Perfect?

Rating: Null/10 (5 June 2000)

Michael Mann's 'The Insider' is an almost perfect film.
It displays wonderful characters who speak and act like real human beings. This realism is heightened by the lack of prominent music which gives the film the feeling of a live program. The acting is truely top notch. After watching this film I had to re-evaluate my feelings on Kevin Spacey's winning of the best actor academy award. Russel Crowe proves to be an exceptional actor in a very difficult role. Crowe has a brilliant, subtle, style which is reminiscent of DeNiro's early work.
Cinematography: I think I comment on cinematography in almost every movie I see, and perhaps I'm a bit too generous with the praise I give but the camera work and lighting of 'The Insider' are magnificent. Martin Scorsese once said that "Cinema is a matter of what's in the frame and what's out." This is no more apparent than in 'The Insider'. The extreme close-ups, the unsteady hand held shots, the unsettling shadows...Spinotti is a genius.
Lastly I must mention that the film achieves more than artistic brilliance. It gives a clear message about a subject too often ignored. It critiscizes the tobacco companies for lying to America and it also critiscizes the media for being more interested in money than journalistic integrity. Worst of all this whole story is true. This film needs to be seen