Scott Bakula Joins The Informant With Soderbergh, Damon and Ziggy Source: Variety
Scott Bakula, still best known for his starring role in Quantum Leap despite all he's done since, has bagged the second leading role in The Informant, opposite Matt Damon in the lead and with Steven Soderbergh directing.
The (based-on-a-true) story casts Bakula as FBI agent Brian Shepherd, who attempts to bring down a hugely powerful corporation that's guilty of widespread, highly illegal price fixing on a worldwide basis. His star witness is biochemist Mark Whitacre (Damon) - but the problem is that Whitacre's highly manipulative, unstable and deceitful, putting Shepherd's career on the line as the case becomes increasingly complex.
It's all based on the non-fiction book by Kurt Eichenwald, a New York Times journalist who reported on the scandal as it broke in the mid-1990s. Scott Z. Burns, who previously worked on The Bourne Ultimatum script, has written the adaptation.
For our money, Bakula's good casting for a clean-cut - indeed crew-cut - FBI agent, and it's about time he did something that's a little more of a chance to stretch. And with Soderbergh and Damon reuniting for a non-Ocean's film, this is looking more interesting by the day.
Incidentally, it's arguable that the sign of a sci-fi geek is the level of affection they have for Scott Bakula. If you show them his picture and someone asks, "Wasn't he the gay neighbour in American Beauty?" then you know that that person doesn't know a tricorder from a tricorn. If they recite the entire opening monologue of Quantum Leap and follow that by singing the theme to Enterprise, then you can safely reveal your geekish tendencies without fear of reprisal. Although, dude, no one wants to see your authentic recreation of his Star Trek uniform.
lot of love for Scott here I see, not just me that's a fan of his then, always thought it was a shame he never got more decent roles in movies. This is good because it's not a role in something shit like Scary movie 17 it's something that sounds interesting, worthy and with Director like Soderbergh and co star Damon it's going to bring out his best I hope. Enterprise was the only Star Trek I watched with any interest to be honest solely down to Scott. ... Read More
L: Dirty Hartigan
L: britesparc
L: Helen OHara
He should've been Qui Gon.
Sorry, I can't go that far. I may be a Jar Jar Apologist, but even I know that Liam Neeson is the best thing in the prequel trilogy.
He should have been a member of the Council, though. Or at least he could have flown the Queen about or something.
Had they not got that other doyen of late 80s US TV, Jimmy the Smits, Bakula would've made a good Bail Organa I think.
sp;
Maybe he go... Read More
L: britesparc
L: Helen OHara
He should've been Qui Gon.
Sorry, I can't go that far. I may be a Jar Jar Apologist, but even I know that Liam Neeson is the best thing in the prequel trilogy.
He should have been a member of the Council, though. Or at least he could have flown the Queen about or something.
Had they not got that other doyen of late 80s US TV, Jimmy the Smits, Bakula would've made a good Bail Organa I think. ... Read More
L: Helen OHara
He should've been Qui Gon.
sp;
Sorry, I can't go that far. I may be a Jar Jar Apologist, but even I know that Liam Neeson is the best thing in the prequel trilogy.
He should have been a member of the Council, though. Or at least he could have flown the Queen about or something. ... Read More
He should've been Qui Gon.
For some reason, it's a verbal tick - half the time I say Wars when I mean Trek. It's getting annoying. I may need therapy. ... Read More
L: Helen OHara
L: britesparc
Surely most people are more familiar with Quantum Leap than American Beauty? Everyone I know is, for certain. I guess the REAL measure of a geek is that they're far more excited about Bakula being in a film than Damon ;-) Also, not to be nit-picky, but wasn't he in Star Trek, not Star Wars? Or is that an April Fool gag?
Er, yes. It totally was. 100% deliberate, yes sirree! hangs head in shame. Why do I always DO that?)
sp;
It's okay, it's not li... Read More
L: britesparc
Surely most people are more familiar with Quantum Leap than American Beauty? Everyone I know is, for certain. I guess the REAL measure of a geek is that they're far more excited about Bakula being in a film than Damon ;-) Also, not to be nit-picky, but wasn't he in Star Trek, not Star Wars? Or is that an April Fool gag?
sp;
Er, yes. It totally was. 100% deliberate, yes sirree! hangs head in shame. Why do I always DO that?) ... Read More
Too right. He's a cracking actor and should get more movie roles. Lets hope, like Morgan Freeman and Pete Postlethwaite, now he's in his later years it could prove to be a very productive movie period for him. ... Read More
