Insider, The MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +3 Content: -2 1/2

Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino), investigative reporter and producer for CBSs 60 Minutes, calls it the most important health reform issue in U.S. history. But for Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe), former research scientist and vice-president for tobacco company Brown & Williamson, it is about to destroy his life. Wigand is the key inside witness in the lawsuits, filed by Mississippi and 49 other states, against the tobacco industry. But the tobacco industry wants to keep him from talking, because he knows the industrys most closely guarded secrets. Among them how the chemical make-up of nicotine in cigarettes has been manipulated to make them more addictive. 60 Minutes has an exclusive on Wigands story and is about to air an expos that will reveal these dirty little secrets. But to avoid a possibly devastating lawsuit, CBS kills the story. And Mike Wallace (Christopher Plummer), lead anchor for 60 Minutes and long-time associate of Bergman, leaves Bergman alone in the fight by backing CBSs decision. Wigand has wagered too much to get the truth outincluding loss of job, family, and financial securityfor this to have been in vain. So, Bergman continues to fight alone at CBS for journalistic integrity and the release of the story. Adult audiences will be riveted to the screen as this tense and dramatic story unfolds. Pacino and Crowe give phenomenal and believable performances as compatriots for the truth.

THE INSIDER dramatically recreates the courage of one man, along with a very supportive newsman, to stand up and speak out on a key health reform issue in recent U.S. history. Based on a the true story of deceit and eventual multi-billion dollar pay-out by the tobacco industry, this is an important and insightful piece of motion picture history. It reveals not only the facts but the incredible human toll exacted on those who fought for the truth about cigarettes to finally come out. And, likewise, we at PREVIEW must speak out against the gratuitous use of foul language in this film. 33 f-words and 9 s-words destroy a film that could have potentially been both entertaining and illuminating. Without this negative element, we could have recommended this film to both teenagers and adults. We encourage you to write Touchstone Pictures, subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, and voice your disappointment over the completely unnecessary use of obscene language in this important film. As it stands, THE INSIDERs use of offending language places it outside our boundaries of acceptability.

Preview Reviewer: Cliff McNeely
Distributor: Touchstone/Buena Vista/Disney, 5005 Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521, (818) 560-1000