Do the big guys always win? Is the fight worth it?

Rating: Null/10 (11 June 2001)

Michael Mann exceeds himself. He leaves behind the fast pace of Heat and shows a careful attention to detail. This film is all about reading between the lines. From beginning to end we are watching what people are not saying instead of what they are saying.
The story briefly; Sampson and Goliath but, without the frilly morality many American films cling to so slavishly. Dr Jeffrey Wigand (Crowe) is a research scientist for a large Tobacco company. He threatens the company policy of always keep the public in the dark and he is sacked for knowing too much. Wigand struggles with his conscience. Does he keep his severance package (which includes a Healthcare plan for his family. His eldest daughter, ironically is asthmatic!)and become a company stooge? Or does he stand up, in isolation to warn the country of what is kept from them?
This struggle is finally decided when he is pushed too far by anonymous threats against him and his family. He turns whistle blower, with the help of Lowell Bergman (Pacino), 60second producer who cleverly lures Wigand into the bag whilst retaining his journalistic integrity.
The crescendo of twists and turns leads us through Wigand`s angst and Bergman`s questioning of ethics. The ending is not what you may expect. There`s no parties or champagne. Instead our two leading characters come out both winners and losers.
Look out for the scene where Wigand is alone in his hotel room and Bergman tries to contact him via the hotel manager and a "cell phone". This scene is engaging and the diversity in the music used is beautiful. It captures a few seconds of true humanity.
The fact that this is based on true events adds so much punch to the film it`s easy to forget we`re being entertained. It also gives us an insight into how the whistleblowers of our age are subject to massive smear campaigns. How would our lives stand up to the scrutiny of a media microscope?
If you`re expecting the kind of pace in Heat you`ll get it after the introductions. If your`e expecting a Mann action extravaganza go rent The Die Hard Trilogy or something. If you want a thinking man`s action flick rent LA Heat and Heat. If however you think you can handle the truth try this one. Be warned it may challenge your grey matter, unlike the formaluaic, good will out American Pie concept you may have.