Bryan Cranston just has ‘it’. This now iconic character actor commands attention in whatever role he plays. In Broad Green Picture’s “The Infiltrator,” written by Ellen Brown Furman and directed by her son, Brad Furman, Cranston is first rate. Based on a true story about U.S. Customs agent Robert, “Bob” Mazur, who was the key Federal agent to go undercover and hit the Colombian drug cartel in the 1980’s, with the infamous Pablo Escobar being one of the main targets, and striking them where it hurt most, tracking their money laundering operation and busting it and all the players involved.

Ultimately it didn’t directly take Escobar down, but it did put a major stop to his operation and shut down the less then pristine, BCCI, then the world’s seventh largest privately held bank. Cranston takes us along for the ride of the Operation C-Chase, the federal fight against money laundering and cocaine smuggling, along with the worldwide criminal conspiracy.

Mazur and his loyal partner, Emir Abreu, played by John Leguizamo, who is equal to Cranston’s talent, spent five treacherous years pretending to be financial wizard/fixers who showed that they were able to move money across international lines without the interference of the pesky US government. Ironically they were conning and at the same time earning the confidence of the nefarious drug dealers and the crooked bankers, all the while secretly recording them and gathering mounds of evidence.

The men live a roller coaster ride, living large in order to impress the criminals, while perpetually being put in dangerous and oftentimes life threatening situations. Cranston shows you every step of the way, his love for what he does, how it feeds a part of him that he’s not necessarily accepting of.

Married in real life, and his wife is played sweetly by Juliet Aubrey with two children, Mazur lives a double life by being engaged, which he had to be as he did not want to have sex with a hooker with his druggie pals, so he told them he was engaged. Enter his agent fiancé, a luminous Diane Kruger, who is a “virgin” undercover agent. The chemistry between them is complicated and close, and both are excellent at showing their feelings while navigating their chaste, but intimate relationship. Benjamin Bratt turns in a wonderful performance as Roberto Alcaino, a drug dealer with a heart whom Mazur literally feels guilty betraying. Amy Adams as Mazur’s prickly boss Bonnie and the shining Olympia Dukakis eating up the scenery as Mazur’s fake over the top Auntie, are all terrific as well.

The film is a mixture of the harrowing story of Operation DC and the drama of the real characters and what they went through to do their job. Well worth it to see this fascinating and fast moving tale of a real life crime saga.

The “Infiltrator” opens July 13. Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7_M4hjXW1I

Is the new “Ghostbusters” a terrible movie that no one should see? The fanboys would like you to believe it– they’ve been denouncing Paul Feig’s movie almost since before it was made.

But guess what? The new “Ghostbusters” has a robust 78 on Rotten Tomatoes. It has 50 positive reviews and 14 negative ones.

On Saturday night, Sony-Columbia hosted a red carpet premiere on Hollywood Boulevard at what used to be Grauman’s Chinese Theater. They gave the film its first real show of support after negative stories ran about the movie’s merchandise being sold at clearance prices by Target.

Fact is, “Ghostbusters” is a funny summer hit. I don’t know why Sony didn’t do more for it in New York– given that the movie takes place in Times Square and most of the cast lives here. Very weird.

But “Ghostbusters” may surprise everyone come Friday. It’s not like a single publicist has spoken to me about it, but I’ll tell you go see it and make up your mind. There are plenty of good laughs. And the cameos are all worth it– right til the end of the movie (don’t leave or you’ll miss Sigourney Weaver).

This movie is a nice vindication for producer Amy Pascal, too. She was ousted from Sony last year after the hacking scandal, but it’s her name on the screen in giant letters. She knows how to make movies, ya know. She just isn’t good with email. (This is true of so many powerful women lately!)

Who you gonna call? Not the old Ghostbusters. They’d been trying to work out a new chapter of their series when Harold Ramis died in 2014. I talked to Ivan Reitman a lot about it but then Ramis fell ill, and the rest is history.

Someone had the smart idea for an all-female cast version. Why not? The original “Ghostbusters” wasn’t “The Godfather.” It’s sturdy enough to take this route. A new generation, same song (Ray Parker via Huey Lewis). Paul Feig is very clever. What could go wrong?

I’ll take the stand that the new “Ghostbusters” is a lot of fun. You’re never going to recapture the novelty of the original — even with cameos from all the old stars. The surprise is over. But new productions of old plays are common on stage. There’s nothing so sacrosanct about “Ghostbusters.” Get over it.

The Feig movie basically retells the same story as the original, just updated to 2016. Ghosts are attacking, scientists with weird inventions must combat them. The squad this time is Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones. A Hemsworth is their Annie Potts (I’m never sure which one, but I think it’s Chris. Or Liam.) Andy Garcia and Cecily Strong are New York’s mayor and his aide de camp. Ed Begley and Zach Woods run a haunted house . This isn’t rocket science.

The good news is that the actresses are terrific fun, each enjoyable as heck. McCarthy and Wiig are better known quantities from “Bridesmaids” and their TV shows, and they’re solid as the central ‘straight men’ (comic– not preference). I adore both Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, and they don’t fail to entertain. Neither does Cecily Strong. Lorne Michaels has a current crop of female superstars, and they are all unleashed here.

Hemsworth is very funny and self-deprecating although it might have been more interesting to have Paul Rudd in there instead.

Special effects? This isn’t “Avatar,” They’re fine. I saw the 2D version. “Ghostbusters” is about characters and fun, so it didn’t bother me that the whole thing looks a little cheesy. What bothered me was there was no story. With all these characters, there’s no flirting, no romance, no frisson. One more draft and maybe Wiig and Andy Garcia might have hooked up. Leslie Jones could have had one of her Colin Jost things happening. I was sure Cecily Strong’s mayoral aide and McKinnon’s inspectress gadget would at least wink at each other. But nada. Nothing happens. And so the film never feels like it takes off to a higher plane.

But Harold Ramis gets a lovely nod with a bust-wearing-glasses, and all the old actors roll through (you have to wait til the bitter end to see Sigourney Weaver). Begley and Woods fade away (the latter could have developed a crush on Jones). Dan Aykroyd has a drive by, and Murray has a bewildering cameo that ends nowhere. I really clapped when I saw Annie Potts– she could have been their den mother, the elder lady with all the secrets. (Next time, if there is a next time.)

This “Ghostbusters” also has a lot of product placements, notably H&M (which is the only name on a New York skyscraper) and 7-11. For some reason, when the scenes turn to Times Square, stores that don’t exist anymore like Woolworth’s and Bonds are featured. Was this a retro thing? I couldn’t figure it out. But it does say that I was getting a little bored toward the end so that checking for Easter eggs was on my mind.

Is it fun? Yes. Is it a good summer comedy? Yes. And it’s absolutely worth seeing these ladies go for it. They’re a hoot. So plug your ears to the nay-sayers. Don’t let them slime this film.

Box office conundrum over the weekend. “The Secret Life of Pets” scored over $103 million, $10 million more than estimates. HUGE hit for Universal. Animation box office record for original film.

Live action took many hits. “Mike and Dave” couldn’t scare up dates after Friday night. Their total is $16 million. That’s an airplane comedy. Zac Efron needed a more famous “brother,” I guess.

“Independence Day: Resurgence” still not near $100 mil– just $91 mil.