The Insider Image
Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 34 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 43 Ratings

  • 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).
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 34
  2. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. Excellent acting, a stirring screenplay, and crisply intelligent directing make this fact-based movie a great human drama as well as a riveting and revealing look at crucially important social issues.
  2. May be the best movie of the year.
  3. 80
    Overall, a solid piece of film that not only entertains but also educates.
  4. 50
    It's all a little too polished, a little too smug to be ranked up there as one of the great journalism films.

See all 34 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. 10
    Sorry for the translation.

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

    free press is the mirror of t
    he 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
  2. SeanK.
    10
    My all time favorite film. Mann truly has crafted a masterpiece so brisk bold and utterly electrifying. Pacino and Crowe both give great oscar winning potrayles especially Pacino. The film serves you the truth raw and tantalizing. The plot is one of the most intelligent of our generation giving all the characters a slick and open world to work in. I would highly reccommend this to everyone especially fans of Manns work. Expand
  3. 8
    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 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
  4. The Insider is a well written and acted true-story drama. Micheal Mann instills the picture with his trademark style but over-length and a lack of real danger mar the proceedings somewhat. Also, it seems like an exercise in futility: Yes, smoking is bad for your health and addictive... Do smokers care? No, so what's the ultimate point? Expand

See all 14 User Reviews

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