Product: The Insider [VHS] (1999)
Rating: 4.0
Over-long, But Good Non-Fiction
This movie was interesting right from the beginning. I love stories based on fact, so I was ready to get into it. I did, but I have to confess that towards the end I was wishing it would end already. And I hate to have those thoughts watching a movie.Russell Crowe deserved an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Jeffrey Wigand. The tension and quiet, dignified torment he conveyed was palpable. I began to worry about him. Would he commit suicide or not? I felt sorry for him, but I also wondered if it was worth it. Personally, I don't consider tobacco companies the biggest evil in the world. If someone wants to smoke and risk their health, I think it is their own business. Tobacco companies don't force anyone to start smoking. They don't force anyone to keep smoking. Sure, cigarettes with their ingredients can be addictive, but so is sugar. Want to talk about a real problem in this country? Obesity is a problem.Christopher Plummer was also great as Mike Wallace. I thought he had the mannerisms down very well. Al Pacino (Lowell Bergman) has always been a good actor himself. I saw a comparison to "All The President's Men" with this movie. The only time it reminded me of "All The President's Men" was when Al Pacino meets the New York Times (?) reporter at night to exchange information.One thing that got on my nerves was the music. I only noticed it half-way through and at the end. It was a voice singing notes, with no words. It reminded me of an old Saturday Night Live skit where this guy is going crazy with the same kind of voice. He hunts down the voice and its a woman in a room singing like she's insane. I could have done without that effect.Overall, its a well made, intense movie. Just alittle too long.