Capsule Review: "The Insider"

Despite seven Oscar nominations (including Best Picture), Michael Mann’s “The Insider” may be one of the most under-appreciatd and under-seen films of the last 15 years or so. It tells the true story of Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe) and Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino). The former is a recently fired tobacco executive who’s compelled to reveal inside information on tobacco products that could be crushing for his former bosses, and the latter is a producer for 60 Minutes who must navigate treacherous corporate and legal waters in order to air Wigand’s story.

Mann’s film runs 157 minutes, yet it’s positively riveting from start to finish, despite a complete absence of gunfire, explosions and car chases. It imparts a great deal of complex information pertaining to law, corporate affairs and media dealings. However, Mann’s direction is so sure-footed and the script, written by Mann and Eric Roth, is so thoroughly researched and dramatically competent that the potentially cumbersome material is engaging and easy to follow.

Mann creates a palpable sense of drama, as Wigand’s struggle isn’t without a sense of loss. A minor spoiler follows, so skip to the last paragraph if you want a totally fresh viewing experience. Wigand’s wife leaves Jeffrey, after he persists in blowing the whistle on big tobacco despite threats on his family. To draw a comparison, Ron Howard’s “A Beautiful Mind” maintains that its protagonist, a man named John Nash who suffered from schizophrenia, stayed with his wife. In reality, Nash’s wife succumbed to the pressure of her husband’s condition and left him. Mann doesn’t pull any such punches, and his film remains true to the events that transpired. His willingness to resist temptations that might comfort mainstream viewers results in a more compelling journey for his main character.

In a robust career, Jeffrey Wigand is Russell Crowe’s strongest piece of acting. From the ground and up, Crowe’s performance is a full-bodied portrayal. His Wigand moves differently from Russell Crowe or other Crowe characters. Wigand has a stilted walk, befitting a man who strains to keep hold of his emotions. Indeed, Wigand is said to have emotional problems in the film, and Crowe offers a few volcanic glimpses. The Australian actor, 35 years old at the time of the film’s release, successfully plays a 48-year-old man and all the emotional and physical baggage that comes with it. Al Pacino offers a later-career best as the determined producer from 60 Minutes. It’s the pairing of these two acting titans, one newly minted and the other a Hollywood veteran, along with Mann’s exceptional talent that makes “The Insider” such a gripping drama.

**** / ****