The Infiltrator

A fantastic drug theme and a story where even the most authoritative of the authoritative wander in – the stuff of epic, or at least worthwhile, cinema. It's therefore a great shame that The Infiltrator looks more like a proud representative of a direct-to-DVD-movie that only die-hard genre fans will rent rather than a first-rate blockbuster. With a better layout, a more refined, epic execution, and a sharper pace, I'm sure it would have been a lot more fun. A bit better than the mess Black Mass was, but with very similar ingredients and flaws. (15.10.2016)

A maturely delivered spy story that doesn't bore thanks to the excellent rhythm of the narrative, yet it completely fails to emphasize and exploit the personal line and achieve a stronger emotional response in the finale as a result. The characters of the wife and Diane Kruger and their relationship with the protagonist are not fleshed out as the otherwise psychologically attuned script would require, and Furman thus delivers essentially just a very good and suspenseful conversational drama, spiced up with a few deaths and surprising moments (Cranston freaking out in a restaurant in front of his terrified wife is unforgettable). But it's good that these old-fashioned genre flicks are still being made, they're more believable and likeable than all the action attractions combined. (11.12.2017)

Bryan Cranston once again proves what a great actor he is and how he can impress with his skills. At first, I didn't believe in his character at all, but as the story progressed a bit, everything changed. He's clearly the star, but he doesn't necessarily draw attention to himself; he's a star for the story, which unfortunately ends up feeling a bit ordinary towards the end. (04.10.2016)