Rating: 
Summary: So Bad It Makes Me VERY Angry
Review: Let me begin with saying that HEAT was good. Long, but good. The reason for it's length is that Michael Mann fleshed out as many characters as he could for the film. THE INSIDER however...very VERY few characters are introduced to us. We haven't a clue who they are or what their purpose is to the story, there are too many off them and it becomes EXTREMELY annoying! Cigarettes are addictive. Duh, I knew that. No secret there. A bit of a non-event to make a movie out of then. The Insider is probably one of the most over-hyped films I have EVER known. NO ONE has had the guts to actually stand up and say that it's garbage. Why? Out of respect for the directors previous work, because they have been so disappointed by the movie they have to lie to themselves to feel like they didn't waste £5 and most important of all...because everyone else is saying it's good and they don't want to be different. Well I am going to be that one person who goes against the insane opinion of the entire world and say "THE INSIDER IS GARBAGE". The film is about NOTHING. The only characters that are developed are Wigand and Bergman. They are not enough to carry the whole movie even if they are played by Crowe and Pacino. Not only are very few characters introduced to us Mann goes so far as not even giving reasons for events taking place in the movie. Another example...the Men In Black who took Wigand's hard drive. Who were they? I don't know. Does anyone? Why didn't he do anything about it? Like tell the police. I'll finish with telling you that the whole film is a puzzling and confused muddle. At the end you feel so exhilarated and bum-numbed that you just want to lie down. Maybe most people confused this sensation as the result of seeing a good movie. Which it certainly is NOT! BEWARE!
Rating: 
Summary: Astonishingly thin
Review: One would presume that, under the helm of Michael Mann, and with the talents of Al Pacino and Russel Crowe (Mann and Pacino having made one of the best films of the nineties, Heat)that The Insider would be as taut, engaging, engrossing thriller as you could get. However, there simply is nothing there. The story itself is hardly engaging, telling you facts about smoking you already knew ( the whole 'mystery' revealed by Crowe that the film hangs on for the first hour is that cigarettes are actually harmful)thus we must rely on the acting and directing to pull us through a so-so story. Of course, Al Pacino is good. Crowe, however, is hardly oscar-worthy. He gives a much better performance in LA Confidential or even Romper Stomper. The fact that the press have billed his performance as 'the best this year' is quite unfortunate, a burden, even. Characterisation is thin, we never really learn anything of Wigand's family, or Bergman's (a strength of Heat, I have to say), and so we're stuck with two potentially engaging cahracters floundering undeer the weight of a potentially 'huge' story. There are some good scenes, Pacino chews up soem excellent dialogue, but as a whole, The Insider is, for me, nothing more that an excellent director's effort to repeat past masterpieces.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost a 5-star review
Review: The Insider is a very good movie. That being said, I must say I thought the film was a bit too long. I understand with a suspense-drama of this sort, there must be at least 2 hours of film to make it's point well understood. I wasn't as much bored, as I was wanting the film to end, because of the moments of lag here and there. But again, I was not bored, just curious of when the credits would roll, and desiring this movie to indeed end.The acting in this film is superb. Pacino, as always, gives a riveting performance, and Russel Crowe is excellent. The supporting actors do a remarkable job as well, and that helps this, at times, slow moving picture. I did like the idea, of a movie that honestly (with poetic license of course) portrays the corporate tobacco monsters in todays world, and the loop-holes and snags they can twist and turn to get the upperhand and the advantage on the crisis they may face. Based on a true story, this film displays one mans incredible courage to risk everything important to him (including his family's and his own life), to do what is right ! Everyone of us, at least every DECENT one of us wishes we can be like that at some point or another during our lives. Be the REAL hero. Standing up for what is right, no matter what the cost. Indeed, it was nice to see the hero portrayed by Crowe, a very talented actor... A four star movie from me because of the gripping drama and superb acting, but I just couldn't give it 5 stars, as I really did find myself wanting the film to end. 2 hours and 30 + minutes was just a bit too long for this sort of movie in my opinion. But I would recommend this film to anyone with a passion for great acting and a very good and REALISTIC drama.
Rating: 
Summary: Biased but enjoyable
Review: The Insider is entertaining and boasts a great Pacino performance but suffers from overlenghth and a bias. The story is very interesting, but I find it hard to believe some of the actions credited to the allegedly evil tobacco companies. Another lowpoint is the soundtrack (irritating and distracting), and the portrayal of Wigand's wife. I am sick of how poor movies portray women. Still, the movie was somewhat suspenseful and interesting and had good performances.
Rating: 
Summary: The Ugly American
Review: Before the Academy Awards program this Spring, I had only seen the movie "American Beauty". I vowed after the awards to see some of the other movies included in various categories.The first movie I picked up for my new DVD player was the film, "The Insider". Russell Crowe, with whom I first became acquainted in "L.A. Confidential", is positively Deniro like in his depiction of the major protagonist. Crowe's performance was much meatier than the Best actor performance of Kevin Spacey in American Beauty. The film itself was also far superior to "American Beauty". Michael Mann delivers here as he did in the movie "Manhunter" where we first meet the infamous Dr. Hannibal Lector. Why this crew didn't receive its "props" from the established motion picture industry I'll never understand (tongue in cheek). Of course we know that the answer really is that "Hollywood" like the tabacco industry is quite happy to avoid controversy when it serves big business'interests. "The Insider is a great motion picture; and the actors' performances are riviting. big business interests. The Insider is a great motion picture with riveting performances by all of the actors.
Rating:
Summary: my review
Review: This is a true story about an ex-Tobacco executive who is cohersed into revealing secrets from his job. The Tobacco company where he used to work has made his life, as well as his family's a living hell. He fights back. This is a very gripping movie. The acting is done exceptionally well by Al Pacino and Russell Crowe, as well as Christopher Plummer. The plot is very well adapted, making it very easy to watch. Good movie, very good acting. A must see.
Rating:
Summary: I wish there had been a tie for Best Actor
Review: I am a Kevin Spacey fan, but in all honesty, Russell deserved to win just as much. This performance is brilliant, the story of Jeffrey Wigand masterfully portrayed and the struggle to bring it to 60 Minutes so well done, that I am amazed at how little exposure this film had.
Rating:
Summary: beast wars!
Review: Its not easy being a whistle blower, especially when you are blowing the whistle on the tobacco company who by the way looked so slimmy and evil in this movie ..well crow's character, wigand did just that...suffered and lost everything in the process..or did he? Thinking that this is news worthy info that America should know..he gets indirectly involved with unsavory corporate news broadcasters...talk about bad karma It is a great movie, makes one think if those smoking prevention commercials for teens are a direct result of wigand's disclosure about tobacco companies and what news networks omit by choice..go see this movie and figure it out!
Rating:
Summary: A true story about a man with real moral courage
Review: When I first saw the movie, I was quite sure it was another Hollywood docudrama - with half truths and convoluted facts. So I did some homework. I found a lengthy interview with Jeffrey Wigand in May 1996 Vanity Fair. The movie had some chronology issues, but the facts were right. The power that big tobacco would claim to have is just incredible. They worked overtime to shut up Wigand, but their plans failed. Good for Jeffrey Wigand. The movie is awesome. I found myself admiring his sacrifice and willingness to stay the course, even when his personal life fell apart and his financial life went bust. Unfortunately, the script is filled with profanities which detracts from it, in my opinion. But I was so grateful to learn about Jeffrey Wigand. I watched this movie twice in two days. I agree with the previous poster - you need to see it several times to really catch all that is going on. There's a lot of substance there.
Rating:
Summary: An important movie for everyone to see
Review: The acting in this film is amazing. Al Pacino, Christopher Plummer, and especially Russel Crowe do a terrific job in their characters. Michael Mann put together a fantastic movie. There are also some good cameos from Debi Mazar and Gina Gershon. Don't ask any question, just go and see it.
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