Loading ...Movie Review - The Insider
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1999 / 158 Minutes / R
Reviewed by Jason Jones
Every now and again we all watch movies for some reason that is unbeknownst to us. You know the ones. The ones you go into thinking: “Why am I doing this? I could be watching “Eyes Wide Shut” again instead.” For me, “The Insider” was one of those movies.
This was a film that I had little,or no, desire to see in the theater. In retrospect, I think I felt this way due to being bludgeoned to death by the film’s trailer for months on end. All that aside. This past Tuesday when the film was released on DVD, I was there to pick it up. I guess the effects of the trailer had worn off by this time. And, even though we can collectively agree that the Academy’s heads aren’t screwed on straight, I figured it got nominated for seven Academy Awards……So why not? Even the Academy gets things right every now and then. This just so happens to be one of those times.
“The Insider” delves into the world of “Big Tobacco” and it’s effects on one man, and one nation.
Jeffrey Wigand, played masterfully by Russell Crowe, gets fired from his job as at a large tobacco company. He is then contacted by Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino) of CBS news, after a package of “insider” information on “Big Tobacco” arrives at his house. Wigand is then coerced by Bergman, while his former company tries to keep his mouth shut with the confidentiality agreement he signed.
After he receives death threats, and has had his personal life crumble around him. Wigand decides to hit “Big Tobacco” where it hurts: network television. What follows is an interview with Mike Wallace (Christopher Plummer), that has the potential to land a crushing blow to the tobacco industry.
The problem is, that “Big Tobacco” doesn’t want the proverbial whistle blown on their operations. So they start a smear campaign on Wigand and strongarm CBS into altering the piece in order to avoid a lawsuit. The piece is altered after all, but Bergman, jump ship, in fear of what might happen. By this time, Wigand’s life is in pieces, but Bergman continues to defend him against heavy opposition to the very end.
I was so amazed when watching this film. It is for lack of a better word…..Flawless. I cannot name one bad performance. You actually believe that Crowe is Wigand, and Pacino is Bergman. Personally, I would have to say that Pacino is the best I have ever seen him, in the role of Lowell Bergman. Another top-notch performance that has been overlooked by many, is that of Christopher Plummer as Mike Wallace. Normally I would look at him and think: “Hey! It’s the guy from “Dragnet”.” But not this time. Not once during the film did that thought cross my mind. He is Mike Wallace, in much the same way that George C. Scott was Patton.
Those performances aside, I have to say that Russell Crowe is simply amazing as the “whistle-blower” Jeffrey Wigand. Here he makes his performance in “L.A. Confidential”, look Seagal-like in comparison. He plays a man who loses everything, in order to do what’s right. A role that has been done before, but usually not very well. Crowe is the exception to the rule, as he goes through these ordeals he totally immerses the viewer in his role.
I would love to cite certain scenes that are symbolic of his overall performance, but his performance is so “perfect” that it would seem improper to single out any one, or two, particular moments that define his role. Personally, I think he was robbed of an Oscar. I campaigned for Spacey all year, and was happy that he won, but having seen “The Insider,” I now realize that I was backing the wrong horse.
Out of the five nominees for best picture this past year, “The Insider” is the pick of the litter without question. If you have not seen this film yet, you are making the same mistake that I did. I rectified my mistake. I hope you will choose to rectify yours.
