Review of The Insider (1999) by Martin D — 01 Jan 2009

"Warning: Exposing the Truth May Be Hazardous".

The Insider tells the true story of a man who decided to tell the world what the seven major tobacco companies knew (and concealed) about the dangers of their product. Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe) was a scientist employed in research for a tobacco firm, Brown and Williamson. Not long after he was fired by Brown and Williamson, Wigand came into contact with Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino), a producer for 60 Minutes who worked closely with journalist Mike Wallace (played here by Christopher Plummer). Bergman arranged for Wigand to be interviewed by Wallace for a 60 Minutes expose on the cigarette industry, though Wigand was still bound by a confidentiality agreement not to discuss his employment with the company. Despite Wigand's willingness to talk, CBS pulled his interview from at the last minute after Brown and Williamson threatened a multi-billion dollar lawsuit. The staff of 60 Minutes and CBS News were soon embroiled in an internal struggle over the killing of the story, and Wigand found himself the subject of lawsuits and a smear campaign, without his full story reaching the public.

Review.

It is a rare pleasure to witness on screen a film which not only is enjoyable to watch but will also leave you with a sense of darkness, sorrow and regret. Strong dialogue and even stronger emotions are displayed by Al Pacino's "live on the edge" character Lowell Bergman and Russell Crowe's whistle-blowing Jeffrey Wigand will leave you saddened and hooked whilst the remainder of the cast give the performances of their lives. It's a tale of truth which slowly emerges whilst a character's faith quickly falls. A true masterpiece if ever there was one.