The Insider - Definition and Overview

The Insider is a 1999 film which tells the true story of a 60 Minutes television series exposé of the tobacco industry, as seen through the eyes of a real tobacco executive, Jeffrey Wigand. It stars Al Pacino (as Lowell Bergman), Russell Crowe (as Wigand), Christopher Plummer (as Mike Wallace), Diane Venora, Philip Baker Hall (as Don Hewitt), Lindsay Crouse, Debi Mazar, Stephen Tobolowsky, Colm Feore and Bruce McGill.

The movie was adapted by Eric Roth and Michael Mann from the article The Man Who Knew Too Much by Marie Brenner. It was directed by Mann.

It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Russell Crowe), Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Picture, Best Sound and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published.

There is also a TV newsmagazine called The Insider; see The Insider (TV newsmagazine).