Review of The Insider (1999) by Bilal M — 28 Oct 2008

A brilliant film which focuses on investigative journalism, corporate politics, health issues and character dilemmas. The nucleus of the film is Wigand and Bergman. At the start of the film we are introduced to both characters in separate stories - Bergman in the Middle East and Wigand leaving B&W. Within that twenty minute segment you witness two radically different personalities and styles. Wigand is formal, well groomed, meticulous in his actions and somemone who rigidly adheres to company policy. In contrast, Bergman is a man who - as a result of his profession - is dogged, stubborn, manipulative and more willing to bend the rules in order to get a good story. Yet you never lose sight of the fact that everything that he does is for a good cause - he brings the truth to people's eyes from his stories and documentaries.

From our first introduction to Wigand you do not immediately sympathise with the character - he is no your archetype hero, he is brooding, has a short temper, he has a slight arrogance and dismissive air which probably factored in him losing his job and for the most part he has enjoyed his career with B&W. He was well paid, he had a nice house and the family was happy. What has to be celebrated about Crowe's performance is the portrayal of his characters through the myriad humiliations, both large and small, that assault Wigand from the moment he is fired from his job as an R&D VP for a major tobacco company. The detoriation of his life, from his finances to his marriage to his belief in himself, is explored with the sort of atmospheric detail that is Mann's trademark: the play of light or lack of it; the familiar sights and sounds of everyday life, from the patterns of rain on a windshield to the rush of wind through the trees; and camera work that ranges from tight, out-of-focus shots to sweeping panoramas of razor-sharp clarity...all of this creates an environment of realism that puts you into the film. You can't just observe Wigand's struggle; you experience it with him. Wigand doesn't look like anyone's hero, and perhaps that's actually the message of the movie: an ordinary man--a nobody, really--caught up in extraordinary circumstances. Yet Crowe delivers.

However, we cannot overlook Bergman and the energy brought to the screen by his presence. This is not the typical Al Pacino performance - flashy, mannered, over the top - instead, he is a dogged crusader, a man who is not afraid to get his hands dirty or break the rules. He spends most of the time in contemplation of his next move, makng a phone call, meeting with a friend or contact and if the situation demands it he becomes explosive and volatile to the extent that you feel that he will prevail through the situation. Whatever his nature or behaviour throughout the film, he is the dominating factor.

Wigand may earn your respect but it is Bergman whom you applaud.