Product: The Insider [VHS] (1999)
Rating: 5.0
Powerful film that asks some startling questions we do well to find the answers to...
If `Gladiator' is responsible for introducing me to the one we know as Russell Crowe then `The Insider' is responsible for cementing in my psyche the fact that he is capable of just about anything (on screen that is). `The Insider' is a far cry from `Gladiator', that's for sure, but Russell Crowe's performance is just as if not even more powerful than his Oscar winning portrayal of General Maximus. `The Insider' is a dramatic look at the world of politics, in both that of big business and journalism and it does a fantastic job of establishing a view we all can share, letting each and every one of us see for ourselves the good, the bad and the ugly side of it all. Michael Mann delivers an edge of your seat thriller that is not your conventional thriller. I feel the need to say that because if you walk into this film expecting to see something flashy and, for lack of a better word, `commanding' (in a purely Hollywood, Blockbuster sense of the word) then you will be sorely disappointed. If you walk into this film expecting to see a drama that will force you to think and comprehend what you are witnessing then by all means, sit back and enjoy.`The Insider' recounts the true story (at least for the most part it's true) of `60 Minutes' insider Jeffrey Wigand, a former tobacco executive who breaks his contractual agreements and feeds information, confidential information, to `60 Minutes' producer Lowell Bergman. This causes major problems for Wigand and it affects him drastically, causing problems within his family, his marriage but also within the pit of his soul. Wigand is tortured by his decisions for they present him a moral dilemma that he can't quite ascertain the correct answer to. As Wigand struggles with his own demons Bergman becomes increasingly insistent and this presents Bergman with his own morality questions that he must decipher himself.Mann's direction creates a sense of tension, of uneasiness that manifests itself brilliantly within certain sequences of the film. When Wigand is at the driving range for instance the viewer finds himself at the edge of his seat, hair standing on end, holding his breath until the scene is over and all is well. Mann just has a masterful way of unnerving his audience, unraveling the surroundings of his film in such a way that we are left speechless (check out `Collateral' as well for the same effect). The script, written by Mann and Eric Wroth (based on the article by Marie Brenner entitled `The Man Who Knew Too Much') also helps in this regard for it fleshes out the characters so well we become entangled in their plights and emotionally invest ourselves in their situation.The biggest asset to this film though is the incredible cast, Crowe especially (so I'll get to him last). Al Pacino has faltered quite a bit in recent years, never really delivering quite like he used to, but here he manages to muster up his flare of yesteryear and deliver a top notch and commanding performance. Christopher Plummer is also very well used as Mike Wallace. His performance is very well grounded and memorable. Diane Venora doesn't have a lot to do here but lend support to Crowe and she does a fine job at that. Certain scenes really flesh out her performance, especially the scene when she finds a message on her computer. Philip Baker Hall is always a delight to watch and his contribution to this film does not go unnoticed.That brings us to Crowe, an actor of whom I have no shame in admitting my unfailing devotion and utter admiration. As Jeffrey Wigand, Crowe does what we look for in a performance...he loses himself in his character. This is something I've always admired about Crowe's work but I don't feel that any performance of his to date comes close to the power behind that of Jeffrey Wigand. This performance is probably my favorite interpretation of a real person in recent years, maybe ever. What makes this such a commanding performance is that Crowe didn't have a gimmick to work with here; he just had a story to tell. Jeffrey Wigand wasn't eccentric, he didn't have a disability...he was just an average person. So what I mean to say here is that what Crowe did with Wigand is much more difficult that, say what Hoffman did with Truman Capote or what Jamie Foxx did with Ray Charles. There is no `mimicry' here; there is no legend to channel. This is just flawless acting.Crowe does so much acting with his face it becomes impossible not to get lost in his stare. The ways his eyes seem to lose all their valiant energy expertly depict his almost hopeless state as the film progresses. We can read every emotion, from confusion to fear, misery and dread to that devastating feeling of loss and regret that flood his eyes as he watches his world unwind. I love Kevin Spacey, and I love his performance in `American Beauty' but there's no doubt in my mind that Russell Crowe gave the performance of the year in 1999.`The Insider' is a film that will mesmerize and entertain you, make you think and maybe even make you worry but in the end it will make you realize that not all decisions are easy ones to make and not all questions, especially of the moral kind, have a right or wrong answer. Sometimes we are left to find our own `right' answer and just pray that it doesn't destroy us in the end.