Infamy lasts a little longer

Rating: 8/10 (15 February 2000)

One of the phrases uttered by one of Michael Manns characters in this fine depiction of a whistleblower within the tobacco industry, Jeffrey Wigand played by "kiwi-born, aussie-raised" actor Russell Crowe. In the beginning its not a difficult story to grasp. The good and bad guys are pretty much defined early on. The tobacco conglomerates are the bad guys of course. Even the smokers would agree with that. One day Wigand decides to divulge some of his former employers more questionable production practises to the media. Here the media is represented in the form of hard driving '60 minutes' producer Lowell Bergman, played by Al Pacino. Everything goes well until one day journalistic ethics clash with corporate priorities, then its all on. Enough said.
What to me could have been a boring 165-minute docudrama turns into a gripping story as it delves into ethics in the press and the angst and moral dilemmas which sometimes occupies our top news staff. Some would say not enough angst. The performances are exceptional and the principals, Pacino and Crowe have received worthy mention but some of the supporting cast also give of fine studied portrayals of their characters who are people still living. Gina Gershon deserves credit as an icy corporate lawyer, and Christopher Plummer as 'Mike Wallace' gets it down pat. The arrogance, the humbleness is all there. Mike Wallace also gets all the best lines. But although his character comes out flawed in places to me that showed him as more human, not the brusque interviewer we see on TV, and consequently more likeable. Not my pick for Best Picture this year but a worthy candidate to stand beside the top five. Bravo.