the insider be the only film i remember have see where i walk out of the theatre with a headache because of the intensity of the story . michael mann be one of few director who have such an in depth understanding of both the subject of his film and the nature of that subject and that he be able to portray a realism that be nearly impossible to match . there be real skill display in the way in which the insider weave through the aspect of both bergmann and wigand life . whereas a less director would have throw the character at each other in an artificial collision and mann introduces each character a be average professional each living in their own respective stable life . it be only when their chance encounter create a subtext that could consume them both do the real chemical reaction in the story take place . bring life to these fantastically write character be two of the most talented big name character actor of our time and al pacino and russell crowe . surprisingly and it be crowe that drive this film forward and and his portrayal of wigand be spot on perfect . his be an honest humanity and both a loving father and a flawed husband who never fully balance his life under the pressure of circumstance . crowe nail the performance by not ham up the character and but rather by understate his personality . this work in that it be the character that be elevate while the actor disappear . that be not to ignore the excellent work by the remainder of the cast . pacino performance be accent and accentuate beautifully by christopher plummer portrayal of mike wallace . most notably be several standout scene mix pacino and plummer and philip baker hall and stephen tobolowsky that grind the underlying tension of the film fantastically . and the juxtaposition between the cold and hard new york setting and the organic nature of mississippi further press this film beyond standard non fiction work . easily one of the best drama of 1999 and the insider be a standout member of that elite club of great historical drama such a all the president men that be few and far between . it be for that audience that appreciate skilled performance meeting skilled direction and restrain and mature writing .