Ejaz Asi - Information Designer from Karachi, Pakistan

I’ll make this simple for you with short attention spans: Al Pacino’s best performance of the 90s. Russell Crowe’s best work on par with LA Confidential (if not better) and a gripping shot by Christopher Plummer as 60 Minutes anchor Mike Wallace.

I first wanted to see ‘The Insider’ because it professed to show the truth behind the lies of the Tobacco Industry and also because of the energy Al Pacino delivers with no non-sense approach from Russel Crowe. I saw it and was thoroughly impressed. In fact I’ve now seen it 4 times (I think, though I may have lost count).

If you go to the movies or just watch them to be entertained mindlessly, do NOT see this movie, you will be bored. This movie is for people who like to think, and who like to receive superior presentation of thought provoking material and also puts the viewer in a conflict of thought (to a certain degree). The Insider has all that.

The movie gets you thinking about mankind. The obvious problem with human nature is obvious in this movie. The Tobacco companies knowingly selling addictive product, whilst claiming it is not. And then almost, almost but not quite, getting away with ruining an individual’s life, an individual who’s conscience was pricked by what they had seen.

But then it moves into the CBS drama, where again the hopelessness of mankind in general shines through. The strength of two individuals though manages to win the day, which is what makes this true story so unusual.

I found that (contrary to those who complained of the movies length) every scene that Mann has given us has a reason. A good reason. Almost 3 hours length certainly does for me. I have strong distaste for indian (bollywood) movies but I find that a good subject and detailed presentation is ideal for around 3 hours length movie, something you’d find in every indian movie otherwise. From the opening scenes depicting Hesbollah’s leader far from USA to the hints as to why we didn’t hear anything about the drama when it happened, because the OJ murder story and media frenzy drowned out what should be to us all a much more serious matter.

For me the crowning moment in the film was when Russell Crowe (as Wigand) was about to dig into a hamburger when behind him on TV a newscaster reported findings about him, bad (though unfounded) findings. Crowe put his knife and fork back down in a way that told us all that he had no more appetite, in fact all the will left in him had been violently thrust away, thrust away by the selfish interests of the Tobacco companies.

All in all this is a complete movie that deserved its 7 nominations and should have gotten some awards. The sound was great, as was the camera work. I can always like Lisa Gerrard’s haunting and poignant voice. I think I can talk about the soundtrack separately on a full post but it’s one of those soundtracks that I would listen to any day if I am looking for some serious creative work. If you love an artistic movie, you will love this one. Crowe is thoroughly believable and has cemented himself as a first rate actor, capable of playing just about any part put his way. The movie got out in 1999, Gladiator was probably 2000 and wins him an award and a year later he delivers a good job at “A Beautiful Mind” followed by fantastic work at “Cinderella Man” and “Master and Commander”. Pacino is very well cast, Plummer is a class act, and a host of supporting cast did themselves proud.

I’ll make this simple for you with short attention spans: Al Pacino’s best performance of the 90s. Russell Crowe’s best work on par with LA Confidential (if not better) and a gripping shot by Christopher Plummer as 60 Minutes anchor Mike Wallace.

What we can’t forget about this movie, for all its drama, and for the pointed view it gives us of the nature we bear, its a TRUE STORY. Thats what really makes it shocking. And only those driven to the ends of despair and loneliness such as Wigand and Bergmann were, can really truly realise another fact pointed out in the movie, in the end of it all, we are nothing anyway, so what does it all matter?

Interesting Stuff: I have

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I need to listen to Josh Groban more than my ears could bear him because he’s got so freaking gorgeous hair only a woman should own but then he’s the only one exempted may be. and he’s got nice vocals and hell, look at this song and lyrics. holy moly. I could always listen to it for a night-time work. ha. what memories. yeah, what life.

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up… To more than I can be.

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This is not a review: ‘And Justice for all’ has been reviewed to death already: as comedy; as a tour-de- force acting performance by Al Pacino; as an entertainment and as a musical showcase. I was hugely entertained by this movie but in a different way.

This is a personal evaluation of a landmark movie directed by Norman Jewison and written by Barry Levinson & Valarie Curtin. The film reflected the rage that many felt against the failed Criminal-Justice system of 25-yrs ago. Since then, Judges have been reigned in somewhat, and DNA technology has freed thousands, many even from death row. What still persists is law-enforcement’s inability to admit a mistake. Officialdom will move heaven and earth to stand firm on any previous decision; as if to admit error would undermine the legal edifice and bring the law into disrespect. The opposite is true of course. The whole world knows that mistakes are made in adjudicating the relations between people and if law enforcement could admit this fact with grace, the whole legal system would run more smoothly, in fact an order of magnitude smoother and more efficiently. And thus the rage.

I would like to start at the end.

With titles running, Arthur Kirkland, Baltimore lawyer, is sitting, bewildered and despairing on the steps of the Baltimore Court House; he has just blown the career he loved. His rage at the phony and corrupt criminal-justice system has led him to betray the client he was sworn to defend and he will surely be disbarred. The trial he has been ejected from will certainly be declared a mistrial and a vicious criminal may go free. The affair he was having with Gail Packer, a thing of the past.

The writers had no doubt about the story they were telling. It’s a story about justice denied to all but those who can get the best legal representation and that means money. It is a story of a system where judges have become so arrogant and crazed by their own power of life or death that they have lost all contact with the world around them. Without a modicum of respect for the rights of those that come before them for justice, sometimes carelessly and sometimes with malice they meddle heedlessly in peoples lives causing havoc and dismay.

The plea-bargaining system also comes in for its share of bashing. In the lobbies and antechambers of the CourtHouse we see lawyers and prosecutors haggling over the penalties to be meted out in exchange for a guilty plea. These are almost biblical scenes of temple desecration.

Judge Henry T. Fleming played by John Forsyth is the metaphor for evil in this movie. His aloofness and arrogance and his repetition of the words ‘I don’t care’ convey the awesomeness of his depravity. He really doesn’t care about the people who come before him or their lawyers or the rest of the World for that matter. In this he is the distilled essence of evil. As the story evolves we realize that this man is more criminal than those who appear before him and all ironies are complete. In the penultimate scene, the ‘You are out of order’ scene; Judge Fleming, accused rapist, and Kirkland’s client gazes sternly and coldly at Kirklands’ helpless rage.

To hell with the fucking rules and law anyway!

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