Lowell Bergman, (Al Pacino), an energetic producer for the American 60 Minutes programme, comes across Jeffrey Wigand almost by chance. Wigand, an industrial chemist recently fired from Brown & Williamson, a big tobacco company, is a devoted family man who feels it`s his duty to reveal that the cigarette manufacturers have long known about the effects of nicotine on smokers, and who have deliberately lied about it. But Wigand has signed a confidentiality agreement with his ex-company, and he`s in a serious dilemma.
Given that the Hollywood studios so often make mindless junk, it`s really refreshing to welcome a film as bold as this in tackling, seemingly without pulling punches, a serious contemporary theme - full marks to the Disney company for that. And full marks to Russell Crowe, really magnificent as the greying, stubborn, courageous whistle-blower - he may be in the running for an Oscar - and he certainly deserves one. Pacino is good too, as is Christopher Plummer, who plays 60 Minutes` Mike Wallace with great style. I`ve loved Michael Mann`s work in the past, especially Manhunter and Heat - but he almost spoils The Insider with his unnecessarily tricky visual style - that dreadful handheld camera, that silly focus playing. Luckily, the story is strong enough to overcome the director`s visual pretensions, and so are the wonderful actors.
