Russell Crowe gives an outstanding performance!

Rating: Null/10 (12 June 2000)

I was totally amazed by Russell Crowe's performance in this movie. It is one of the best I've seen in years. He plays Jeffrey Weigand, a flawed protagonist, never over-the-top. We can see and feel his pain and fear in almost every way possible, even without regarding his dialogue.
I wish more people saw this film, and I can't believe that Crowe didn't get the Oscar this year over Kevin Spacey, who was also good, but just playing himself (then again, the academy also inexplicably gave best pic to Shakespeare in Love over Saving Private Ryan!)
This movie is a classic underdog film, Mr. Weigand vs. big tobacco, a television corporation, and the establishment. It is perhaps a little too long, especially in the final half hour, but it is an excellent drama, well written and well directed. It succeeds despite its lack of violence and other conventional Hollywood blockbuster gimmicks, however, this is probably why it didn't make as much money at the box office as it deserved. Grade; B+