The Informers | |
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Theatrical release poster
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Directed by | Gregor Jordan |
Produced by | Marco Weber |
Written by |
Bret Easton Ellis Nicholas Jarecki |
Based on |
The Informers by Bret Easton Ellis |
Starring |
Billy Bob Thornton Winona Ryder Kim Basinger Mickey Rourke Brad Renfro Amber Heard |
Music by | Christopher Young |
Cinematography | Petra Korner |
Edited by | Robert Brakey |
Distributed by | Senator Entertainment |
Release date
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Running time
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98 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $18 million |
Box office | $382,174 |
The Informers is a 2008 American ensemble Hollywood drama film written by Bret Easton Ellis and Nicholas Jarecki and directed by Gregor Jordan. The film is based on Ellis' 1994 collection of short stories of the same name. The film, which is set amidst the decadence of the early 1980s, depicts an assortment of socially alienated, mainly well-off characters who numb their sense of emptiness with casual sex, alcohol, and drugs. Filming took place in Los Angeles, Uruguay, and Buenos Aires in 2007.
It was the last film for actor Brad Renfro before his death on January 15, 2008, at the age of 25. The film was dedicated to his memory.
An article published by Reuters described the story as "seven stories taking course during a week in the life of movie executives, rock stars, a vampire and other morally challenged characters", set in 1980s Los Angeles. The supernatural content was not to be included in the final film, however.
The movie opens in 1983 at an elegant L.A. party at a mansion. Bruce (Fernando Consagra) wanders away from the party and is killed by a speeding car. After the funeral, his friends Graham, Martin and Tim sit drinking on a fancy hotel patio. Only Raymond is truly devastated and cries bitterly. The friends dismiss Raymond's tears. When Raymond leaves, Graham follows him.
Graham Sloan (Jon Foster) is the son of a rich, estranged couple and drives a Porsche, stays in glamorous hotel rooms, and is a drug dealer. His father William (Billy Bob Thornton) is a movie producer with a pill-addled wife (Kim Basinger). William is having an affair with a local TV anchorwoman, Cheryl Moore (Winona Ryder). His wife, meanwhile, is having sex with her son's friend Martin (Austin Nichols). Graham is aware that his girlfriend Christie (Amber Heard) is cheating on him with a number of men, including his best friend Martin, a bisexual rock video producer. Since Graham and Martin are also sleeping together, Graham appears to be trying to accept the open relationship.