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Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmm. Not only an old hit by C + C Music Factory, but also a good response to the news a few years ago about CBS’ 60 Minutes newsmagazine pulling a story on Big Tobacco. Well, according to The Insider, there sure were reasons to make you go hmmmm. The story begins back in 1995 when tobacco company Brown & Williamson fired vice president Dr. Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe, L.A. Confidential), the head of their research department, for a variety of issues. As part of his severance package, Wigand had to sign a corporate confidentiality agreement not to disclose company secrets. Wigand does so mainly because he needs to keep health coverage for his eldest daughter Deborah (Renee Olstead) who has severe asthma. Soon, 60 Minutes producer Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino, The Devil's Advocate) comes calling after he receives a boxful of confidential Phillip Morris documents that Bergman needs Wigand to translate for him. These documents were sent anonymously and pertain to smoking safety, but only in regards to cigarettes starting fires. Bergman eventually is able to meet with Wigand, and Wigand agrees to do the consulting work necessary. Upon doing this, Bergman discovers that Wigand has an even juicy story to tell about the tobacco industry, but then runs into the problems of getting Wigand to become a whistle blower and discovers an unforeseen issue with getting CBS to air the story. The rest of the story deals with several issues. First is the destruction of Wigand’s life as he knew it as he goes from highly paid corporate researcher with a wife (Diane Venora, True Crime) and two kids, to a high school chemistry teacher living alone in a hotel room. Secondly, the film goes into the details of why CBS decided to initially not air the segment as originally intended. Also, we see the backdoor legal maneuvering that went on by both Brown & Williamson and 60 Minutes that relates to the story. And finally, we see the damage that is done to Bergman, 60 Minutes, CBS, and in effect the media in general as a result of this series of events. The Insider is based on an article by Marie Brenner, that was then translated to the big screen by Eric Roth. Some others in this Michael Mann directed film (he last directed Heat) are Christopher Plummer doing an excellent job as Mike Wallace, Philip Baker Hall (Rush Hour) as the senior 60 Minutes producer, Debi Mazar as Bergman’s assistant, Stephen Tobolowsky, Colm Feore, Rip Torn, Michael Gambon, Bruce McGill, Gina Gershon, Paul Butler, and finally Cliff Curtis (Three Kings) as a Sheikh. Not only is The Insider a compelling and interesting story, but it is also based on reality. Plus Pacino and Crowe put in great performances along with the aforementioned Plummer. Then there is the cinematography. Normally you wouldn’t mention this about a film, but the shots are so good and they represent the story perfectly, so you have to recognize the outstanding job that Dante Spinotti did with this film. The only thing that the film could have used was a little more comic relief, much like Pacino was able to provide to the sad story in Scent of a Woman. So when it is all said and done, I give the film nine couches out of ten. Goodnight.
Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:45:57 AM Click Here to get back into frames.
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