The Informer (2019 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Crime thriller film |
The Informer is a 2019 crime thriller helmed by director Andrea Di Stefano with a screenplay by Matt Cook, adapted from the novel Three Seconds authored by Roslund & Hellström. The cast features Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike, Common, Ana de Armas, and Clive Owen in leading roles.
Plot
Peter Koslow, who is released ahead of schedule from incarceration, operates covertly for the FBI inside a Polish criminal syndicate. His mission is to gather incriminating evidence against the crime lord Ryszard "The General" Klimek. During a fentanyl smuggling operation through the Polish consulate, an incident occurs when Koslow’s associate Staszek fatally shoots an undercover agent, prompting the FBI to sever ties with Koslow. Under threat to his family, The General coerces Koslow into returning to prison to oversee the narcotics distribution network.
Within the prison walls, Koslow maintains his informant role but encounters resistance from corrupt officer Slewitt and gang leader Smiley Phelps. When Wilcox, his FBI contact, receives orders to abandon him to conceal the operation’s failure, Koslow clandestinely records conversations to gain leverage. Subsequently, Wilcox betrays Koslow by revealing his informant identity to The General’s lawyer, endangering his family.
After surviving multiple assaults, Koslow takes Slewitt hostage and orchestrates an escape from prison utilizing his special forces training. Detective Grens safeguards Koslow’s family during an attack by Polish gang members. Wilcox exposes corrupt FBI agent Montgomery by capturing his threatening behavior on tape, leading to Montgomery’s arrest. Together, Wilcox and Grens assist in protecting Koslow while corruption investigations unfold, enabling Koslow to remain hidden until he is exonerated.
Cast
- Joel Kinnaman as Peter Koslow
- Rosamund Pike as Erica Wilcox
- Common as Edward Grens
- Clive Owen as Keith Montgomery
- Ana de Armas as Sofia Koslow
- Eugene Lipinski as Ryszard "The General" Klimek
- Joanna Kaczyńska as Beata Klimek
- Edwin De La Renta as Smiley Phelps
- Ruth Bradley as Cat
- Sam Spruell as Slewitt
- Aylam Orian as Andrzej Dziedzic
- Karma Meyer as Anna Koslow
- Mateusz Kościukiewicz as Staszek Cusik
- Peter Parker Mensah as Officer Franklin
- Arturo Castro as Daniel Gomez
- Abdul-Ahad Patel as Vermin
Production
The announcement of the film adaptation of Three Seconds took place at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. Principal photography was conducted in 2017 across locations in the United Kingdom—such as Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, and Gloucester Prison—as well as in Brooklyn, New York.
Release
In September 2017, distribution rights for the United States were acquired by Aviron Pictures, while Warner Bros. secured rights for the United Kingdom. Although initially planned for release in 2018, the film experienced several postponements before its UK premiere on 30 August 2019 and subsequent US release on 6 November 2020.
Redbox Entertainment alongside Vertical Entertainment handled the DVD and Blu-Ray distribution through Redbox kiosks across the US starting on 18 December 2020.
Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating based on multiple reviews, with an average score reflecting mixed opinions. The critics’ consensus suggests that while The Informer functions adequately for audiences seeking a straightforward thriller, it recycles familiar elements found in superior entries of the genre. According to Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100 based on 12 critic reviews, signifying "generally favorable reviews."
Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian rated it 3 out of 5 stars, describing it as "brash and watchable," though better suited for serialized television formats. Tim Robey of The Daily Telegraph awarded it 4 out of 5 stars, labeling it "a clenched fist of a crime thriller" with unexpectedly intelligent aspects reminiscent of films like The Departed or The Town. Guy Lodge writing for Variety characterized it as "a surprisingly well-oiled genre machine" that effectively operates within its boundaries.