The Insider

1999 • 157 minutes

About this movie

THE INSIDER recounts the chain of events that pitted an ordinary man against the tobacco industry and dragged two people into the fight of their lives. Academy Award-winner Al Pacino gives a powerful performance as producer Lowell Bergman and Academy Award Winner Russell Crowe co-stars as the ultimate insider, former tobacco executive Dr. Jeffrey Wigand. When Wigand is fired by his employer -- one of the largest tobacco companies in America -- he agrees to become a paid consultant for a story Bergman is working on regarding alleged unethical practices within the tobacco industry. But what begins as a temporary alliance leads to a lengthy battle for both men to save their reputations, and much, much more. As they soon find out, Corporate America will use all legal means at its disposal to save a billion-dollar-a-year habit. And as the corporate giants soon find out, Bergman and Wigand are honorable men, driven to smoke out the evidence. Also starring Christopher Plummer as anchor Mike Wallace and Gina Gershon, THE INSIDER will chill you with its cold, hard edge -- and thrill you with its unbelievable twists and turns.

Ratings and reviews

Man, what a great movie. I can't believe I'd never seen it before. It's a stark contrast to the news organizations of current day, and a reminder about how insidious the influence of money is when we're all starved of it.

Powerful yet frightening...makes you ask the question throughout the film whether you would have the needed strength to be a whistle blower.

I haven't seen this movies since it first came out. I honestly forgot about this movie. I am going to look at it again. I do remember liking this movie a lot.