Winner - Most Overated film of the year

Rating: 4/10 (31 March 2000)

I was really disappointed by this film. It features lots of one dimensional characters, another tired variation on the standard hollywood corporate/government paranoid conspiracy plot, and a highly over rated performance from Russell Crowe as "The Insider". What really bothered me the most though was the performance of Al Pacino. This is a guy who gave what I consider to be the two of the best performances of any actor in my lifetime. I am talking about the Godfather I&2. His other early performances in Serpico, Scarface, etc.. though not up to the Godfather standard, rank right up there. Several times during the Insider I kept thinking to myself, is this the same guy??? I had the same thoughts while viewing his other recent film in which he played a football coach. That film was so bad, I can't even remember the title. One part I will remember most about this film is the portrayal of Mike Wallace. It was a hoot! If you have not seen the film, Christopher Plummer acts as if he is playing Mike Wallace on Saturday Night Live. It is a totally
tongue in cheek funny send up (I really don't think Mike could be that much of a buffoon in real life). I could see why Mike was so mad about the characterization. Hats off to Christopher Plummer for providing some comic relief to an otherwise boring film.