Riveting!

Rating: 9/10 (26 May 2015)

The main draw for "The Insider" (for me) isn't the whistleblower story that takes center stage, but the "other" one that happens after Russell Crowe has breached his contract and given an interview with 60 Minutes. It's the trials of Pacino's character trying to get the story on the air that really resonate with me. Which isn't to say one half is better than the other - this is an extremely watchable film, start to finish - just that you can almost feel Edward R. Murrow's spirit looming large over the proceedings as the power of the press is (almost) smothered by Big Tobacco.
Either way, this remains one of my favorite Michael Mann films, almost sneakily compelling as it contains no shootouts, hit men or neon atmosphere. But the pacing here is impeccable.
9/10