Don't Make a Scene: The Insider

The Story: Michael Mann's intense and convoluted film about the "whistle-blower" incident on Big Tobacco, The Insider, is very intricate in detail and goes "into the weeds" on legalities and corporate politics. But, despite this, it still can be considered a "suspense" picture...even a "film noir" given its depiction of a system designed to crush the human spirit. One can also call it a "paranoid thriller" akin to the films made in the 1970's to Alan J. Pakula like Klute, The Parallax View, and All the President's Men.

 

But, its lack of "action" might make fans of the suspense film genre grouse about it being a "snoozer." In fact, by the time today's featured scene occurs, the adrenaline-deprived might be nodding off.

This wakes them up.

It's a deposition—a bunch of people in a industrially-lighted room asking questions and answering questions (if they can). Not the most exciting of settings, but then actor Bruce McGill steps up to the plate. And hits an actorly home run. I remember exactly the audience's reaction when I saw this—in a theater—and it was only something slightly less than a popcorn-flying-through-the-air shock. You saw necks snap alert, and heard a smattering of "woh's." People were impressed. And a little intimidated.

Director Mann plans it all with shots centering on relationships. Russell Crowe's Wigand is caught between bodies, even out-of-focus ones while on the stand. The Tobacco Lawyers (they're not named, but include actors Wings Hauser and Gary Sandy) are in a walled clump. Close-ups of McGill have the opposing lawyers in the background, and at times he's his own wall separating Wigand from the tobacconists. And it's almost a laugh of a release when after his explosion, McGill's voice turns soothing: "Answer the question, doctor..."

 

I've seen McGill in other things and it's always a treat. He's one of those character actors who can do anything and resists typing, mercurial and chameleon-like. Check things out that he's in. He doesn't disappoint.

 

Oh. And we must note, the passing of fellow cast-member Philip Baker Hall—who played "60 Minutes" producer Don Hewitt (better than Hewitt did!)—and another one of those great character actors who rarely achieved starring roles, but still managed to attract eyes when he appeared on the screen.

 

The Set-Up: "60 Minutes" producer Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino), while doing research for another story comes across Dr. Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe), who eventually informs him that while working as a research chemist for the Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company, that it was apparent that companies were working to make their products more addictive and that when the CEO's of Big Tobacco had earlier testified before Congress they had committed perjury by swearing that cigarettes were not addictive. Bergman pursues the story, and it is only when Wigand begins receiving death threats that he tapes an interview with "60 Minutes" reporter Mike Wallace (Christopher Plummer). It is suggested that Wigand be deposed as part of a Mississippi lawsuit against the tobacco industry to protect him from intimidation from Brown and Williamson and their confidentiality agreement.

 

Action.

 

EXT. THE COURTHOUSE, PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI - DAY  

Some of the Tobacco Lawyers, their jackets off, still hanging across Canty Street by their cars. 

And now they see the police lights turning, coming around a corner, moving towards the courthouse.

The caravan stops. 

First, Scruggs gets out. 

A moment, then Jeffrey appears. 

And the Reporters pounce on Jeffrey, cameras flashing...

Mississippi Police leading him through the crowd... 

Moore appears at courtroom door (already there). And as he's whisked away into the courtroom. 

INT. THE COURTROOM, PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI - DAY 

The tobacco lawyers become dead quiet.

Cell phones are hung up.

Newspapers are put away. 

Jackets are donned. 

This is now very serious business. 

Motley meets Jeffrey, all eyes on him. 

MOTLEY Okay, Jeff, I'm going to sit you down at that table over there. I'm going to start as fast as possible. I don't want to give them a chance to get another restraining order, okay? Let's go. 

MICHAEL MOORE Good luck, Doc. 

Motley calmly motions Wigand to take a chair. 

He settles in.

STENOGRAPHER Please stand. 

STENOGRAPHER Raise your right hand... Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God? 

WIGAND I do. 

STENOGRAPHER You may be seated. 

MOTLEY You understand, Dr. Wigand, you are under oath. 

MOTLEY This is a sworn deposition. 

MOTLEY There's no judge. It's not a trial. (understatement of the century) 

MOTLEY Will you state your name for the record.

WIGAND (after a beat) Jeffrey S. Wigand. 

He spells it for them... 

EXT. THE COURTHOUSE, PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI - DAY 

Lowell, waiting with the other journalists... 

PHOTOGRAPHER Got any idea what's going on in there? 

LOWELL No, I don't have a clue. 

INT. THE COURTROOM, PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI - DAY 

Motley still conducting the inquiry...And the tobacco lawyers, like a pack of dogs, waiting to pounce... 

WIGAND That is correct. 

MOTLEY In other words, it acts as a drug? 

TOBACCO LAWYER Object to the form of the question! 

MOTLEY It acts as a drug on the body? 

TOBACCO LAWYER Object to the form! 

MOTLEY It acts as a... 

TOBACCO LAWYER Ob-

TOBACCO LAWYER -ject! 

MOTLEY There an echo in here? 

MOTLEY Your objection's been recorded. She typed it into her little machine over there. 

MOTLEY It's on the record. 

MOTLEY So now I'll proceed with my deposition of my witness. 

MOTLEY Does it act as a drug? 

TOBACCO LAWYER (shouts) Dr. Wigand. 

TOBACCO LAWYER I am instructing you... 

TOBACCO LAWYER (to Wigand) ...not to answer that question 

TOBACCO LAWYER ...in accordance to the terms of the contractual obligations...

TOBACCO LAWYER ...undertaken by you not to disclose any...

TOBACCO LAWYER ...information about your work at the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company. 

TOBACCO LAWYER And in accordance with the force and effect of the temporary restraining order... 

TOBACCO LAWYER ...that has been entered against you to by the court...

TOBACCO LAWYER ...in the State of Kentucky! 

TOBACCO LAWYER That means you don't talk! 

TOBACCO LAWYER (beat) Mr. Motley, we have rights, here... 

MOTLEY (explodes) Oh, you got rights... 

MOTLEY ...and lefts! 

MOTLEY Ups and downs and middles! 

MOTLEY So what?! 

MOTLEY You don't get to instruct anything... 

MOTLEY ...around here! 

MOTLEY This is not North Carolina, not South Carolina nor Kentucky. 

MOTLEY This is the sovereign State of Mississippi's proceeding. 

MOTLEY Wipe that smirk off your face! 

MOTLEY Dr. Wigand's deposition will be part of this record. 

MOTLEY And I'm going to take my witness' testimony! 

MOTLEY Whether the hell you like it or not! 

MOTLEY (to Wigand) Answer the question, Dr...

WIGAND (slams it home) Yes. It...

WIGAND ...produces a physiological response, which meets the definition of a drug! 

WIGAND Nicotine is associated with impact, with satisfaction. It has a pharmacological effect that crosses the blood-brain barrier intact... 

MOTLEY Thank you, Doctor. 

MOTLEY Thank you.

The Insider

 

Words by Eric Roth and Michael Mann

 

Pictures by Dante Spinotti and Michael Mann

 

The Insider is available on DVD and Blu-Ray from Touchstone Home Video.