Rating: 
Summary: An operatic drama of loyalty and betrayel
Review: I've read a few reviews for The Insider calling it a tobacco industry expose or a media expose. While its certainly both of these things, it is first and formost a drama about an imperfect man trying to do the right thing, and paying the consequences for it. Comparisons to All The Presdent's Men are apt, but it more closely resembles Sidney Lumet's underrated 1983 film Prince Of City. Like the hero of that film, Jeffery Wigand is betrayed and demoralised by the same people he sought for help. The Insider doesn't look exciting on paper, the synopsis does indicate any action, but in the hands of the great Micheal Mann (Heat, Thief) it has an incredible amount of emotional violence. Its difficult to describe Mann's style here, but he makes a man shooting golf balls more intense then most movie shootouts, or a fax machine exhange more dangerous then any spy movie. Most of the time he shoots Russel Crowe in extreme close up, letting the subtle facial expressions, the acne and aging make up tell the whole story. When you're done watching this film you'll have the feeling that you've just witnessed something operatic, important and worthy, despite the fact that the subject matter of the film isn't really as important as Mann makes it out to be. Jeffery Wigand's big revelation is that the tobacco companies not only knew nicotine was addicitve but also used what is called Ammonia chemisty to make it even more so. This isn't really shocking or groundbreaking for that matter, but that never hurts the film because we believe that Wigand would genuinly risk his life inorder to get this information out. Like all great films, The Insider succeeds because we identify with its characters not its issues. I could watch Al Pacino reading the phone book for a couple of hours, his presence in a movie automatically makes it a must see for me, but the performance in The Insider that will really get to you is Russel Crowe's. Unlike Pacino he doesn't have any big speeches, his performance is a studied slow burner that is achieved primarly through mannerisms and facial expressions. Seldom have I heard a score that serves a film like the one by Lisa Gerrard and Peiter Bourke, an original mix of plaintive strings, upbeat drum tatoos, harpsichord twangs and ethereal vocals. I guess the film's soundtrack is on my must buy list now. It helps elevate the film into a Greek tragedy of loyalty and betrayel. The Insider is a splendid film by a director who is obviously at the peak of his powers.
Rating:
Summary: An astonishing movie
Review: This is an absolutley incredible film. Prepare to be totally enthralled by some of the best performances you are likely to see for a while and to be blown away by a gripping true story. At nearly three hours the film pulls you into Dr Wigland's (an excellent performance from Russell Crowe) and a CBS news reporter's (an always great Pacino) dilemma. Should they contravene a corporate gagging order and the threat of a multi million dollar lawsuit. Watching Wigland's crashing descent into silent despair is a heart breaking experience made all the more emotional by some very moving background music. This is really a story of integrity in the face of adversity. Would you put your life on the line: your job and your family for the greater good? I cannot implore you enough to see this movie. It is one of the most significant cinematic events for a long time.
Rating: 
Summary: Over-long, But Good Non-Fiction
Review: This movie was interesting right from the beginning. I love stories based on fact, so I was ready to get into it. I did, but I have to confess that towards the end I was wishing it would end already. And I hate to have those thoughts watching a movie. Russell Crowe deserved an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Jeffrey Wigand. The tension and quiet, dignified torment he conveyed was palpable. I began to worry about him. Would he commit suicide or not? I felt sorry for him, but I also wondered if it was worth it. Personally, I don't consider tobacco companies the biggest evil in the world. If someone wants to smoke and risk their health, I think it is their own business. Tobacco companies don't force anyone to start smoking. They don't force anyone to keep smoking. Sure, cigarettes with their ingredients can be addictive, but so is sugar. Want to talk about a real problem in this country? Obesity is a problem. Christopher Plummer was also great as Mike Wallace. I thought he had the mannerisms down very well. Al Pacino (Lowell Bergman) has always been a good actor himself. I saw a comparison to "All The President's Men" with this movie. The only time it reminded me of "All The President's Men" was when Al Pacino meets the New York Times (?) reporter at night to exchange information. One thing that got on my nerves was the music. I only noticed it half-way through and at the end. It was a voice singing notes, with no words. It reminded me of an old Saturday Night Live skit where this guy is going crazy with the same kind of voice. He hunts down the voice and its a woman in a room singing like she's insane. I could have done without that effect. Overall, its a well made, intense movie. Just alittle too long.
Rating:
Summary: Powerhouse performance
Review: What a movie, I didn't catch it at the cinema, but now that I own my own DVD copy I feel better for it. Now I know why Russell Crowe was nominated ! he simply outshines the rest of the cast. This is one guy to watch out for in the future, may his star blaze in the Hollywood sky.
Rating: 
Summary: Would've been a better documentary.
Review: "The Insider" is the story of a man named Jeffrey Wigand who blows the whistle on Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co. Apparently, the company put chemicals in their cigarettes to facilitate the addiction process, as well as ignoring Wigand's efforts to reduce some of the cigarette's harmful effects. Yes, you guessed it: dull stuff for cinema; should've been a documentary. The director Michael Mann must've known this material wasn't exciting in terms of dramatic film, because he certainly pulls out all the stops in distracting us: a 7-minute intro somewhere in the Middle East that has nothing to do with the story (though it DOES introduce us to Christopher Plummer's brilliant Mike Wallace); inexplicable slow-motion; glum coloring (lot of blues and grays); weird angles; endlessly moving camera, et al., and so forth, and et cetera. This movie didn't really grab me till the whole CBS / conflict-of-interest thing got underway . . . problem is, you have to wait till the last half-hour for it. This is, I think, the real movie, here. Certainly a lot more potential for drama than watching an executive sitting around in a hotel room waiting to give a deposition. As presented, the Hallowed Halls of CBS are as venally arrogant as one might expect; we wish there was more of it, particularly more of the wonderful Christopher Plummer (no wonder the real Wallace was uncomfortable with this movie! -- Plummer's portrayal of a pretty likeable but compromised and arrogant icon doubtlessly hit too close to home). As for the principal actors: Al Pacino portrays "Al Pacino", and if you like that, fine. The Wigand part? Well, the filmmakers would've been better advised to find an actual middle-aged actor to play the middle-aged Wigand. Russell Crowe is a fine brooder, but the ugly make-up and bad hair merely make this young actor look like a storyboard drawing come weirdly to life. Finally: "The Insider" is not without merit, but it's pretty thin, and pretensious for all that.
Rating: 
Summary: Good move, but disappointing DVD
Review: Being a huge fan of Michael Mann's "Heat", I was really looking forward to this movie. Honestly however, I cannot say it is much better than average to good. What's more disappointing is the bonus material on the DVD. The labeling advertises a production featurette with audio commentary by Al Pacino and Russell Crowe. Given this, I was expecting a running commentary throughout the entire movie, in addition to a featurette---no dice. The featurette is boring studio material to hype up the film, and doesn't have any real substance. The supposed commentary by Al Pacino and Russell Crowe is simply a few short interview clips. I am hopeful that Mann does a commentary on his next DVD film release, as I would love to hear him disect his own work.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully photographed,Superbly acted,Even the....
Review: ...score which usually doesn't figure big with me is impressive.A perfectly realized film but i couldn't bring myself to care.I am not afraid enough of big tobacco maybe.I'm also of the opinion that smokers in this day and age should have more then an idea what they're in for. I also don't think public health issues and subtle concepts in law are the best ingredients for a rip roaring good time.I hope Michael Mann gets back to films like Thief and Heat.Nobody seems to be making films like that anymore and nobody does that better then Michael Mann.
Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking and challenging
Review: While this movie is many things, I really enjoyed how it looked at the corporate media's susceptibility to corruption from outside sources. If you found this intriguing as well, I suggest reading "The Media Monopoly" by Ben Bagdikian, for a more concise look at how corporate interests feed us the news as they see fit. By the way, Russell Crowe and Al Pacino were both fantastic. A must see.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: American Beauty deserved the oscar, but that's not to say that The Insider isn't a good movie. Rather I'd list it as number 2 of the nominees, and for good reason - it's an amazing film. Both Crowe and Pacino deliver wonderful performances, and the story is an interesting critique on the role of the media and the problems with big business. If I have any complaint of this film, it would be its subjective nature, but that's to be expected from any film. The Insider is one of the best films of the year, just behind Fight Club and American Beauty. See it!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant.
Review: The Insider indulges in a brilliant portrayal of behind-the-scenes in the Tobacco Industry. Accurate? I can only assume so after browsing Brown & Williamson's homepage -dedicated to how the movie was a mis-portrayal. I'd say the more they outcry against the movie, the more truthful the account.
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