Featured Audience Ratings

• Albert K

  
  After seeing almost all of Michael Mann's films, I was expecting "The Insider" to have a narrative centered around a suave Los Angeles night brooding with a cops-or-robbers-esque narrative bolstered with realistic gunfights. For the most part, this is what I loved about… More
  After seeing almost all of Michael Mann's films, I was expecting "The Insider" to have a narrative centered around a suave Los Angeles night brooding with a cops-or-robbers-esque narrative bolstered with realistic gunfights. For the most part, this is what I loved about Michael Mann's films. "The Insider" is nothing alike anything Mann has dished out. This is an intelligent, dialogue-driven, and highly engaging thriller centered around commanding storytelling. Never once during its 2 hours and 37 minutes of running time does "The Insider" get dull. There's no explosions to be seen; no sporadic bullets fired about the scene. Instead, the pacing is flawless due to a razor-sharp script, enthralling performances, and a narrative that is too engaging to be anything but so. And this is by far, the most commendable aspect of the film: the storytelling. The narrative is so deeply intriguing and constantly evolving that, admittedly how little character-development is involved, it's too late -- the film has already reached the highest point of entertainment value a movie can exhibit. At the heart of it all, "The Insider" is nothing more than a real and interesting story, but what a hell of a story it is. "The Insider" carries many of the same mechanics that tend to bog down Mann's films: Little character development, female roles that have one-dimensional characteristics, and themes that aren't particularly fleshed out to be the central attention. However, "The Insider"'s narrative is just too good to knock away as a mere B-movie. This is what cinema's all about. This is by far, Michael Mann's most intelligent and creative film he's ever made.

• Chris W

  
  I wasn't sure that it was possible, but this just might be Michael Mann's best film, or at the very least, right up to par with Heat. In a lot of ways (that I probably won't spend the time to list) it is very similar to that one. The plot here is based on actual events… More
  I wasn't sure that it was possible, but this just might be Michael Mann's best film, or at the very least, right up to par with Heat. In a lot of ways (that I probably won't spend the time to list) it is very similar to that one. The plot here is based on actual events (though dramatized at times for cinematic effect) and follows Dr. Jeffrey Wigand, a recently fired employee of a major tobacco company who decided to become a whistleblower back in the mid 1990s by collaborating with 60 Minutes producer Lowell Bergman to expose the truth about the harmful effects of nicotine, and the efforts of the industry to hide it. I'll say it: the film isn't really about the tobacco industry. It's about the toll that a crusade for truth and justice can take on people, and the efforts that some will go to in order to stop the crusade. It's rather frightening, really. Both Wigand and Bergman took professional and personal (especially Wigand) risks, and Mann shows all of this is great detail, and it is all very absorbing, gripping, and fascinating. Plus, the lengths that companies go to in order to keep secrets is equally scary and enlightening. In many ways, this is a thriller, albeit of the talky and unconventional kind. There are serious moments of suspense, and the tension really gets ratcheted up to some high levels at times. Given the film's basic plot line, that seems unexpected, but since Mann is at the helm, maybe it's not as surprising. And, like HEat, this is a lengthy film that is very dense, layered, and filled with depth and development, yet it is never boring, and really cruises right along. You really start to feel and identify with the characters, and you care about the consequences (good and bad) of their decisions. The Mann look and style are in full swing here, and this is a beautifully shot and absolutely gorgeous piece of work. The symbolism and expressiveness of the tone and mood really sing, and they are more than just window dressing for the sharp script. And, as one might expect from a heavy sort of film, there's some major palyers here, and they definitely deliver. Pacino shows up for round two with Mann, and his turn as Bergman is wonderful. It really saddens me that he hasn't had a role this great since this film. Crowe likewise delivers terrific work, and really digs deep into method acting in order to bring the less than glamorous looking Wigand to life. For me though, the real highlight with the acting comes from Christopher Plummer as Mike Wallace. How in the world did this film get nimonated for so many Oscars, yet win basically (if I' not mistaken) none of them? Especially Plummer. He's an absolute delight here. Bottom line: see the damn film. Yes, there's a message here, but even then the film is very well rounded and despite being heavy, it is watchable and entertaining, and doesn't come off as being a chore to endure.

• Emil K

  
  The Insider is powerful achievement in filmmaking. It is work of art and a important statement about a poignant topic. Director Michael Mann is one the greatest living directors alive today and since his 90's crime-epic Heat, he has not misstepped even for once in his career.… More
  The Insider is powerful achievement in filmmaking. It is work of art and a important statement about a poignant topic. Director Michael Mann is one the greatest living directors alive today and since his 90's crime-epic Heat, he has not misstepped even for once in his career. He is know from his films which usually combine his highly stylized trademarks into the familiar themes of doomed love and loners dedicated to their jobs. For example films like Heat, Miami Vice and Public Enemies are like trilogy. They all operate in the same cold world of crime, but their point of view is the thing that keeps them different and apart from themselves. While Mann clearly likes to return to that cold world of crime time to time with his stories, he is also more than capable of a films which focus more topical stories and the inner demons of their characters. The Insider is that kind of a film and also such a rich and nail-biting experience. The story of this film, which is actually based on a true-story and real characters, is so addictively complex and fascinating that it pulls you in to it's hypnotic world that is full of scheming and intrigue. But what strikes me the most here is the humanity of the Eric Roth's and Michal Mann's screenplay. This is by far Mann's most heartfelt film among his masterpiece which is Ali. It also does delve deep in it's characters psyche. This is one of those rare films that just has that unexplainable strenght and intensity that will keep you glued to your seat from the dynamic opening till the melancholic and thoughtful finale.

• Jameson W

  
  Excellent...I had high expectations, but this was brilliant! The acting in this film is excellent, especially from leading actors Al Pacino and Russell Crowe, who recieved an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. His performance is excellent, but for me it was Al Pacino who deserved the… More
  Excellent...I had high expectations, but this was brilliant! The acting in this film is excellent, especially from leading actors Al Pacino and Russell Crowe, who recieved an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. His performance is excellent, but for me it was Al Pacino who deserved the Oscar nod. He gives a fantastic performance. The scipt of The Insider is genius! Even scenes with two characters talking in a car are intense. The dialogue in this film is so realistic and strong through the very long 170 minute running time, but it never lets up. Another thing that stuck out about this film is the music, not the music itself, but the way it is used! Even in the scenes where there is only soft music in the background, but it still adds SO much to emotion of the story. Finally, the direction is phenomenal in this film! This was my first Michael Mann film so I didn't know what to expect, but I definitely plan to seek out his other work now. The Insider is an intense and emotional thriller that is a must see. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, see this movie!

• Sajin P

  
  Russel Crowe delivers what could be one of his finest performances as a stolid suffering whistle-blower in this corporate conspiracy thriller. Michael Mann examines here how brutal and catastrophic it can be for a common man to stand up against the corporate giants. Even more… More
  Russel Crowe delivers what could be one of his finest performances as a stolid suffering whistle-blower in this corporate conspiracy thriller. Michael Mann examines here how brutal and catastrophic it can be for a common man to stand up against the corporate giants. Even more disturbing is the fact that the events in the movies are based on a real story and real people.

• Steven C

  
  I absolutely love films like Michael Mann's "The Insider." Here is a taunt, knotty, sophisticated moral issue thriller that is written, directed and acted with a visceral intensity that is usually unmatched. This intense character piece works just as well as a corporate… More
  I absolutely love films like Michael Mann's "The Insider." Here is a taunt, knotty, sophisticated moral issue thriller that is written, directed and acted with a visceral intensity that is usually unmatched. This intense character piece works just as well as a corporate conspiracy thriller. Mann is great at crafting slow burning suspense, weaving characters and story and always finding ways to make ordinary scenes compelling and surreal. "The Insider" is near perfect.

• Emile T

  
  This is so powerful filmmaking it gave me chills. These are the kind of movies that manage to prove real events are never better told than on films. Everything on Mann's The Insider deserves recognition. A thrilling masterwork from anyone who put their heart in this film.

• Jay H

  
  A compelling tale mired by a very mediocre screenplay and a score which felt intrusive and bizarre at times. Nevertheless, this film features three fantastic performances from Pacino, Crowe, and Plummer. Though marketed as a story of espionage and whistleblowing, the film is a much… More
  A compelling tale mired by a very mediocre screenplay and a score which felt intrusive and bizarre at times. Nevertheless, this film features three fantastic performances from Pacino, Crowe, and Plummer. Though marketed as a story of espionage and whistleblowing, the film is a much more personal drama than one would expect, perhaps too personal for its own good, as the main plot is far more interesting. Not at all a bad film, but it certainly could've been better with better writing and a slight shift in focus.

• Conner R

  
  About as good as contemporary drama's can get. Michael Mann usually never disappoints in giving you a beautiful blue-gray background, surreal images and perfectly shot scenes. The performances also add to the feel of the movie, Russell Crowe both physically and mentally really… More
  About as good as contemporary drama's can get. Michael Mann usually never disappoints in giving you a beautiful blue-gray background, surreal images and perfectly shot scenes. The performances also add to the feel of the movie, Russell Crowe both physically and mentally really took a leap with his role. Al Pacino also gives a great performance, up to par with the best of his work. I think the story is extremely important and one that everyone should be exposed to. It shows how much goes into an episode of 60 Minutes if nothing else.

• familiar s

  
  Excellent movie based on real life.

• Jens S

  
  Director Michael Mann being his awesome self, delivers another exciting, character-based thriller that works even without much crime. Mostly it is a praise of investigative journalism, but also the price that comes with it for informants, networks and journalists all the same. The… More
  Director Michael Mann being his awesome self, delivers another exciting, character-based thriller that works even without much crime. Mostly it is a praise of investigative journalism, but also the price that comes with it for informants, networks and journalists all the same. The acting is superb, especially Pacino and Crowe breathe life into their characters, make us care for them and their story. The fact that a movie in which people mostly talk for over two and a half hours keeps us on the edge of our seat speaks for itself. That's top notch entertainment, intelligent, well made and thought provoking.

• Wahida K

  
  Two men driven to tell the truth... whatever the cost.

• Anthony L

  
  A powerful and important film, beautifully shot!

• Candy R

  
  Al is a TV producer looking to expose the practices of the tobacco industry. Russell is the whistle blower who puts his life and family on the line to reveal the truth. Excellent performances. Intense.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Warning: Exposing the Truth May Be Hazardous"</i> The Insider tells the true story of a man who decided to tell the world what the seven major tobacco companies knew (and concealed) about the dangers of their product. Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe) was a… More
  <i>"Warning: Exposing the Truth May Be Hazardous"</i> The Insider tells the true story of a man who decided to tell the world what the seven major tobacco companies knew (and concealed) about the dangers of their product. Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe) was a scientist employed in research for a tobacco firm, Brown and Williamson. Not long after he was fired by Brown and Williamson, Wigand came into contact with Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino), a producer for 60 Minutes who worked closely with journalist Mike Wallace (played here by Christopher Plummer). Bergman arranged for Wigand to be interviewed by Wallace for a 60 Minutes expose on the cigarette industry, though Wigand was still bound by a confidentiality agreement not to discuss his employment with the company. Despite Wigand's willingness to talk, CBS pulled his interview from at the last minute after Brown and Williamson threatened a multi-billion dollar lawsuit. The staff of 60 Minutes and CBS News were soon embroiled in an internal struggle over the killing of the story, and Wigand found himself the subject of lawsuits and a smear campaign, without his full story reaching the public. <b><u>Review</u></b> It is a rare pleasure to witness on screen a film which not only is enjoyable to watch but will also leave you with a sense of darkness, sorrow and regret. Strong dialogue and even stronger emotions are displayed by Al Pacino's "live on the edge" character Lowell Bergman and Russell Crowe's whistle-blowing Jeffrey Wigand will leave you saddened and hooked whilst the remainder of the cast give the performances of their lives. It's a tale of truth which slowly emerges whilst a character's faith quickly falls. A true masterpiece if ever there was one.

• Ginny  

  
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• Al S

  
  An addictive thriller. Russel Crowe and Al Pacino are magnificent. Christopher Plummer is brilliant. These actors craft some of the best work of their careers. Stunning, electric, intelligent and very dedicated performances. Chilling, thrilling, riveting and deeply moving. An edge of… More
  An addictive thriller. Russel Crowe and Al Pacino are magnificent. Christopher Plummer is brilliant. These actors craft some of the best work of their careers. Stunning, electric, intelligent and very dedicated performances. Chilling, thrilling, riveting and deeply moving. An edge of your seat ride that goes deep into the world to expouse the tobacco company and the men who fought it. A stylish, powerful and electrifying movie. Stunning and spellbinding. Shocking and breathtaking. You wont see a movie with more facts than this. Director, Micheal Mann has crafted a sizzeling and exciting drama of great expectations that hits it dead on. Absolutely unforgettable and groundbreaking. A film that just makes say wow.

• Aaron N

  
  Jeffrey Wigand: I'm just a commodity to you, aren't I? I could be anything. Right? Anything worth putting on between commercials. Lowell Bergman: To a network, probably, we're all commodities. To me? You are not a commodity. What you are is important. Al Pacino and… More
  Jeffrey Wigand: I'm just a commodity to you, aren't I? I could be anything. Right? Anything worth putting on between commercials. Lowell Bergman: To a network, probably, we're all commodities. To me? You are not a commodity. What you are is important. Al Pacino and Russel Crow star in a drama based on a true story about the exposing of public health issues concerning a tobacco company on 60 Minutes, thanks to the help of a recently fired tobacco scientist. Crowe is the insider in question, he's a decent guy with problems that only get worse following his termination of employment. Pacino is a producer for 60 Minutes, in charge of getting interviews from the guys needed to be interviewed. These two meet and eventually get on track to have a lot of secrets revealed, despite the confidentiality agreement that has been signed. What occurs next is a process of trial and error involving Pacino trying to get this information on the air, and Crowe trying to keep his life together, while sticking by his truth. It also helps that this is a Michael Mann film. This film is extremely well made. It looks great thanks to the cinematic flare that Mann is good at working with. All the details and little things that go into getting more authenticity are all present. The score is very fitting as well. The presentation of the film makes up for the story, which does go on and on. The movie is over two and a half hours, but the two leads, plus a great list of supporting character actors all help in pulling this film together. Lowell Bergman: You'd better take a *good* look, because I'm getting two things: pissed off and curious.

• Drew S

  
  The Insider is a colossus of a movie. Long, slow and stretching wall-to-wall with information to be digested, it is a film designed for careful watching. Popcorn entertainment this is not. The actors do an amazing job bringing the film's material to life; a single weak… More
  The Insider is a colossus of a movie. Long, slow and stretching wall-to-wall with information to be digested, it is a film designed for careful watching. Popcorn entertainment this is not. The actors do an amazing job bringing the film's material to life; a single weak performance could have sent this one crashing down, but everyone does their part with aplomb. It is interesting how this movie is filmed, with scarcely a drop of light to it. This is a scenario of soul-crushing oppression that these characters are operating in, and Michael Mann won't let us forget it. Though I've never given smoking a second thought, this is more than enough to turn me away from it - look what big tobacco is doing to people! You're supporting straight-up economic evil every time you buy a pack of cigarettes! (Not to mention you're filling your body with carcinogens, but I digress; I am no Surgeon General.) I also like that Mann honored the real Jeffrey Wigand's request to depict no people smoking in the movie - I think it kept the focus on the legal battle, not the actual act of smoking itself. As I see it, this is kind of like the anti-Erin Brockovich. There are no omnipotent heroes to root for, merely flawed and frustrated people. The capitalist titan that Crowe and Pacino square off against is much more intimidating than the water company, as well. Brockovich has its own strengths, but this is less a drama and more a telling expose on the machinations of one of America's most powerful businesses. Scary stuff.

• jay n

  
  overlong but interesting, Russell Crowe is brilliant.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings