On the surface, Lionsgate's Confidential Informant looks like it has all the potential to be the sleeper hit of the summer. Sold as a gritty crime thriller starring Mel Gibson, Dominic Purcell, Nick Stahl, and Kate Bosworth, it has the necessary stars and genre intrigue to be something special. Unfortunately, the film handcuffs itself to its worst habits and never fulfills its promise.
Directed and written by Michael Oblowitz, Michael Kaycheck, and Brooke Nasser, Confidential Informant follows two narcotics detectives Tom Moran (Purcell) and Michael Thornton (Stahl). After Moran receives troubling news about his declining health, he and Thornton -- along with their informant Carlos (Erik Valdez) -- hatch a scheme to ensure Moran's wife, Anna (Bosworth), and son collect benefits and are looked after. It might look like a foolproof plan, but it doesn't go off exactly as they anticipate, and many people are left with questions about what really happened.
Oblowitz brings a strong noir element to the production. From the framed shots to the self-revelatory voice-overs and even the color grading that lends to the sobering vibe of the story, the influences are laid bare for the audience to see. What is surprising, though, is the lack of consistency in committing to this vision. It almost feels as if the edit removed scenes that should have had these aspects in place -- which also exposes yet another serious issue: pacing. The film tends to be a slow burn -- like most crime thrillers -- but it accelerates past its emotional beats, leaving no pause for the audience conflicted to feel anything for these characters or situation.
The jerky pacing and clumsy editing remove cohesion from the story as well, as there are noticeable leaps in logic that don't make sense when watching the film. Characters behave in odd manners then do a 180 without any rhyme or reason. Without going too deep into spoiler territory, there's a scene toward the end of the film where Thornton has a conversation with William Learner (Russell Richardson) who has had it out for him from the get-go and spills everything. The whole setup is awkward and disingenuous, making a viewer wonder what has been shaved off that could add context to this discussion.
While the final cut of Confidential Informant is inconsistent, the same cannot be said about the performances. The actors work with what they have and deliver strong characterizations. Purcell makes the audience feel and understand his predicament, while Stahl is equally believable as his conflicted partner and friend. Even though he isn't the lead here, Mel Gibson as Lieutenant Kevin Hickey commands the screen whenever he appears. Puffing on a cigarette and bending the rules whenever he deems necessary, he's the prototype of every jaded authority figure from 90s movies. However, Gibson plays the part with such steely vigor and determination that it's hard to not get riveted by him.
Despite the cast's best efforts and the noir gloss on display, Confidential Informant surrenders to lackluster editing, flawed logic, and the clichés. It's frustrating because there are good moments to appreciate in this film, but they soon devolve into mediocrity. Maybe there's a better version of this out there somewhere -- it's just not here.