A "Sorry" to Russell Crowe's "Insider"

Rating: 3/10 (15 April 2001)

The only reason that Russell Crowe received the best actor award at the Oscars is for "Gladiator" is to make up for not giving him the award for his performance in The Insider the year before. A charismatic actor, Russell Crowe was the only reason to watch this overrated movie. I've lost faith in the Academy for their past choices when it comes to their "Best Picture Award". "American Beauty" and "Unforgiven" were the only winners that truly deserved the award.
Though supposedly historically correct, the story does not offer anything to be impressed about. Russell Crowe's character "Maximus" is unbelievably noble (Spaniard with Australian accent?) throughout this 3 hour movie. Even his brutal killings (to prove what point?) are designed to be admired. All the characters are one-dimensional and dialogue is clichèd to the point of being ridiculously fun (not a good thing).
*POSSIBLE SPOILER*A general wins a battle, loses everything (position as general and family) and climbs up the ladder of success to face the evil emperor to a predictable end... Death.
The story is the least of this movie's problems when compared to the battle scenes. The camera moves too quickly and misses it's aim most of the time (horrible, even if it was intentional). This is what you get when you pace the camera for a gunfight instead of a swordfight. Editing is even worse than the cinematography if you examine it closely enough. A scene in which a sword is taken by Maximus from an opponent is unbelievably screwed up. After all of that, we are exposed to a rollercoaster ride in which the rails have loose screws.
Yet, after all it's flaws, majority of the people like this movie. Why? Add it's box-office competition when it was first released with a barrage of more horrible movies plus advertising and promotion plus DVD with special features designed to make people admire it even more plus Russell Crowe with Meg Ryan equals "Movie of the Year". It's difficult to disagree with majority but this is very overrated.