The Informers (2008) - Star-studded Ellis adaptation B.O. disaster

♥♥♥

 

A sensual sculptural reproduction of a woman's face makes up this star-studded poster for Gregor Jordan's The Informers

We follow a wealth of Los Angeles characters in the 1980s: A young group of friends following the death of one from their circle in a traffic accident. And issues of abuse, sex, infidelity, lies and superficiality.

The Informers is written by Nicholas Jarecki (The Outsider (2005)) and Bret Easton Ellis (The Arrangement (2019, short)), adapting Ellis' same-titled 1994 short story collection, and directed by Gregor Jordan (Two Hands (1999)).

We are in what is, - for the initiated, - familiar Ellis territory here, though what unifies these characters remains hazy. SPOILER The final beach-set, AIDS-themed scene doesn't really register according to plan, because the characters remain somewhat anonymous and one-sided.

The performances are good, with Chris Isaak (A Dirty Shame (2004)) and Kim Basinger (Cool World (1992)) worth highlighting. Ellis' panache and affection for the 80s also help make The Informers enjoyable.

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 17-18 mil. $ (different reports)

Box office: 384k $

= Box office disaster (returned 0.02 times its cost)

[The Informers premiered in October (Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival) and runs 98 minutes. Jarecki was set to direct, but the producers replaced him and had extreme violence and vampire elements taken out of the script. Shooting took place from October - December 2007 in California, including in Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Argentina and in Uruguay. 25 year-old co-star Brad Renfro (The Jacket (2005)) died of an overdose before the film's release. The film opened #21 to a 300k $ (78.1 % of the total gross) first and only weekend in North America in 482 theaters. It was pulled after just 3 days and only saw tiny releases in 3 other markets, each netting just shy of 30k $: Portugal, the UK and Russia. Senator's US distribution company went bankrupt as a result of the film's failure. Ellis distanced himself from the film, saying that it didn't work but that it was not his fault. Roger Ebert gave it a 2.5/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Jordan returned with Unthinkable (2010). Billy Bob Thornton (Fargo (2014-17)) returned in The Smell of Success (2009); Basinger in Charlie St. Cloud (2010). The Informers is rotten at 12 % with a 3.80/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

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