Steven Soderbergh and Matt Damon usually only have their names intertwined when “Ocean’s 11, 12 and 13” are mentioned, but the duo is joining forces in “The Informant!,” due in theaters on October 9, 2009. By the looks of it, Damon is channeling his inner Russell “The Insider” Crowe, going for the old hair, moustache and heavier build.

The movie is described as a “dark comedy thriller” and the story revolves around one of the largest price-fixing schemes and cases in history. Damon plays Mark Whitacre, an executive with Archer Daniels Midland, a large agricultural company that makes additives for various food types and food industries. Damon helps the FBI collect evidence on the price fixing, all the while dealing with bi-polar disorder and breaking the law himself.

My initial reaction to the trailer is positive – I think the movie will be engaging and I think Damon’s performance, if I was a betting man, will garner him an Oscar nod.