Touchstone Pictures, Rated R
Directed by Michael Mann
Written by Eric Roth & Michael Mann
Based on an article by Marie Brenner

The true story of one Jeffrey Wigand (Oscar nominee Russell Crowe), an "ordinary (man) under extraordinary pressure" who just happens to be an executive at the Brown & Williamson tobacco firm. He is basically forced out of his job after being contacted by Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino), a producer from 60 Minutes, who is doing a story on tobacco. At first Wigand refuses to talk but finally decides to, whereafter he is threatened with litigation.
Bergman promises Wigand protection but Wigand doesn't know whether to trust him. Wigand finally agrees to be interviewed and reveals that the tobacco industry was not only aware that cigarettes are addictive & harmful, but deliberately worked on increasing that addictiveness. Unfortunately, both protagonists of this story learn the hard way that simply telling the truth is not enough as they struggle against both Big Tobacco's attempts to silence them and the CBS TV Network's own cowardly complict preference of putting money as a higher priority over the truth.
This is a powerful film from beginning to end and should at the very least win the Oscar for Film Editing. Crowe gives a sharp performance, outdoing his great role in L.A. Confidential. In any year without American Beauty, he would be my pick for Best Actor. The film gives you a lot to think about and at two and a half hours, doesn't seem too overlong. Pacino does a great job as well as the rest of the talented cast. Questions have arisen about the accuracy of the film but from what is presented here, a good deal of it is believable and, at times, frightening. Though I may not agree with some of the positions of the filmmakers, the argument is not forced down your throat. It's more about truth and journalism than anything else and it's a bold, unflinching look at journalism today. ****

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