Product: The Insider [VHS] (1999)
Rating: 5.0
THE INSIDER ILLUSTRATES HOW 1 PERSON CAN STILL MAKE A HUGE POSITIVE DIFFERENCE
A TRUE STORY THAT'S STILL TOUCHING LIVES TODAY & FOR THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE TOOThe Insider tells the true story of how Jeffrey Wigand [played by Russell Crowe] told the world what the major tobacco companies knew and concealed about the dangers posed to consumers by their cigarettes. The Insider is presented with tangible class and with an appropriately heavy docudrama feel. In my opinion, "The Insider" is director Michael Mann's best film to date and was nominated for seven Academy awards. Excellent acting by Pacino, Crowe and Plummer.YES - THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY FOR BEING A WHISTLEBLOWER & IT COMES IN MANY THANKLESS FORMS!!!!!The film's setting is saturated with an eerie and believable atmosphere of paranoia. The sinking feeling that the unseen enemy [the tobacco company] will be coming from somewhere seems to be both infectious and believable throughout the film. The price Wigand pays for his integrity is dear and continues to this day. His personal loss rivals the tobacco company's but unlike them he consciously decided to do the "right thing" regardless of that cost. Amplifying the significance of Wigand's whistle blowing decision, where in effect 1 man [Jeffrey Wigand] does stand up completely alone against the threats of big tobacco, CBS "Corporate" caves in to the tobacco company's lawsuit threats. After taping the interview CBS corporate hits the chicken switch over airing Mike Wallace's interview with Wigands much as the tobacco company had hoped the wistleblower would have. This subplot through analogy clearly demonstrates the power of one ordinary man against a powerful corrupt system and clearly illustrates how 1 person can still make a big difference. Jeffrey Wigand standing up to be counted did make a difference in this case. A HUGE DIFFERENCE!YES - -1 PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE: A BIG DIFFERENCE HERE!On a smaller scale the filmakers' effort here is another example of how 1 man can make a difference though the risk is far smaller. Interestingly, though the film was nominated for 7 academy awards it came away with none. I guess Whistleblowing for a just cause will still have to be its own reward.* -- * ABRIDGED LIST OF THE CAST * -- *Al Pacino - Lowell BergmanRussell Crowe - Jeffrey WigandChristopher Plummer - Mike WallaceDiane Venora - Liane WigandPhilip Baker Hall - Don HewittLindsay Crouse - Sharon TillerDebi Mazar - Debbie De LucaStephen Tobolowsky - Eric KlusterColm Feore - Richard ScruggsBruce McGill - Ron MotleyRip Torn - John ScanlonLynne Thigpen - Mrs. WilliamsNestor Serrano - FBI Agent RobertsonPete Hamill - N.Y. Times ReporterMichael Moore - Michael Moore* -- * ABRIDGED BUT EXTENSIVE LIST OF [MUCH AWARDED] PRODUCTION CREW * -- *Michael Mann - Director / Producer / ScreenwriterPieter Jan Brugge - ProducerMarie Brenner - Short Story AuthorEric Roth - ScreenwriterDante Spinotti - CinematographerPieter Bourke - Composer (Music Score)Lisa Gerrard - Composer (Music Score)Graeme Revell - Composer (Music Score)William C. Goldenberg - EditorDavid Rosenbloom - EditorPaul Rubell - EditorBrian Morris - Production DesignerAvi Avivi - Art DirectorJohn Kasarda - Art DirectorMarjorie Stone McShirley - Supervising Art DirectorJames Tocci - Art DirectorMichael Waxman - Co-producer / First Assistant DirectorGusmano Cesaretti - Associate ProducerKathleen M. Shea - Associate ProducerLynn Christopher - Set DesignerNancy Haigh - Set DesignerKelly Hannafin - Set DesignerBeth Kushnick - Set DesignerChris Spellman - Set DesignerDarrell L. Wight - Set DesignerAnna Sheppard - Costume DesignerDoug Hemphill - Sound/Sound DesignerAndy Nelson - Sound/Sound DesignerLee Orloff - Sound/Sound DesignerBonnie Timmerman - CastingGregg Baxter - Sound EditorGregory King - Sound Editor* -- * ABRIDGED LIST OF MAJOR AWARDS & NOMINATIONS * -- *Best Actor (nom) Russell Crowe 1999 AcademyBest Adapted Screenplay (nom) Eric Roth 1999 AcademyBest Adapted Screenplay (nom) Michael Mann 1999 AcademyBest Cinematography (nom) Dante Spinotti 1999 AcademyBest Director (nom) Michael Mann 1999 AcademyBest Editing (nom) David Rosenbloom 1999 AcademyBest Editing (nom) William C. Goldenberg 1999 AcademyBest Editing (nom) Paul Rubell 1999 AcademyBest Picture (nom) 1999 AcademyBest Sound (nom) Doug Hemphill 1999 AcademyBest Sound (nom) Lee Orloff 1999 AcademyBest Sound (nom) Andy Nelson 1999 AcademyBest Cinematography (nom) Dante Spinotti 1999 American Society of CinematographersBest Actor (nom) Russell Crowe 1999 British Academy AwardsBest Actor (win) Russell Crowe 1999 Broadcast Film Critics AssociationBest Director- Feature Film (nom) Michael Mann 1999 Directors Guild of AmericaBest Actor (Drama) (nom) Russell Crowe 1999 Golden GlobeBest Director (nom) Michael Mann 1999 Golden GlobeBest Film (Drama) (nom) 1999 Golden GlobeBest Original Score (nom) Lisa Gerrard 1999 Golden GlobeBest Original Score (nom) Pieter Bourke 1999 Golden GlobeBest Screenplay (nom) Eric Roth 1999 Golden GlobeBest Screenplay (nom) Michael Mann 1999 Golden GlobeABOUT THE DVD :Excellent sound and video but very short of features. 7 minute featurette is very inadequate for this type of film!!!MY TAKE ON "THE INSIDER" - -Terrific film that sadly has not attracted as much attention from moviegoers as it deserves. Pacino, Crowe and Plummer really do justice to this excellent example of a Michael Mann film.