A very mature piece of work

Rating: Null/10 (22 January 2003)

'Ordinary people under extraordinary pressure' is how veteran "60 minutes" producer Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino) describes tobacco industry whistle-blower Jeff Wigand (Russell Crowe) and his wife (Diane Venora). And this sums up the riveting storyline perfectly. As Wigand toils with death threats from his former employers, Crowe's ability to convey the threat to his very humanity, his determination to do the right thing and stay a nice guy is first-rate. Pacino's loyal news-man is the perfect foil, establishing himself as Wigand's equivalent in the world of mass media: the film is, in fact, about two insiders, struggling to maintain justice in the face of corporate power. It's fascinating stuff to watch and Mann's camerawork and choice of soundtrack are hypnotic.