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The Insider

Crowe plays a fired Tobacco Company employee whose conscience is burdened by a truth about nicotine everybody already knows. The premise of the film makes zero sense but to its credit, the film is consistent in maintaining its level of stupidity all the way through. Crowe's appalling rendition of an emotionally unstable whistle blower is a hate crime of a casting flub. But it's not half as bad as Diane Venora who supplies the ham as the whiny, nonsupporting wife in one of the most grating, amateurish acting performances in a film of this intended caliber. Pacino is excellent with his loud portrayal of 60 minutes producer Lowell Bergman and somehow fits perfectly in this dragging Tinseltownian cliché factory. Michael Mann, after 20 years, is still trying to convince himself that wobbling camera work for every scene is not annoying and distracting but is something adding beneficially to the viewing experience. It most certainly does not.

Before I start, I should declare my bias up front; I have never understood the appeal of smoking. Granted, I didn't grow up during the time when it was made to look cool in the movies, but I don't think it looks glamorous or stylish or any of that. I can understand how some people will drink too much in that many alcoholic beverages actually taste good(I hope no one sees this as an endorsement of alcoholism, because it isn't), but cigarettes don't even taste good; it's just smoke. I've always liked this routine I once heard where a comedian talked about smokers and their attitudes: "Smoking doesn't affect me, I can still exercise," they say. Then you walk up a flight of stairs with them, and all of a sudden they turn into Darth Vader(heavy breathing). Meanwhile, there's Yoda on the railing going, "Stunt your growth, it will." All that is to say I was predisposed to liking THE INSIDER before I even saw it, since it goes after the tobacco industry(anybody who thinks legalized drugs would improve things should consider how the tobacco industry has handled its own legalized drug). But if that was all it did, it wouldn't be a complete movie. Instead, THE INSIDER, and Michael Mann, also make this an indictment of the news industry, which is more concerned with industry than news, and a complex character study of two men. Admittedly, there are a few facts fudged here. The most surprising thing is an omission; I'm not entirely clear on this, but wasn't one of the CBS executives related to someone at Brown & Williamson? Also, while it's not true the movie gives credit to Lowell Bergman(Al Pacino) for manipulating a Wall Street Journal story(he merely gives them the other side of the story they were about to print), it doesn't give the paper enough credit for its own investigation(as Bergman in the movie points out, the Journal is not exactly known for going after big corporations). Still, this is a powerful movie. One thing, as I said before, which makes it powerful is how it also goes after CBS, and in particular CBS News, for caving in to the possibility of a lawsuit(not a lawsuit, just the possibility of one). And while Mike Wallace has criticized the film(though he has retracted that somewhat), the fact of the matter is if he had made a stink about it, CBS might not have caved in so easily. And yet the film doesn't portray him as a bad guy, just someone who doesn't know if he has the fight left in him. And as a character study, of course, it's riveting. Some people think this film is a departure for Mann from his usual crime dramas. But Mann has also made films about flawed heroes(MANHUNTER, THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS), which Jeffrey Wigand certainly is, and like the characters in Mann's more famous films(THIEF, HEAT), Wigand is a man good at his job, but not good at expressing his feelings, and backed into a stand he didn't know he was going to have to take. Russell Crowe has not always played characters with simmering intensity(think of PROOF, THE SUM OF US, or THE QUICK AND THE DEAD), but as L.A. CONFIDENTIAL showed, he's masterful at playing them, and shows it again here. He walks like a man defeated at the beginning, when he's fired, and you can feel the longing he has just for things to be normal again. But you can also see the intelligence and the man who refuses to be pushed around by anybody, whether it be the tobacco company or Bergman. Pacino is also quite good as Bergman, playing not a hero, but someone who also is pushed into a stand he didn't think he'd have to take. Oh yeah, and as usual for a Mann film, this looks incredible. Just as ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN(which this is being compared to) director Alan J. Pakula and cameraman Gordon Willis was able to visualize the creepiness of Watergate, here Mann and his cameraman, Dante Spinotti, emphasize how there's no black and white here by showing the gray areas visually. All in all, this is a great film.

I first wanted to see 'The Insider' because it professed to show the truth behind the lies of the Tobacco Industry. My wife and I saw it and were thoroughly impressed. In fact we've now seen it 5 times (I think, though I may have lost count). If you go to the movies to be entertained mindlessly, do NOT see this movie, you will bored. This movie is for people who like to think, and who like to receive superior presentation of thought provoking material. The Insider has all that. The movie gets you thinking about mankind. The obvious problem with human nature is obvious in this movie. The Tobacco companies knowingly selling addictive product, whilst claiming it is not. And then almost, almost but not quite, getting away with ruining an individual's life, an individual who's conscience was pricked by what they had seen. But then it moves into the CBS drama, where again the hopelessness of mankind in general shines through. The strength of two individuals though manages to win the day, which is what makes this true story so unusual. I found that (contrary to those who complained of the movies length) every scene that Mann has given us has a reason. A good reason. From the opening scenes depicting an evil far from USA. To the hints as to why we didn't hear anything about the drama when it happened, because the OJ murder story and media frenzy drowned out what should be to us all a much more serious matter. For me the crowning moment in the film was when Russell Crowe (as Wigand) was about to dig into a hamburger when behind him on TV a newscaster reported findings about him, bad (though unfounded) findings. Crowe put his knife and fork back down in a way that told us all that he had no more appetite, in fact all the will left in him had been violently thrust away, thrust away by the selfish interests of the Tobacco companies. All in all this is a complete movie that deserved its 7 nominations and should have gotten some awards. The sound was great, as was the camera work. If you love an artistic movie, you will love this one. Crowe is thoroughly believable and has cemented himself as a first rate actor, capable of playing just about any part put his way. Pacino is very well cast, Plummer is a class act, and a host of supporting cast did themselves proud. What we can't forget about this movie, for all its drama, and for the pointed view it gives us of the nature we bear, its a TRUE STORY. Thats what really makes it shocking. And only those driven to the ends of despair and loneliness such as Wigand and Bergmann were, can really truly realise another fact pointed out in the movie, in the end of it all, we are nothing anyway, so what does it all matter? See it!

This is a movie that I was on the fence about seeing, simply because it seemed like just another movie about a whistle blower. It is so much more than that, and it is a movie worth watching time and again because of its complexity. It is about journalistic integrity, corporate greed, good vs. evil, and standing up for what you believe in, no matter what the cost. It pulls no punches about how far the tobacco industry would go to hide the truth from the American public about cigarettes, but it never seems propagandized. Russell Crowe gives a top-notch performance of Everyman scientist Jeffrey Wigand that meets Al Pacino and Christopher Plummer's portrayals of 60 Minutes Hotshots Lowell Bergman and Mike Wallace frame by frame. These three actors have the perfect blend of chemistry and timing, and fit their characters like a glove. They completely inhabit their roles and at times it seems more like a documentary than a fictional story. From beginning to end, it has the kind of edge of your seat tension that keeps one glued to the screen. Despite being a fairly lengthy film, it moves at a quick pace, and is absolutely riveting. The direction is superb, the camera angles are fast and furious, and it is a delight to watch.

source: The Insider

The insider, although wonderful at some parts, in my opinion, is not all it's cracked up to be. Russell Crowe and Al Pacino do give stellar performances, but I found this movie to be extremely slow! To give an example, the scene at the driving range is one of the longest and most unneeded scenes in film history. The entire scene could have been cut in half, at least. As a movie fan, I am all into long shots, but this was ridiculous!!! The story was indeed intriguing, but the way it was presented was nothing that needed to take 2 and a half hours of my time. I believe the actors did well with what they were presented, however, and I cannot state this enough, it was just way too slow and long!!!!

Despite a not-so-dramatic subject matter and its considerable length, the movie keeps your attention all the way, thanks to Russell Crowe's particularly touching performance. He has a surprising depth and sensitivity that makes his role a memorable one. Al Pacino toned down his usually flamboyant acting style into a more quiet, but convincing performance. Their crusade is fascinating to watch, and you'll find yourself totally engaged in the story. Complex issues are being explored, and the moral dilemma that characters are facing in their professional and personal lives makes this movie an excellent, spot-on portrayal of media business and corporate politics. The movie is simply very well acted and directed, and the music is outstanding. "The Insider" is like a breath of fresh air.

This is a true story that took place in the mid-90s (you can tell by the oversized glasses and cell phones, lol) about an executive in the tobacco company that was laid off and told a story about his work in the tobacco industry and how the customers who became addicted to nicotine were lied to. He went on 60 Minutes. Of course he is also threatened, his life is put in jeapordy, and he is stalked. Other complications come up along the way as well. Some of the details of the true story are altered, such as the ages of his children, but these details are very minor. If you liked Erin Brockovich, you will like this!

There are definitely parallels between this movie and 'All the Presidents Men' and it looked to me like the director was trying to produce an ATPM for the new Millenium. Well he failed. The difference is that ATPM was about the Constitution and this movie is about smoking. So it was hard to get excited about it. Michael Mann tried to use some of the tricks he used in 'Heat' - but it just didn't work since the subject was a bespecaled scientist with a PHd. This is another movie (The Green Mile is another) that is *way* too long. On the positive side, the acting is good - even Al Pacino tried to constrain his over-acting tendencies. But overall - pretty boring, too long - and another reason why American Beauty should sweep the Oscars. One other comment - the film was based on a program made in 1994 yet (small) mobile phones, the Internet and e-mail were seen. Sloppy directing.