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Cast
Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino)
Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe)
Mike Wallace (Christopher Plummer)
Don Hewitt (Philip Baker Hall)
Richard Shruggs (Colm Feore)
Liane Wigand (Diane Venora)
Directed by Michael Mann Written by Michael Mann and Eric
Roth, based on the "Vanity Fair" article "The Man Who Knew
Too Much" by Marie Brenner Rated R for language Running Time:
158 minutes Distributed by Touchstone
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the Poster!
The
Insider is a great film that is nothing short of a triumph.
The film is based on the true story about tobacco industry
whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand (Crowe) and his relationship
with 60 minutes producer Lowell Bergman (Pacino). The film
is pieced together by Wigand and Bergman's strives to expose
one of the biggest public health issues ever in American history.
Wigand wants to reveal the truth about the practices inside
the tobacco industry, and Bergman wants to air it on 60 minutes.
However, the two character's lives are change by their actions.
The
Insider is a terrific movie that paces itself excellently
from beginning to end. The Insider clicks on all cylinders
and delivers an important story that happen not too long ago.
Michael
Mann and Eric Roth wrote The Insider. The script is very well
written with sharp dialogue. The story does follow the real
incident that happen in 1995 with a whistleblower from the
tobacco industry. Though the content in film has stirred up
controversy with CBS, Mann and Roth very presentably state
at the end of the film that some actual situations were changed
to bring more drama to the story. This was a wise choice by
the two writers because one never wants to start a conflict
due to the content in your story. However, most of the script
is true according to the writer's research. Mann and Roth
very carefully researched this incident, then developed a
very good script. The script just doesn't focus on the outcome
of Wigand and Bergman's actions, it also shows the relationship
that was built between the two and how both of them became
victims of the media. The two writers based their script off
of Marie Brenner's Vanity Fair article about Wigand called,
"The Man Who Knew Too Much". Mann and Roth's names should
be buzzing come Oscar time for best screenplay.
Michael
Mann also graciously directed The Insider. Mann's previous
credits include Manhunter, Last of the Mohicans, and Heat.
In my opinion, Michael Mann is one of the most underrated
directors in Hollywood. The man is flat out talented. He was
also the mind behind creating the Miami Vice series for television
in the 80's. Mann just seems to be so patient with his work.
He doesn't rush into anything or leave a lot of loopholes
by bad sequencing. With The Insider, he presents a real life
story very effectively.
The
acting in The Insider is splendid. Al Pacino's performance
as 60 minutes producer Lowell Bergman is masterful. Pacino
leads the audience through the highs and lows of being a big
shot producer. As Pacino is given more and more obstacles,
his performance becomes more and more memorable. Russell Crowe
is outstanding as the whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand. Crowe
went into great depths with his character. I learned that
Crowe ate many cheeseburgers and drank a lot of bourbon to
gain weight to reflect the appearance of Jeffrey Wigand. Crowe
is so gracious and he leaves the audience feeling very sorry
for Wigand. The whole cast is pretty stable and respectable.
However, the charge is led by a gifted legend, Pacino, and
an up and coming talent, Crowe.
The
Insider is a good film that I believe everybody should see.
Everyone should know the concepts and principles involved
with the media and corruption in America today. I believe
that my statements hit closer to home with me since I am a
media major, and I know that things like this happen all the
time. The Insider reflects a piece of our world that some
people try to shut up and forget about. However, this film
exploits very precisely and powerfully.
Report
Card Grade: A
Beastman's
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