Review of Insider, The

Introduction

Michael Mann, Al Pacino and Russell Crowe ? Sounds like a great receipe in anyone`s book !! The Insider is based on the true story of Jerrey Wigand, the high-level executive of a large tobacco company who is forced out and attempts to tell his story to the world.

Only Michael Mann could craft a film which is gripping enough, and makes us care enough about the characters to sit and watch a movie for this long... And he does.

Video

If it were to be boiled down to two words, The Insider is Dark, and Brooding. The image on this disc translates both of these emotions into a fantastic, crisp, detailed picture. From a fast moving opening scene in Iran, the picture opens with a transfer of the utmost quality.

Colours are naturally presented, in that they look somewhat washed out, rather than the bright comic-book colours of some Hollywood blockbusters. The actors don`t look perfect, you can see the flaws in their skin and the flecks of grey in their hair.

This is a movie about grit and personality. This is an anamorphic NTSC picture, and it looks great. Surely the best yet from Buena Vista, and a distinct about turn from some of their historical shoddy, stripped, flipper discs.

There are times when Mann uses strong colour tones to wash out the other colours in a scene, but these still work well. The disc demonstrates an admirable grip of strong red, and subtle blue and green sequences. A vast majority of the film takes place in the dark, and with actor`s faces in shadows, and the level of detail is always maintained. The only complaint I had about the picture was the `steadycam` filming technique used by Mann to inject a feeling of realism. Unsteady is more like it, and while the bouncing picture draws the viewer in, it can be a bit tiring after almost 3 hours. Another technique used extensively by Mann is the roving focus, with a fixed shot moving between subjects through the use of camera focus. This is carried of perfectly with the detail levels of DVD assisting, and is a method I`m happy watching for hours !

Audio

Although there aren`t many crashes and bangs to stretch the modern sound system, The Insider still manages to have a soundtrack which is so good that it actively impresses. The score by Lisa Gerrard and Pieter Bourke is magnificent, and often builds tension through aural experience alone. Some great base lines underpin what`s happening on the screen, and some of the music tracks are wonderful.

The handling of vocals is also superb, which is vital for a film of this kind. With a complicated plot and a great deal of conversation by characters in a range of accents, the words were always entirely clear and well defined, and locked to the centre speaker.

Features

Not a bad selection of extra material, but not exactly a Special Edition. The disc carries closed caption English subtitles in a particularly clear font, as well as a French sound track. The menus are clear and well themed, but static and silent. The setup menu carries a useful `return to film` option.

In the way of extra material, the disc has a shortish featurette, although it is fascinating because it features not only the actors and director, but also interviews with the actual Wigand and Bergman and other characters from the film, which really brings the truth of the story home. In addition to the other materials, there is an interesting feature called `inside a scene` which walks the viewer through the notes to the actors, the script and the shooting itself, for a single scene in the hotel where Wigand meets Bergman for the frst time. It offers an intruiging insight into the film, and also into the work which is done to create a scene. Vital reading for all students of cinematography or direction.

There is also a theatrical trailer, and also, the dreaded opening trailers. These trailers caused a great deal of concern in the DVD community because they cropped up on this disc, and also on The Sixth Sense. When you place the disc in the tray, you are greeted first with the FBI warnings, and then by theatrical trailers for The Sixth Sense, and Guinevere - it`s just like going back to rental videos ! However, it must be pointed out that these items can be skipped with the chapter forward button. In a way then, they present no real problem. However, there is still the concern that this is the thin end of the wedge. It would not be a huge step from the trailers on The Insider, to trailers that could not be skipped. I think everyone would be happier if these `additional materials` were available as a menu option instead.

Conclusion

People who know me well will know that the subject matter of this film is on close to my heart. The film is, in the words of The Shawshank Redemption, is a "study of pressure and time". As the life of Jeffrey Wigand falls apart, and the pressure builds, and as Bergman gets compromised into a corner, the viewer can really feel for them because Mann puts so much time into developing those characters.

Russell Crowe puts on a virtuoso performance, and he has clearly hit the big time with this success and the spectacular Gladiator behind him. He is ably supported by excellent performances by Pacino, and especially Christopher Plummer as the disillusioned television anchorman.

It`s worth mentioning that this is a very long film. It caught us out when we watched it, and we ended up splitting the viewing over two evenings. If you want to watch in one sitting, hunker down early in a comfortable chair with all the snacks and refreshments you need. If you do this with The Insider, you will not be disappointed. It`s a great film, and a superb disc. The picture is exceptionally good, the sound is outstanding, and so the overall package is one which repays the time invested.

We can always hope that the success of this film will also further increase the awareness of the damage tobacco can cause, and the issues facing society in dealing with the health and social implications of cigarette smoking.