An insider story is a type of narrative that depicts a person who witnesses misconduct and chooses to go public. These stories are based on true events and explore the moral dilemmas that can result from conflicting loyalties and the need for truth.
The 1999 film The Insider, directed by Michael Mann and written by Mann and Eric Roth, is a fictionalized account of the real-life events depicted in Marie Brenner’s 1996 Vanity Fair article “The Man Who Knew Too Much”. The movie stars Russell Crowe as Jeffrey Wigand, a former tobacco executive who blows the whistle on nefarious activities at his company. The film also stars Al Pacino as Lowell Bergman, the producer of 60 Minutes who fought to see Wigand’s story aired despite pressure from CBS executives and Wigand’s own employer.
Unlike some films that attempt to dramatize such events, The Insider never descends into cliché or melodrama. The movie has the taut pace of a thriller and the depth of a drama. The score, by composer Lisa Gerrard, lends a haunting quality to the picture that complements its slow-burn intensity.
The movie’s central theme is the importance of truth in a democracy. It is the story of a corporate power grab and the heroic efforts that can be required to bring the truth to light. It is a reminder that we are all citizens of this world and that each of us has the responsibility to fight for what we believe is right.