in this case his character was a absolute horror! Brad Renfro's character seemed to have been abused as a child, and he seemed to be used to using his body as currency, as I thought was implied when he wanted a part in a film. :(

I think was interesting about both Brad's character and Kim's characters, is that they had moments of moral conviction, and someone had to in the movie. BEE did co-write the movie, but I think with the way Gregor Jordan filmed it and edited it that it became Gregor's Informers not Bret's. Mickey's character skeeved me out big time.


The ossified rock star who only seemed to come to life when he was walking out onto the stage, or when he missed his son. Kim Bassinger's fragile mother and wife who gained strength to leave her husband. Only in LA would the kids not want there parents to get back together, but I think we can see why. Billy-Bob Thornton's husband and father's very contained feelings, and living in such an artificial world.

It was totally artificial, it reminds you of an 80's video. It reminds of what the band says to Martin when they are shooting the video, to paraphase, it doesn't have to make sense its a video. The Kim, Billy Bob and Winona storyline just reminded me of people who are not only fragile but almost brittle like they could snap at any moment. You're right about only in LA would kids not want to get their parent back together. And Winona, you think it was way too many espressos, or what? Cause man was she twitchy. And she made Nancy Reagan look fat, I mean most in the movie was that LA 80's thin, but man, she had them all beat. I'm glad she and Billy Bob didn't have a love scene, cause that would have been disturbing and dangerous with all those sharp angles.

Interesting point about Brian Metro. Have to say though the concert of the Greek, well that brought back some concert memories.

What did you think about the others?

Graham/Kristie/and Martin and friends - all young, jaded, rich and beautiful, drugged and sexed out indolence, wanting for nothing, feeling nothing, not even when a mutual friend dies, all but one barely able to work up enough feeling to mourn. Thinking they were invincible. Until Graham starts to care about Kristie, to his surprise. Martin was beautiful but rather soulless, becoming anything that anyone desired, living from place to place.


Couldn't put it any better. My one thought during the more was, "Man, Martin is an equal opportunity slut." You could see why everyone wanted Martin he was beautiful the description in the Washington Post of him as a "like Rubens's cherub as hallucinated by Elton John" is a perfect.

But was Laura (Kim's character) convicted by morals or just crazy to say no to Martin as he perched on top completely naked. See that's what made it a movie, cause in reality who would do that? ; )

I liked the story about Chris Isaak's character and his son - trying to bridge the distance between them, and failing. There seemed to be more to this story.

So it wasn't just me that thought that. It was almost as if he was trying too much to be the stud, when he was trying to pick up the in the bar. And who picks up women with their 20 -something year old son? Then he was checking out guys on the beach in Hawaii, and then mentioned later that the guys were checking out his son. (Again ewww) You don't know what the reason the divorce was so bitter, is it somewhere in the magic missing minutes?



Lots of interesting stories to tell. I loved the opening sequence with New Gold Dream by Simple Minds, perfect song, and I Ran by Flock of Seagulls, and some of the cinematography. But whether it was out of focus or grainy by design, I don't know! I forgot to watch for the soundtrack in the credits! The Hollywood sign's white letters all defaced by grafitti, when the rest of us see it as unmarred. The beautiful LA lights, and the ugly urban sprawl. The beach scene at the end when Kristie was dying, and the fly landed on her, as if she were already dead.

The opening was good and captured the feeling of an 80's video. But yeah some of the stuff looked out of focused, one point I looked like Austin's ears were doubled. I like your mention of the Hollywood sign and the graffiti, and the LA lights and urban scrawl, Christie on the beach was is Jordan's visual cue to tell you that appearances are not always the reality.

I had heard so many mixed reviews that I wasn't sure what to expect. I think it wasn't that bad, and had a lot of potential. I think Austin is maturing as an actor.

No it wasn't as bad as some of the review made it out to be. And I think Austin had one of the stronger performance in it, as did Brad Renfro.

But you know what? It's gonna make an awesome drinking game. Times Martin sleeps with someone drink, Christie topless drink, Christie sleeping with someone else drink, Martin in bed with a guy take a shot, threesomes - take a shot, someone lights up drink, Raybans take a drink, Flash of a Rolex take a drink, Members only jacket a shot, Topsiders take a shot, Billy Idol mention take a shot.

You know what it need a least one joke or something - ok, I am admit I did laugh out loud when they played Pat Benatar's Running with Shadows of the Night at the funeral but I don't think you really were supposed to.
Excuse me, Martin is that a bolo or a broach?