The Infiltrator

By: John Delia

Based on a true story, the film The Infiltrator takes the audience into an undercover operation in the late 1980’s that takes on the biggest drug cartel in the world. Nicely directed by Brad Furman with a stellar cast, the film gets down to the nitty gritty of the secret operation that put the major cartel in turmoil.

Working for the feds as a U.S. Customs agent under Bonni Tischler (Amy Ryan), Robert “Bob” Mazur (Bryan Cranston) has had some pretty good scores. But, to really make him happy, he wants the chance at running the tables to bring down the biggest fish in the drug pond. An opportunity pops up when Tischler gets a lead involving the Medellín Drug Cartel in Columbia lead by kingpin Pablo Escobar.

Convincing his boss he can take point on a tip involving Escobar, Mazur feels he’s on track. He takes the name of Bob Musella from a grave stone and enters the ring looking for a taker in a money laundering scheme. When things start to escalate; however, Mazur finds himself, his new partner Emir Abreu (John Leguizamo) and designated fiancée Kathy Ertz (Diane Kruger) locked into a situation that could force them into making the ultimate sacrifice.

Director Brad Furman (The Lincoln Lawyer) blasts out a terrific telling of the true story that set the drug smuggling world on its ear. Leading the audience into the three main characters scene by scene, we get a very good idea of their roles and how they fit into the fast moving script. Inserting a lot of intrigue and some nicely laid twists, Furman entertains with testy scenes putting characters Mazur, Abreu and Ertz on the edge of a cliff that has no rails. Not only is the film compelling, but it is a chance to find out a bit of little known history that contributed to the fall of Pablo Escobar.

Leading the field of stars, Brian Cranston does what he’s most famous for, taking a role and breathes realism into it for the big screen. In The Infiltrator, it’s not just any character, but one of the most riveting federal agents during the 80’s who risked death to bring drug smugglers down. In the film he shows the strong side of Mazur who insists on making the biggest bust ever with exceptional risk, yet there’s a venerable spot that shows his weaknesses as well. Known for his hard hitting roles, he blossomed with the AMC cable series “Breaking Bad” and followed that up with an Oscar nomination for Best Actor as the title character in the drama Trumbo.   Not many performances this year equal Cranston’s and makes him a frontrunner for a possible Oscar nomination.

John Leguizamo plays Emir Abreu, a very scary undercover federal agent working with Mazur. As usual, he puts his heart into the role showing the recklessness of Abreu as he ferrets out those that can take him to meet with the links to Escobar. There’s more than one side to Abreu and at times with his back to the wall you can see fear in his eyes. It is a very strong performance much like his portrayal of the brash Vinny in Summer of Sam.

Looking all cute and demure, Diane Kruger plays the naïve Kathy Ertz the acting fiancée of Bob Musella. She’s oh so soft and cuddly when it comes to dealing with Pablo Escobar’s top Lieutenant Roberto Alcaino (Benjamin Bratt) and his wife Gloria (Elena Anaya), but behind the mask it’s just another day of a sting operation. She’s been getting some juicy roles over the years in movies like Inglourious Basterds, Inhale, Farewell My Queen and the mystery thriller Disorder. Here she may even have a shot at a Golden Globe if this Fall doesn’t become overcrowded with supporting actresses.

The Infiltrator has been rated R by the MPAA for strong violence, language throughout, some sexual content and drug material. The movie was mostly filmed in the Tampa, Florida where the undercover agents in this true story set and carried out the plan.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Very good performances, able direction and cinematography make the film a perfect fit for action drama fans. (B+)