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I had no preconceived expectations of this film when I caught it on cable one evening. I tuned in because the film starred Russell Crowe, and I wanted to see what the hype was all about. However, the experience was much more than I ever anticipated.
The Insider is the story of Jeffrey Wigand (Crowe), a former tobacco executive who exposes the tobacco industry’s hidden agenda by telling his story on 60 Minutes. However, this interview does not capture the attention of the public without many uphill battles with network and tobacco executives who try to stop the discussion from hitting the airwaves. As Jeffrey battles his foes, he develops a compelling relationship with 60 Minutes producer Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino) and risks it all to tell the truth.
Russell Crowe is phenomenal in the role of Jeffrey Wigand and captures his fears and trepidations about spilling the beans and losing his former self in the
process. Al Pacino is equally effective as the producer who puts forth his best effort to support Wigand and expose the tobacco industry. An engaging performance by Christopher Plummer as newsman Mike Wallace provides an
interesting perspective on the media’s role in newsworthy events. Based on a true story, the film triumphs in capturing the conflict between the media and big business — and its effects on the ordinary man.
