The Insider Review

The Insider (1999) is directed by Michael Mann and stars Al Pacino and Russell Crowe. This is a big departure for Mann since most of his movies are full of guns and bank heists. This is also a different sort of role for Pacino, who plays a producer for 60 Minutes.

The premise is that Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe), a tobacco company scientist is fired from his job. Al Pacino's character convinces Wigand to give up company secrets even though Wigand signed a confidentiality agreement. What ensues is a downward spiral for Wigand.

The movie isn't really about the tobacco companies but more about the relationship between a reporter and its source. What makes this movie work is the inner conflict that Wigand has. He believes that he should tell the world what he knows but at the same time he doesn't want to put his family in jeopardy.

I liked this movie a lot actually. Let me warn you first that its a very long one at 157 minutes. If you can't sit through movies this long you can always just split it
into two sittings. If you are a fan of Michael Mann then I highly recommend it for the superb acting.




8/10