Starring: Russell Crowe
Al Pacino
Directed by: Micheal Mann
Rated R for language and dialog
By Touchstone Pictures

Jeffrey Wigand is what heroes are made of. He is a man (in the truest sense of the word) who, with nothing to gain and everything to lose, takes on the Brown and Williamson Tabacco Company.

He finds out that the company he works for is using a special process to make cigarettes more addictive in the first few drags, and is also targeting the market of the world's youth. Knowing that whistle-blowers are razed to the breaking point, knowing he'll lose everything, and in spite of corrupt officials and FBI agents, and death threats, the man insists on telling the truth 'because the public has the right know.'

The film was nominated for 7 Oscars (deservedly so) and Russell Crowe's performance was the best of the year. But the Academy failed to give due recognition. We get to see nicotine dollars at work here, too.

The Film stays pretty close to the article that it is based on: THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH by Marie Brenner. This ran in Vanity Fair, which, along with Ms. Brenner, has far more integrity than CBS' 60 Minutes.

THE INSIDER, and Crowe's awesome performance, shows the tremendous pressure Wigand was under due to his selfless undertaking. When a man's family and KIDS are the objects of death treats, the media can't come close to depicting the grief and rage he'd feel. If any of our families were targeted for death threats because a power monger wanted to maintain his standard of living, which one of us wouldn't want their testicles swinging from our rearview mirror?

The Houston Chronicle reported on April 30, 2000 that 'CBS took a stance of complete noncooperation while attacking the film sight unseen.' This doesn't surprise anyone. CBS SHOULD feel shame because it 'backed off when faced with tobacco lawsuits'! The 60 Minutes armor is tarnished and beyond repair. I don't see how anyone could take that show seriously anymore, especially after censuring its own producer/reporter Lowell Bergman.

Still, THE INSIDER is a movie to watch if only to witness a hero's courage in going up against the rich power mongers, bought and paid-for government officials, and their paramours, the press, behind them.

Mr. Wigand.... we the people, who bust what we hold dear just to make it from one day to the next, salute you. As for Lowell Bergman, your boldly courageous activities in sticking with Wigand, and subsequent resignation from the burps of 60 Minutes, give us a spark of hope for the dieing integrity of reporters.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

The movie is based on the article that originally ran in the May 1996 issue of Vanity Fair: THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH BY Marie Brenner.

This article used to be available to the public, but the tobacco companies are pushing the 'delete' button on all the proof as it comes in.

"THE BROWN AND WILLIAMSON DOCUMENTS: Where Do We Go From Here?" (from JAMA) is the title and the subtitle of an article that starts with:

"There is a massive body of evidence, derived from many scientific disciplines, that tobacco is addictive and kills smokers."

I used to have a link to the article for everyone to read. While updating this article, I found that it is now buried under a pile of what '60 minutes' decides to shovel every week.

We thus have the freedom to come to our own conclusions on the Matter.