Good/Not Great

Rating: 7/10 (24 June 2000)

ok ok i am not a big fan of reality-based/news-worthy/current event type movies especially those inspired by or brought to you by headline news especially in my life time. and i mean movies like ( and not to be compared with) larry flynt, and howard stern---i've grown up with these people/this news and have read and seen televised coverage of these people/this news over and over and over again. why make a movie about it? ok--in the case of "the insider" i can see getting the underlying message out ( and a powerful message made even more powerful), one that is advertised and discarded with the subtlest ease every time you open a pack of cigarettes. and i can see the exposing of the tobacco companies---this is strong stuff. but this movie was more about the relationship between the 2 main characters, pacino and crowe, and the psychology and ramifications of getting a news story in front of the public, of getting the RIGHT news story---the RIGHT context---the RIGHT message---as seen by the two leads. don't get me wrong---i liked this movie in that regard but i felt the underlying theme of the movie ( david vs goliath/hazards of smoking) was stronger and should have been more center-stage. the acting was superb---crowe was magnificent, and it was so refreshing to see pacino in a strong, good-guy role instead of a stereo-typed pacino role, and the supporting cast was terrific, cudos to plummer as wallace. would liked to have seen a stronger female presence from mazar, gershon, or crouse or someone but hey--i can't have everything. and micheal mann's direction was outstanding---the camera work, choreography, technique was right on cue. the editing towards the end of the movie was a little shakey as far as time lapses go but again, hey . i do have to mention i loved the soundtrack to this movie so much i actually felt a rush to more emotions than were displayed by the actors, i felt lead from scene to scene moreso than needed. but killer background tracks. all in all i give this movie a 7/10. watch it if you haven't seen it on the nightly news.