Every now and again we all watch movies for some reason that is unbeknownst
to us. You know the ones. The ones you go into thinking: "Why
am I doing this? I could be watching "Eyes
Wide Shut" again instead." For me, "The Insider"
was one of those movies.
This was a film that I had little,or no, desire to see in the theater.
In retrospect, I think I felt this way due to being bludgeoned to
death by the film's trailer for months on end. All that aside. This
past Tuesday when the film was released on DVD, I was there to pick
it up. I guess the effects of the trailer had worn off by this time.
And, even though we can collectively agree that the Academy's heads
aren't screwed on straight, I figured it got nominated for seven Academy
Awards......So why not? Even the Academy gets things right every now
and then. This just so happens to be one of those times.
"The Insider" delves into the world of "Big Tobacco"
and it's effects on one man, and one nation.
Jeffrey Wigand, played masterfully by Russell Crowe, gets fired from
his job as at a large tobacco company. He is then contacted by Lowell
Bergman (Al Pacino) of CBS news, after a package of "insider"
information on "Big Tobacco" arrives at his house. Wigand
is then coerced by Bergman, while his former company tries to keep
his mouth shut with the confidentiality agreement he signed.
After he receives death threats, and has had his personal life crumble
around him. Wigand decides to hit "Big Tobacco" where it
hurts: network television. What follows is an interview with Mike
Wallace (Christopher Plummer), that has the potential to land a crushing
blow to the tobacco industry.
The problem is, that "Big Tobacco" doesn't want the proverbial
whistle blown on their operations. So they start a smear campaign
on Wigand and strongarm CBS into altering the piece in order to avoid
a lawsuit. The piece is altered after all, but Bergman, jump ship,
in fear of what might happen. By this time, Wigand's life is in pieces,
but Bergman continues to defend him against heavy opposition to the
very end.
I was so amazed when watching this film. It is for lack of a better
word.....Flawless. I cannot name one bad performance. You actually
believe that Crowe is Wigand, and Pacino is Bergman. Personally, I
would have to say that Pacino is the best I have ever seen him, in
the role of Lowell Bergman. Another top-notch performance that has
been overlooked by many, is that of Christopher Plummer as Mike Wallace.
Normally I would look at him and think: "Hey! It's the guy from
"Dragnet"." But not
this time. Not once during the film did that thought cross my mind.
He is Mike Wallace, in much the same way that George C. Scott was
Patton.
Those performances aside, I have to say that Russell Crowe is simply
amazing as the "whistle-blower" Jeffrey Wigand. Here he
makes his performance in "L.A. Confidential",
look Seagal-like in comparison. He plays a man who loses everything,
in order to do what's right. A role that has been done before, but
usually not very well. Crowe is the exception to the rule, as he goes
through these ordeals he totally immerses the viewer in his role.
I would love to cite certain scenes that are symbolic of his overall
performance, but his performance is so "perfect" that it
would seem improper to single out any one, or two, particular moments
that define his role. Personally, I think he was robbed of an Oscar.
I campaigned for Spacey all year, and was happy that he won, but having
seen "The Insider," I now realize that I was backing the
wrong horse.
Out of the five nominees for best picture this past year, "The
Insider" is the pick of the litter without question. If you have
not seen this film yet, you are making the same mistake that I did.
I rectified my mistake. I hope you will choose to rectify yours.
