THE INSIDER

US, 1999, 159 minutes, Colour.

Al Pacino, Russell Crowe, Christopher Plummer, Diane Venora, Lindsay Crowse, Philip Baker Hall, Michael Gambon, Gina Gershon
Directed by Michael Mann

Research scientist, Jeffrey Wigand, is sacked from his job at cigarette company, Brown and Williamson. He is concerned about his family, paying medical care and covering expenses.

Sixty Minutes producer, Lowell Bergman, has set up an interview with the chief of Hezbollah for tough reporter, Mike Wallace. Bergman later receives documents concerning tobacco industry statistics and is advised to ask Wigand for background explanation.

It appears that Wigand has more information and has been pressurised by the company to sign stringent confidentiality agreement. Wigand gradually trusts Bergman and agrees to do a Sixty Minutes' interview about nicotine additives to cigarettes despite sworn testimony from industry chiefs that nicotine was not addictive.

Receiving death threats, he is protected by bodyguards but this is too much for his wife. His reputation is damaged but he agrees to go to Mississippi to give testimony in a related case. Sixty Minutes, with Wallace agreeing, decide not to air the interview for legal reasons. Bergman leaks information to the press who berate CBS. The interview is finally aired. Wigand is cleared. Bergman leaves CBS.

The Insider received Oscar nominations for Best Film, 1999, for Best Director, Michael Mann, and for Russell Crowe as Jeffrey Wigand. It received strong critical acclaim though not as strong box office as expected.

It is serious drama, looking at the whistleblower who exposed on Sixty Minutes (after some serious reluctance on the part of CBS) the tobacco industry chiefs which led to many damages suits against the companies.

Michael Mann, the co-writer and director is better known for action movies like Manhunter, Last of the Mohicans and Heat as well as for Miami Vice. Al Pacino starred in Heat. Here he gives a superbly edgy performance as the Sixty Minutes producer who is obsessively committed to his work but who is a man of is word. This is in contrast to Christopher Plummer, smoothly egoistic as Mike Wallace, and Philip Baker Hall as a CBS executive.


But Russell Crowe gives a fine performance (acting much more than his age) as Wigand, also obsessive and often personally abrasive but who wants to do the right thing and believes in integrity - and, ultimately, is prepared to suffer for it.

1. The award nominations, acclaim? Based on a true story? Serious adult American moviemaking?

2. The film as a piece of Americana, the Kentucky settings, Mississippi, New York City? The musical score and its style?

3. Contemporary social and environmental issues? American industry and profit, the tobacco industry, whistle-blowing, the consequences, the American courts, television and current affairs?

4. The opening in the Middle East, Al Pacino and his style, Lowell Bergman as producer for 60 Minutes, going into Jerusalem, acting as mediator, setting up the interview with the Hezbollah(??)? The head, the assistants, being blindfold, the camera set-up, the rules and regulations, the traditions and respect, Mike Wallace and his going in, making his own demands, the interview, the confrontation of the Chief as a terrorist...? Setting up the characters of Lowell Bergman, Mike Wallace, the investigative style of 60 Minutes and its impact on American audiences?

5. The transfer to Jeffrey Wigand? His packing up his office, going home, his relationship with his daughters, the relationship with his wife? Discussions of money, health benefits, education? The tension with his wife? His finally revealing that he had been sacked?

6. The comparison with Lowell Bergman and his wife, their relationship, their family - second marriages, stepchildren? Their mutual support? Bergman and his reading the papers about smoking and the need for interpreting the documents and their technical language?

7. Wigand and Bergman, going to the hotel after the phone call, the consultation, information about his confidentiality contract? Bergman and his checking with the law department about the binding nature of such confidentiality documents?

8. Wigand and his chief executive officer, the wanting to tighten the confidentiality? The reasons for his dismissal, his not wanting to be told what to do? Discussions about golf? The threats to him, Wigand and his integrity about confidentiality? His anger, the impulsive phone call to Bergman? Hitting the golf balls at night - and the other man observing him and hitting the balls?

9. Bergman going to Kentucky, the rain, Wigand's CV - his dilemma over whistle-blowing, losing money, health benefits etc? Yet his knowledge about the industry, his own research, the documents, the reference to the Seven Dwarfs as the chief executives who gave testimony that nicotine was not addictive?

10. Mike Wallace and his toughness, the discussions about putting Wigand on 60 Minutes, the issues of breaking confidentiality? His eagerness to do the program, to have Wigand?

11. Wigand and his having to find work, going to the school and having the interview with the school principal? His wife being wary? The domestic tension? Working in the garden, the intruder in the house? The having a new house - and Wigand having a gun? The need for bodyguards? Whistle-blowing and the physical and moral dangers?

12. The film using the phone and phone calls as an integral part of its drama? Bergman on the phone, Wigand on the phone? Wigand and his upset with 60 Minutes - seeing himself used as a commodity?

13. The discussions with Bergman, the revelation of his character, his studies, university, the influence of Herbert Marcuse? Family? The discussions and the interrogation? The discussions about Wigand and why he was fired, his anger, drinking? And reassuring Wigand that 60 Minutes had power, communication and status?

14. The Mississippi case, the phone calls with the authorities in Mississippi, wanting to get Wigand's evidence and testimony on the public record so that it could be used and not breaking the confidentiality agreements?

15. The e-mail threats, Wigand being ever more angry, wanting to go on the record? Bergman and the phone calls to the FBI, the deals?

16. The visit to New York and Wigand's wife's reaction, the dinner, Wallace, her not realising the reality about the interview and the dangers? The discussions about Wigand's going on - the issue of "impact boosting" of nicotine in cigarettes? Wigand and his regrets and yet his determination?

17. The contrast with him working in class, the introduction to the students of chemistry, his background? His wanting to make a new career and share his love for chemistry?

18. Leanne and her anger, her leaving and taking the children? Wigand going to Mississippi, the station, his being served with the writ, the warnings about the legal situation in Kentucky, the danger of his being arrested?

19. At the coast, Wigand and his walking and thinking, the issues for his family, for himself, the decision and going to court - the various manoeuvres in the courtroom? The lawyer for Wigand - and his demanding the silence of the lawyers from Kentucky?

20. The interview with 60 Minutes, Wallace and his questions, Wigand and his answers, the insertion of the footage about the executive officers and nicotine? The various editings of the program?

21. Wigand driving home, the choir, the burning car, Wigand alone with his family gone?

22. The CBS meetings, tortious interference? The discussions about putting the program to air, the lawyer from upstairs? The CBS bosses? Mike Wallace? The issues of CBS ownership and their being sued? The re-editing of the interview? Bergman's speech about truth and integrity? Mike Wallace taking the side of the executive? Wigand and the impact for him?

23. The detailed investigation of Wigand's earlier life, the discover of his former wife, the shoplifting charge? Bergman and his getting the dossier, phoning the editor of the Wall Street Journal and discussions? Getting research done?

24. Mike Wallace and his anger, the clashes with Bergman? Bergman on extended leave? His refusing to resign? His challenging the integrity and fear of CBS?

25. The advertisements and the editing of the advertisements for the 60 Minutes program? The edited version going to air? The reactions of each person? The phone call and the anger of Wigand? Bergman insisting that the concierge go to make him come to the phone?

26. The Mississippi case, the governor and the success of the case?

27. The FBI and Bergman doing the program on the Unabomber, the Unabomber issue and its giving a context to the Wigand case? The raid, the arrest of the Unabomber? 60 Minutes and its mission?

28. Bergman and his deals with the New York times, the interview, the editorial - and Mike Wallace's reaction? The full interview being played - Wigand's children seeing it, he watching it himself? The range of people watching and the influence of 60 Minutes? The break-up between Bergman and Wallace, his walking out?

29. Wigand and his future - the whistle-blower, having to teach, his reputation attacked, the suffering that he endured? Bergman and his going to public broadcasting?

30. The value of this kind of movie, social issues, the dramatising of such issues and the provocation of the conscience of the audience?