The Infiltrator
Film
Review
by Kam Williams
Cranston
Plays Crafty Undercover Agent in Fact-Based Drama
Pablo
Escobar (1949-1993) was an infamous mobster who ran Colombia's
Medellin drug cartel with an iron fist. During his reign, Escobar
controlled about 80% of the global cocaine market, and raked in about
$70 million/day.
To maintain
his power, the ruthless kingpin had his henchmen assassinate
thousands of adversaries, including policemen, politicians,
witnesses, judges and journalists. So, the idea of infiltrating the
ranks of such a vicious operation at its height in the Eighties was
certainly a very serious undertaking.
But the
risks didn't deter ambitious U.S. Customs Agent Robert Mazur (Bryan
Cranston), despite the fact that he had a wife (Juliet Aubrey) and a
couple of kids (Lara Decaro and Niall Hayes) to worry about. After
assuring his spouse, that this would be his last assignment before
retirement, he adopted the alias Bob Musella pretending to be a shady
Tampa businessman willing to turn crooks' ill-gotten gains into
Florida real estate.
He
executed this daring sting with the assistance of two agents. One was
Kathy Ertz (Diane Kruger), a novice asked to pose as his fiancee on
her first undercover case. The other was Emir Abreu (John Leguizamo),
his grudgingly-accepted new partner with less polish than street
smarts.
It's not
long before the intrepid trio is swept into a seedy underworld where
they have a close brush with death seemingly at every turn. However,
by proving themselves capable and trustworthy money launderers, they
gradually work their way up the Medellin cartel food chain to the
point where they gain the confidence of Roberto Alcaino (Benjamin
Bratt), Escobar's Miami-based right-hand man.
Next thing
you know, Bob and Kathy find themselves befriended by Roberto Alcaino
(Benjamin Bratt) and his wife, Gloria (Elena Anaya). They are
regularly invited over for dinner to the flamboyant Alcainos'
sprawling mansion with a view, though the host also intermittently
delivers subtle reminders of the gruesome fate which awaits snitches
and traitors.
Thus
unfolds The Infiltrator, a riveting, cat-and-mouse thriller directed
by Brad Furman (The Lincoln Lawyer). Adapted by Furman's mom Ellen
from Mazur's memoir of the same name, the film stars Bryan Cranston
in a role custom-made for the gifted thespian. For, he manages to
ratchet up the tension by imbuing his conflicted character with a
convincing combination of arrogance and existential dread.
Expect
sweaty palms as the pressure mounts, since your apprehension
skyrockets when watching monsters who'd murder at the drop of a hat.
Excellent (4
stars)
Rated R for pervasive profanity,
graphic violence, drug use and some sexuality
In English and Spanish with
subtitles
Running time: 127 minutes
Distributor: Broad Green Pictures
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