Jon Monsarrat review: disappointing, low-key

Rating: 8/10 (13 April 2002)

I'm an action movie guy and I like thrillers. Plus, in tune with the culture in Massachusetts, USA, where smoking was banned in workplaces earlier than most regions, I was looking forward to enjoying "The Insider", which sticks it to the evil cigarette industry.
However, "The Insider" is based on a true story, which means that the script writers are not at liberty to spice up the plot. They can't, for example, throw in an extra car chase whenever they like.
So the film sort-of bored me. The acting by can't-fail actors Al Pacino and Russell Crowe was great, but this wasn't "The Firm", and lives weren't really at stake here. Without giving away the plot, mostly it's a legal battle where Al Pacino (the journalist) has to convince Russell Crowe (the Insider) to endanger his career.
OK, he might endanger his career. So what? That's worth a movie? That's bravery? I know, I know, the film is really about Pacino's character as the protagonist, not Crowe's, but it still didn't work for me and I found it a little boring.
Who should see this film:
-- Arty film types, you'll probably appreciate more than I did
-- Anti-smoking types who can't help themselves
-- Action / thriller movie buffs, but only on a rainy day
when you've got nothing better to do, and only if you don't
need stuff to blow up constantly to enjoy a film
I give "The Insider" a disappointing 5 out of 10. Rent "Wag the Dog", or "The Contender", or "Erin Brockovich" instead.