Subtle, chilling, and stirring

Rating: Null/10 (9 July 2000)

Mann's fourth picture, The Insider, is even better paced and put together than Heat. Although Lowell Bergman comes out as being a little TOO idealistic,(my colleagues at ABCNews refute Pacino's portrayal,) his rage in response to the suppression of the Wigand story makes perfect sense, given the devotion Bergman put into securing the trust of his source. As for Crowe- this guy is right up there with Daniel Day-Lewis right now in terms of his range and conviction. In going from L.A. Confidential to The Insider and then Gladiator, Crowe shows a huge range of acting ability. The supporting cast does their job wonderfully, especially Plummer as Mike Wallace. However, the biggest star of the film, after Crowe and Pacino, is the cinematography.
Dante Spinotti captured America's natural grandeur and sensual beauty in Last of the Mohicans. Here, he likewise effortlessly brings us into claustrophobic, numb, and disorienting realms of suburban and corporate America- (I'm no longer sure Conrad Hall deserved best cinematographer at the Oscars.) The music is an odd choice, filling a story of American greed, corruption, and crumbling ideals with what sounds like tribal and spiritual music from the East. But it ultimately works! What I most like about the Insider is that it refuses to dumb down its script, images, or characters. Mann respects the minds of his audience, unlike Alan Ball's script for American Beauty. The Insider is an intelligently made film that demands your attention and rewards it.