The Insider

Name: The Insider
Genre: Biography, Drama, Thriller
Released: November 5, 1999
Duration: 157 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Al Pacino, Russell Crowe

1999

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 34 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 184 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 184 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Touchstone Home Video | Release Date: November 5, 1999 | R

Starring: Al Pacino, Russell Crowe

Summary: This is the true story of Jeffrey Wigand (Crowe), the tobacco executive-turned-whistleblower and his relationship with "60 Minutes" producer Lowell Bergman (Pacino).

Director: Michael Mann

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 157 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Jack Mathews

May be the best movie of the year. Read full review

100

Dallas Observer Luke Y. Thompson

The final product is great populist entertainment and may even leave audiences with a feeling of comfort, however fleeting, in the knowledge that corrupt corporations don't always win Read full review

Richard Corliss

The viewer almost has to be a journalist--or a good editor--to sniff out the meat under all the fat. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

This is a first-class muckraking melodrama: an admirable picture. Read full review

Film.com Robert Horton

It's great that this movie exists. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Pacino and Crowe are at their best, but the supporting cast also shines. Read full review

Marc Savlov

It's all a little too polished, a little too smug to be ranked up there as one of the great journalism films. Read full review

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User Reviews

RONGIU

Sep 6, 2010

Sorry for the translation.

Long live newspapers, journalists hooray, hooray the free press. Why? Because a free press is the mirror of the nation, citizens are reflected in it. The journalists free from the constraints of so-called big powers, are educators. A piece of news,Sorry for the translation.

Long live newspapers, journalists hooray, hooray the free press. Why? Because a

free press is the mirror of the nation, citizens are reflected in it. The

journalists free from the constraints of so-called big powers, are educators.

A piece of news, politics, can be told in a thousand ways. The

question is - I am a journalist when I write, I hide behind my writing, or are

in front of it and so proud of? My words are fertile for my readers? Help young people to think? Help solve a problem? In short, they help to grow? People always deserve the best respect. This is democracy and that is why our fathers died. For this

ideal still die. I will take up this discussion further, talking about my

Italy. And now within the film.

When the truth "produces" welfare, that is the feel good in physical terms,

of a community, even frighteningly shaky financial empires. The bearer of

Truth, however, always has a price, sometimes very high, in terms

economic and psychophysical. But if you are lucky enough to share your truth with a

decent man, of sound principles, that truth produces pain is shared, this

sharing improves decision-making skills and translating them into voluntary acts

determined. This is what happens to the two main protagonists of the film. The first

is a scientist, dr. Jeffrey Wigand (R. Crowe), put out the door by Brown &

Williamson company that produces cigarettes. The second is Lowell Bergman (A.

Pacino), one of the leaders of the popular journalism program "60

Minutes "on CBS. Lowell and Wigand will create, with their conscious choices, to

one of the most famous investigations and follow U.S. and beyond. This investigation

will lead the multinational "blondes" to pay a very heavy compensation for

damage (diseases and deaths) caused by tobacco. Wigand reveals on live television that the

His company adds chemicals that create dependency. Consequences of this

are, of course, more sales and higher revenues. But what will the price

pay for the two protagonists? What will become of peace, economic security, marriage? What role will the wives? There is freedom of information general? The strong powers, political, economic, influencing what information? A many millions of dollars compensation amounts required by 50 states, the tobacco companies? Michael Mann, director and screenwriter Eric Roth (Forrest Gump) gives us a gem. For an Italian, Dante Spinotti, was entrusted with the photo of the film. One last thing: "Seven nominations and no statue. Why? These are movies that you mark, leave an indelible mark on your soul. In schools, these films must enter the front door. You should discuss compare, clarify any doubts. The words hurt and sometimes fatal. The language, a body so small, it produces infinite damage. Words fly, writings remain. "Verba volant, scripta manent." Careful what you write. Good Ciak!… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

MStylez

Aug 3, 2006

Genius.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

ethanwelborn

Aug 5, 2014

This movie is incredible. Pacino, Crowe, and Plummer all deliver incredible performances, each with their own array of pulse pounding verbal exchanges. I love movies of this genre, and The Insider delivers harder than any comparable movie I've seen in years, maybe ever. I'm so glad I decidedThis movie is incredible. Pacino, Crowe, and Plummer all deliver incredible performances, each with their own array of pulse pounding verbal exchanges. I love movies of this genre, and The Insider delivers harder than any comparable movie I've seen in years, maybe ever. I'm so glad I decided to pick up an old flick and give it a watch. If you haven't seen it, it's definitely worth the cost of the rental.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

FilipeNeto

Feb 13, 2018

Excellent thriller

This film tells the attempts of Jeffrey Wigand to report on investigative journalism program "60 Minutes" the dangerous practices of the tobacco company he worked for. Based on real facts, was directed by Michael Mann and has Russell Crowe, Al Pacino and ChristopherExcellent thriller

This film tells the attempts of Jeffrey Wigand to report on investigative journalism program "60 Minutes" the dangerous practices of the tobacco company he worked for. Based on real facts, was directed by Michael Mann and has Russell Crowe, Al Pacino and Christopher Plummer in the lead roles.

Its a high quality film, with a good cast and interpretations. The performances of Al Pacino and Crowe are particularly worthy of congratulations, with both actors managing to give substance and soul to their characters. Crowe even stayed some time near the real Dr. Wigand in order to observe his ways, gestures and behavior, which only shows the quality of this actor and the professionalism of his work. The film has a great script, written by Eric Roth and Michael Mann. The story is engaging and "grab" the audience from beginning to end. The photograph of the film is also interesting, using light and shadow to thicken or lighten the suspense. Undoubtedly, one of most interesting films of the turn of millennium.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Compi24

Feb 11, 2015

Don't let the seemingly ho-hum narrative fool you - "The Insider" is a hair-raising testament to the amount of tension Michael Mann can conjure out of thin air and place on a haunting cinematographic landscape.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ExKing

Apr 3, 2013

the insider is on my top 10 best movies i have ever seen it totally took me by surprise when i saw the average rating on IMDB and Meta-score and the 7 Oscars nominations and didn't win anything but i took the chance to watch in since it has Russell Crowe and the fact that is based on truethe insider is on my top 10 best movies i have ever seen it totally took me by surprise when i saw the average rating on IMDB and Meta-score and the 7 Oscars nominations and didn't win anything but i took the chance to watch in since it has Russell Crowe and the fact that is based on true story and i'm glad i took that chance the movie was awesome the script was well-written the even was believable and i loved the performance by everyone in this movie from Al Pacino down to Colm Feore and Russell Crowe did a spectacular performance being what he is a nervous person with big ego as he going from being rich to absolutely nothing i just love it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Ralfbergs

Nov 29, 2016

I don't know. I kind of see why it has such great ratings - I mean it has great actors and the acting really is great, plus the story in itself is interesting too also. But I feel that the movie is streched out and gets boring at times. At times nothing that important really happen. TheI don't know. I kind of see why it has such great ratings - I mean it has great actors and the acting really is great, plus the story in itself is interesting too also. But I feel that the movie is streched out and gets boring at times. At times nothing that important really happen. The movie should have been an hour less long and should have a faster pace in evolvement of what happens, then it might get much better. Here I can rate acting at 9 and the story at 7, but as a whole, the movie just does not speak to me and that is why it gets a lower mark… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SEE ALL 19 REVIEWS

10	#10 Best Movie of 1999
52	#52 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
37	#37 Most Shared Movie of 1999