Riveting

Rating: 10/10 (19 March 2000)

Michael Mann's The Insider is a well done drama that looks into whistle blowers and the truth. The film isn't fast paced or electric, but the way it is put together gets my attention. The acting, the directing, the photography and the atmosphere bring this film to a fine touch (not to mention 7 Oscar noms).
Based on a true story, the film circles on a scientist (played great in an Oscar nominated role by Russel Crowe) who is fired from his job at a tobacco company and a persuasive TV producer (played well by Al Pacino) wants him to tell on his news show 60 Minutes about what effects smoking does to your body.
What the film shows is a startling trip in 2 parts- 1: scientist Jeffrey Wigand's trouble with being a whistle blower (he wound up losing everything, but gaining everything); 2: producer Lowell Bergam's struggle to get Wigand's testimony on 60 Minutes without being sued. And it is well done. Not the best films of the year because of a few flaws, but it is a definite winner. A+