Informant

The force of Darby's personality -- a rich stew of righteousness, arrogance and self-delusion -- gives the doc a psychological appeal independent of politics.

Among other things, this powerfully confused man is a study in American extremity.

What makes Informant so effective is that while its focus is on Darby, the story has a larger scope.

It creates a useful distance between Brandon Darby and his stories that allow for us to assess them individually, reinforcing the film's suggestion that the truth is elusive.

What emerges is a vague, often chilling impression of an unpredictable opportunist and provocateur who may not even be sure himself.

Mr. Meltzer doesn’t quite find an effective tone or structure to stay on top of his unsettling person of interest.

Meanwhile, there’s a potentially fascinating theme imbedded in Darby’s story that goes largely unexplored: the idea that modern protest is little more than theater, and that the participants on both sides are just actors playing roles.