The Infiltrator

Filmmaker Brad Furman's true-story-based espionage thriller follows a law-abiding Everyman who becomes entangled with Pablo Escobar's Medellín drug cartel. Back in 1986, Robert Mazur (Bryan Cranston) was a devoted husband and father, working as a U.S. Customs agent in Tampa, FL. In the opening scene, Mazur is about to make an undercover drug deal in a bowling alley when the microphone strapped to his chest overheats, and the excruciating pain almost blows his cover. Although his injury makes him eligible for paid retirement, Mazur refuses. Determined to make a significant dent in the War on Drugs, he decides to go after the real kingpins who control the massive importation of cocaine into the United States. Calling himself Bob Musella, he poses as a flamboyantly successful money-launderer, cleverly duping Colombian distributors and their corrupt bankers, including suavely scheming Roberto Alcaino (Benjamin Bratt). Tension mounts as an elaborate sting operation takes shape, particularly when Bob's leather briefcase with its cleverly hidden tape recorder unexpectedly pops open at the wrong time. Based on Mazur's 2009 memoir, The Infiltrator features chilling performances from Cranston and John Leguizamo, the latter costarring as Mazur's enigmatic informant/sidekick. Unfortunately, the film ultimately doesn't measure up to far better movies about the international drug trade such as Traffic. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary with director Brad Furman and star Bryan Cranston, deleted scenes (9 min.), behind-the-scenes segments on “How to Infiltrate” (4 min.) and “The Three Bobs” (3 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a so-do drug wars drama.] (S. Granger)