Product: The Insider [VHS] (1999)
Rating: 4.0
a gripping drama which comes unravelled
Michael Mann's THE INSIDER is a gripping drama. It involves Al Pacino as Bergman, a producer for the CBS news show 60 Minutes; this producer contacts Jeff Wigand (played by Russell Crowe) to help him decipher some tobacco company documents. Bergman soon realizes that Wigand has much more to say. As former head of research for a major USA tobacco company, Wigand knows that executives perjured themselves before Congress when they testified that nicotine was not addictive.The movie concerns Bergman's battle to get Wigand to testify, as well as the unravelling of Wigand's family after death threats are made on them. Later, Wigand testifies, but CBS' corporate office "encourages" CBS News to run a version of the show without a Wigand interview."The Insider" of the title is surely Wigand, but it could also easily refer to Bergman, as the man inside the news industry who made this all happen.Michael Mann's directing is expert, and the drama is exciting throughout, until the last 20 minutes or so. The story begins to unravel, and the movie doesn't end as tightly as it should. Still, this excellent film was nominated for several Oscars, and it is well worth your time. Both Pacino and Russell Crowe turn in excellent performances, and Gina Gershon shines in a supporting role. Christopher Plummer is awesome and terrifying as Mike Wallace-- that's the portrayal I will never forget.Four stars