Being a true story, it is difficult to really define what is a spoiler or not, but, on the cinematographical point of view, everything that follows is completely spoiler-free.
True stories usually encounter two big issues once they are translated to the screens of our theaters. The writers are often lazy in explaining why a character changes attitude; since the change really happened, they don't feel the need of explaining it too much. Moreover, the fact that the viewer already knows how the story is going to end is often a reason for the lack of tension or, even worse, to make clumsy every attempt to create such tension. Therefore, before we continue with this post, I have to say that movies based on true stories are not my favorite one, generically speaking.
All that being said, The Infiltrator is, by all means, a good movie and most of the credit has to go to another marvelous performance by Bryan Cranston. I'm not usually a big fan of overwhelming performances by actors, but it is difficult to remain indifferent in front of the tridimensionality and the realism that this actor gives to his characters. Therefore, after admitting that true stories are not my favorite stories on screen, it is also time to admit that the ability of the actor is more than enough to make this movie enjoyable. Bryan Cranston's performance is not as good as last year's Trumbo (another true story for which I believe he deserved the Academy Award) but doesn't go too far from that.
However, the ability of the actors is not enough to compensate the transition-problem mentioned before. Although we are not at the low levels of War Dogs (to cite the most recent example AND continue in my self-promotion crusade), where nothing was explained, we are also far away from the high levels of Sully (to cite the most recent example AND continue in my self-promotion crusade), where the transitions in the attitudes of the characters are always well displayed. My guess is that, by trying to communicate the uncertainty and the insecurity of that investigation, the producers ruined from time to time an otherwise perfect flow in the movie. A few transitions are not smooth and they simply do not work on screen.
On the other side, The Infiltrator is a movie that keeps the tension level high every time it is needed. There are many sequences that make you wonder or fear for the protagonists. This is a big win for this kind of movies and worths the price of the ticket by itself. You naturally perceive the danger surrounding the investigation, how incredibly easy is to screw everything up and how close to screwing everything up they actually went.
In conclusion, coming from someone that is not a fan of true stories, not a fan of movies too centered around the ability of an actor, and pretty tired of seeing Pablo Escobar on a screen, this is a very recommended movie, it will completely absorb you into the narration, it has a few good comedy moment and it si definitely a good way of spending your time.
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