The Insider (1999) discussion thread

[zorbonaut]

I just revisited the 1999 Michael Mann film, "The Insider" which stars Russell Crowe, Al Pacino and Christopher Plummer among others.

Mann has made some great films but The Insider is what I consider to be his masterpiece. It would make my top 50 list without question. What a powerful film with all-star performances all around. Crowe's performance as big tobacco insider, Jeffrey Wigand, was ranked by Premiere magazine as the 23rd best individual performance of all time. One of my favorite scenes is when

[Show spoiler]Crowe realizes that they are taking his computer away and he frantically chases after the agent before stumbling down the hill.

I had not watched this film for probably 15 years until last night and it still holds up very well.

Anyone else enjoy this film or seen it recently? Favorite scenes? It had been on my re-watch list for the longest time until last night.

[English Patient]

It's definitely in my top 20 films of all time. Some of the dialogue scenes are incredibly well-written, like a great stage play. I love the scene in the Japanese restaurant where Wigand cynically tells Bergman, "I'm just a commodity to you, aren't I? Something worth putting on between commercials." Mann doesn't get enough credit as a screenwriter - there are lot of lines and dialogue exchanges in the movie (as well as in Manhunter) that are as good as screenwriting gets.

[imsounoriginal]

Heat is his masterpiece, but this isn't far behind. Probably his last inarguably great film, although I'd include Collateral and maybe even Miami Vice on that list.

[IroquoisPliskin]

love that movie, I consider this movie top of Michael Mann movies.

Heat
The Insider
Collateral

[English Patient]

Another brilliant moment in the movie is when Wigand is returning home from giving his deposition, and he sees a car fire by the side of the road - the eerie sight, combined with Lisa Gerrard's haunting vocal on the soundtrack, seem to foreshadow his own life about to go up in flames.

[Feiereisel]

It's a tremendous film; It's a bummer that it seems to have been so widely forgotten. Outstanding character work, and a wonderfully understated performance from Pacino. This is a great card to play in "Pacino was only good in the '70s" conversations.

I like all of Mann's work, but this is a film that argues for Mann as a master filmmaker. It picks up on Mann's obsession with uniquely-skilled individuals, but divorces it from the perceived generics of his usual cops-and-criminals milieu. The revised context foregrounds his sills as a filmmaker and reminds viewrs of the substance of his style.

(His work on the pilot episode of Luck also does this, and I'm hoping his upcoming Ferrari feature manages this, too. And Collateral is the most illuminating fusion of Mann's criminal and non-criminal worlds--Max is as good a cabbie as Vincent is an assassin.)

Bracing stuff, akin to Fincher's Zodiac and more recent work.

Seems like these kinds of movies are kind of endangered lately.

[BagheeraMcGee]

One of my favorite moments is when Crowe's staring out at the Gulf of Mexico, contemplating all of the ramifications of his giving a deposition in Mississippi. He says, "I can't find the criteria to decide..." He and Pacino talk for a moment and finally he says, "F**k it, let's go to court."

Cue up Gustavo Santaololla's "Iguazu" as they drive to the courthouse.......goosebumps.

I know "Iguazu" has been used in other films/TV shows ("24", "Babel"), but I will always associate that song with "The Insider".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2TgojQouZE

[zorbonaut]

Originally Posted by English Patient

Another brilliant moment in the movie is when Wigand is returning home from giving his deposition, and he sees a car fire by the side of the road - the eerie sight, combined with Lisa Gerrard's haunting vocal on the soundtrack, seem to foreshadow his own life about to go up in flames.

I didn't remember this scene from years ago when I last watched it but this scene did stand out to me as well as I revisited it a few days ago.

Originally Posted by BagheeraMcGee

One of my favorite moments is when Crowe's staring out at the Gulf of Mexico, contemplating all of the ramifications of his giving a deposition in Mississippi. He says, "I can't find the criteria to decide..." He and Pacino talk for a moment and finally he says, "F**k it, let's go to court."

Cue up Gustavo Santaololla's "Iguazu" as they drive to the courthouse.......goosebumps.

I know "Iguazu" has been used in other films/TV shows ("24", "Babel"), but I will always associate that song with "The Insider".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2TgojQouZE

Totally agree!

Another scene I really like is when Pacino is forced to take a vacation and his is walking on the beach and gets the phone call.

[Adam_ME]

Man, I listened to that Insider soundtrack like crazy for a couple years after that movie came out. It was such an unusual selection of songs for a film like that. Usually you'd have a traditional composer and some manipulative score. But I love the choice of tunes like "Sacrifice" for scenes like the one where the 60 Minutes interview is finally broadcast.

Also, there are some epic shoutdowns in this flick. Plummer's "YOU CUT IT!" and McGill's "WIPE THAT SMIRK OFF YOUR FACE!" moments are classic. I know the movie tanked hard at the box office, but I'm glad the Academy gave it a bunch of nominations. Russell Crowe likely won for Gladiator the following year thanks to the momentum started by his Best Actor nod for The Insider.

[Ray Jackson]

Nothing could top Heat as my favorite Michael Mann film.

...but The Insider is really good.

[Bluyoda]

Yep. Definitely love this movie, and I have to rewatch it sometime soon.

I just put it in a black case yesterday:

The Insider.jpg

The photo really doesn't do it justice.

[zorbonaut]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

Yep. Definitely love this movie, and I have to rewatch it sometime soon.

I just put it in a black case yesterday:

Attachment 144398

The photo really doesn't do it justice.

LOVE the black case!!!

[qb2333]

I agree the Insider is his best one and the performances are brilliant. I never really got Heat but I'm not a fan of heist movies generally.

[OI8T12]

I don't know how I missed this movie, but I'm going to order it very soon. I have seen a couple of his movies, Heat and Collateral, and I liked them both quite a bit. Thank you for bringing The Insider to my attention, as I'm sure I'm going to like it.

[zorbonaut]

Originally Posted by OI8T12

I don't know how I missed this movie, but I'm going to order it very soon. I have seen a couple of his movies, Heat and Collateral, and I liked them both quite a bit. Thank you for bringing The Insider to my attention, as I'm sure I'm going to like it.

I'm glad I could help introduce you to a film unknown to you. It's really a great film! You won't be disappointed.

[English Patient]

Originally Posted by Adam_ME

Also, there are some epic shoutdowns in this flick. Plummer's "YOU CUT IT!" and McGill's "WIPE THAT SMIRK OFF YOUR FACE!" moments are classic. I know the movie tanked hard at the box office, but I'm glad the Academy gave it a bunch of nominations.

Almost every major and minor character has great, memorable speeches and mini-monologues, like McGill's intense "WIPE THAT SMIRK OFF YOUR FACE" explosion or Colm Feore's quietly powerful "I do know how it is" speech. Anybody studying acting could use these as great showcases or exercises - they are so powerful and well-written, and they feel both realistic and poetic.

Even the little throwaway lines in the movie are intelligent and memorable and often funny. "Is there anything you need to know about me?" Bergman asks Wigand, and Wigand says, "Like what, your sign?" Everything in the film is classy and intelligent. I think this movie will stand the test of time.

[Guillaume P]

Originally Posted by zorbonaut

Favorite scenes?

Crowe's breakdown scene in his hotel room while Pacino is trying to talking to him on his cell phone, walking on the beach...incredibly beautifully shot, acted, written and scored scene...this part was incredible on the big screen!!
I also love the bit when the interview is finally aired uncut, when the characters are all watching it on tv, in their different locations...again, great editing and direction, and use of music.

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Probably his last inarguably great film, although I'd include Collateral and maybe even Miami Vice on that list.

I would say that "Ali" (or "Collateral") is his last great film, even if they are also some really good things in "Blackhat", "Public enemies" and "Miami Vice"...

[P-Rock]

Anyone else thought that Wigand's wife was (portrayed as) a total materialistic b1tch?

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by P-Rock

Anyone else thought that Wigand's wife was (portrayed as) a total materialistic b1tch?

Is there any other way to see it?

[Ray Jackson]

I don't think I've ever seen a copy of this blu-ray in any store...ever.

Not Best Buy, Barnes and Noble, Target...nada.

That bothers me.