The Insider (DVD)

"The Insider" by Micky B - 2 April 2014

Nominated for no less than <i>seven</i> Academy Awards, Al Pacino is is teamed up with Russell Crowe and Christopher Plummer in this true story that makes for good dramatic viewing. We, in South Africa, are not as familiar with the TV show <i>60 Minutes</i> as our Amerian counterparts are, but appareently it enjoys immense popularity right across the USA. Story: Dr Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe,) who holds a PhD in both biochemestry and endochrinal biology, is fired by a large tobacco company. He susequently receives a package from an unknown sender. The doctor agrees to interpret these documents for TV reporters Mike Wallace (Christopher Plumber) and Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino) subject to certain conditions, and blows the whistle on the fact that CBS – the channel on which "60 Minutes is aired – is owned the same person who controls the Lorriland Tobacco company! Noting the conflicting-of-interests situation, Bergman confronts the seven CEOs (whom he calls the seven dwarfs) of "Big Tobacco" who, he maintains, all committed perjury before the Congress of the USA by virtue of their sworn testimony that tobacco is not harmful to smokers...while knowing full well that this is not true! After attempts to bribe Dr Wigand fail, the seven dwarfs go further to try to silence – or discredit – his testimony. All in all, its a great movie: one that deserved far better that it received from its Big Screen showings.