Drawn-out and unsatisfying like a bad cigarette

Rating: 4/10 (7 February 2012)

Considering the huge dramatic potential of this story, one wonders how the director could have made it any more boring. Instead of plot or character development we are subjected to endless meandering sequences, often accompanied by soporific 'wailing woman' music. Much of it looks like a pop video and not a very good one. Then blam, a sudden melodramatic scene with Pacino and Crowe shouting at each other. The film is about 3 hours but seems MUCH longer. Anyone making such a film about a similar subject in 1950 would have made it in 90 minutes tops and the film would have been tighter and better for it.
As it is, the film vacillates between this ambling (and very undramatic) style with scenes of manufactured conflict. There is nothing in between. Clearly the director was keen to make a 'great' and 'important' film, but Michael Mann is no Kubrik and cannot sustain his rambling camera-work. The final scene with Pacino walking out the door of CBS, summed up the pretentious ambitions of the film. Pointlessly subjected to slowing down and speeding up it was the final piece of self indulgence in a highly indulgent film.
The inherently interesting subject matter attracted a large cast of fine actors. Pacino is always watchable and Plummer puts in a good turn. Crowe is competent if uninspiring in his role. The script, like everything could have done with a good deal of editing. There is also a lazy reference to @all the presidents' men' near the end, a much tauter and better film.