Yet another solid picture from Michael Mann

Rating: Null/10 (25 April 2000)

I saw this film in the comfort of my own home theater so my constitution would be significantly higher than at my local MegaPlex. This is important to note. I have zero complaints, suggestions or criticisms with respect to the length of this film. Mr. Siskel said it best (and I paraphrase..) no good movie is too long, no bad movie is too short.
This is a good film. This is a VERY good film. It tells an engaging story with believable characters who are flawed and wonderfully human in every respect. Characters who allow us to struggle with the age old decision of what is good for the many outweighs what is good for the few, or the one. The twist here is that the character making this decision is the one who will benefit the least from the overall good, which heightens the emotional investment tenfold.
One aspect of storytelling I've always enjoyed is the treatment of the characters as organisms within the story. Characters that evolve as if they were real people, and not just to serve the progression of the plot. I always enjoy it when we see characters think in movies, when the story almost halts, to let us watch the characters make decisions as opposed to acting on decisions in order to meet the needs of the plot.
This film allows the characters to exist in the universe it creates. It takes time to let us see all the characters and get into their heads, so when the climax of the film occurs, we are alongside each character, understanding every action and decision they make.
The Insider tells the story of a man so driven to do the right thing, that it destroys almost everything he's trying to protect. This is not an easy decision for him to make, he is afraid of the consequences (losing his family, his reputation). He is humiliated by his relationship with his former employer. He is angry at being in his current position, and he is betrayed by all those he trusts. Struggling to reconcile all these powerful emotions, Russell Crowe plays Dr. Wigand as a flawed, yet decent man. His flaws are real, and no less human than anyone else's. He is a man of science who feels he has betrayed his profession, made to do so by a corporation who promised him money and a better life for his family.

It could be argued that Dr. Wigand sold out, that he sacrificed the needs of the many to serve the needs of the few (his family) or the one (himself). But as a father, Dr. Wigand had to provide his family with the best medical care he could (as one of his daughters was very ill).
The film begins with Dr. Wigand leaving work for the last time. He has been fired. He realized he could not be a man of science if he ignored the immense responsibility that comes with great power. He realized he must look out for society, for the lives science tries to enhance. This is the backdrop against which we see every struggle Wigand endures to finally end up on "60 Minutes".
I really enjoyed The Insider. It's not a film that is overwhelming to the viewer because it allows the viewer inside the story, as opposed to throwing it at us.
I would recommend this film to all fans of Mann's great visual style and anyone who loves a good story.