A muckraking movie with the power to enthrall, amuse and irritate in equal measure, Michael Mann’s The Insider focuses on the real-life story of a whistleblower in the tobacco industry. Jeffrey Wigand (Al Pacino), a former high-ranking scientist for cigarette manufacturer Brown & Williamson, has information that could devastate the industry. He’s unwilling to speak out, however, until he meets 60 Minutes producer Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino). Bergman convinces the show’s Mike Wallace (Christopher Plummer) to interview him, and he and Wallace battle CBS executives who fear the story will destroy their network.
The Insider’s most notable element is the characters themselves, with both Crowe and Pacino delivering career-defining performances that are anchored by unsettling truths about corporate corruption that still seem chillingly prescient. The film also marks a turning point in Mann’s directorial style, with the music-video elegance of LA Confidential giving way to handheld DV cameras that give the movie a low-lit intimacy.
Although not a major box office hit, The Insider has garnered critical acclaim for both its acting and its message. The film is a rare example of a historical drama that isn’t geared to the lowest common denominator and features characters who face moral dilemmas rather than car chases or sleazy sex scenes. In this age of escapist entertainment, The Insider is an antidote, reminding audiences of the power and importance of speaking truth to power.
About the Author
