Dual Portraits: The Solitary Crusader Against the Corporate Juggernaut

Rating: Null/10 (8 March 2000)

"The Insider" is a docudrama that exposes the ruthless selfishness writ large of the corporations. It consists of two personal portraits of high-ranking insiders, presented in series. First we see the life of Jeffery Wigand, an R&D scientist whose conscience breaks his silence when a compelling opportunity presents itself in the person of Lowell Bergman, producer for "60 Minutes." Wigand knows that the tobacco companies are promoting fatal addiction for profit and Bergman seeks to give him a mainstream forum for his confession. The first man gets personal and professional devastation as payment for his honesty and accountability; the second man gets insuperable disaffection as payment for his courage and integrity.
"The Insider's" assessment of the American (military/industrial complex) dream consists of equals parts of bleakness and bitterness. The stupendous wealth of the western hemispheric corporations empowers it to bestow sumptuous materialist rewards upon its best and brightest. However, in order to remain in right relationship with the corporate system, the best and brightest must relinquish their human birthright in exchange for hearts of stone.