A tense, riveting drama

Rating: Null/10 (24 April 2000)

"The Insider" is highly reminiscent of "All the President's Men" in that it's a tense thriller about uncovering the truth against all odds. Russell Crowe gives a breakthrough performance as Jeffrey Wigand, the recently fired tobacco company scientist who knows too much and is torn between doing what he feels is right and staying safe and alive. Al Pacino is the "60 Minutes" producer who wants him to tell all.
The film was directed by Michael Mann, a filmmaker I'm not entirely familiar with. I know he was responsible for "Miami Vice" in the 1980s, and he directed "Heat" a few years ago, a film that I considered decent but overblown. Here Mann uses techniques that seem borrowed from Oliver Stone and Martin Scorcese to create a wonderful feeling of tension. The score is brilliant, and the cast second-to-none. Pacino tones down his recent penchant for over-acting by turning in a fiery yet intelligent performance. Crowe is sure to be the Next Big Thing, as long as he continues to choose intelligent roles such as this one. Other notable performances include those by Christopher Plummer, Colm Feore, Diane Venora, Phillip Baker Hall and Gina Gershon.
Definitely one of the best, if not THE best film of 1999. Highly recommended.