Two NYPD cops find themselves in potential hot water in this action-drama from Michael Oblowitz.

In 1990s New York City, detectives Mike Thorton and Tom Moran have been hunting down a cop killer within the crack epidemic that has plagued the city. With a reliable informant in Carlos, the two have been successful in taking down various drug houses. When their superior, Hickey, wants to know who the informant is, they repeatedly tell him it is a “confidential informant”. Hickey fears one day they may slip up and trouble will ensue.

Moran learns he has cancer, and he is now worried more about his wife Anna and son than his own health. He decides to hatch a plan to ensure Anna and his son will get benefits as they will collect them if he is killed in the line of duty. Carlos and Mike help Tom in this time of need. However, when something goes wrong along the way, Internal Affairs detective William Learner plans to get down to the bottom of things using a no-nonsense approach to things. Will Mike and Tom be able to figure a way out before it’s too late?

Based on true events from the mindset of co-writer Michael Kaycheck (a former NYPD officer in the 1990s), filmmaker Michael Oblowitz has come up with a neo-noir like tale with a 1990s authenticity to it. From the look of New York to the soundtrack, from Cypress Hill’s DJ Muggs, this movie will make you feel as if you are in the area with its tone. The film feels like a Scorsese film on an indie budget because it feels like you’re watching a smaller scale film from the legendary filmmaker.

The performances of the film are definitely a driving force of the film. While Mel Gibson is relegated to a more extended cameo as the police captain Hickey, the focus of the film is on Mike and Tom, respectively played by Nick Stahl and Dominic Purcell. It is great to see Purcell once again playing a flawed good guy role as opposed to his repertoire as a villain actor. To see him suffering from cancer and worrying about his family shows that he will go by any means necessary to ensure they are well off.

As for Stahl, it is great to see him return to a good guy role after some great villain turns in films like Bully and The Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson. Let’s not forget this film reunites Stahl and Gibson, who were in the 1993 drama The Man Without a Face and the two when together, show the chemistry is still there.

Kate Bosworth is excellent as Anna, Tom’s wife who is not just there for her husband but sees Mike as a “brother” willing to help the family. It is this structure that is the heart of the film along with Erik Valdez’s Carlos, the titular “confidential informant” who has grown to bond quite well with the two he is willing to help in a time of need. Finally, there’s Russell Richardson as Learner, the no-nonsense Internal Affairs detective getting to the bottom of things when the plan involving Tom doesn’t go as well as they hope. He can be seen as the “antagonist” in a way as he comes off as ruthless at times.

Confidential Informant is a really well-made action-drama that is well-balanced with a Scorsese-like tone with a 1990s NYC feel to things. Nick Stahl and Dominic Purcell’s brotherly bond is the heart of the film with Mel Gibson making the most of his screen time as does Kate Bosworth. It is definitely the indie equivalent of a Scorsese film.

WFG RATING: A-

Lionsgate and Grindhouse Entertainment presents a Red Sea Media production in association with Buffalo 8 Productions and BondIt Media Capital. Director: Michael Oblowitz. Producers: Daniel Cummings, Sean Patrick O’Reilly, and Michael Oblowitz. Writers: Michael Oblowitz, Mike Kaycheck, and Brooke Nasser. Cinematography:  Editing: Robert A. Ferretti.

Cast: Nick Stahl, Dominic Purcell, Kate Bosworth, Erik Valdez, Russell Richardson, Mel Gibson.

The film hits VOD and Digital June 27 and in select theaters on June 30.