The Insider 1999

As Lowell Bergman (Pacino) steps into the Lebanese landscape, a whirlwind of intrigue unfolds. Accompanied by Hezbollah militants, Bergman is escorted to meet Sheikh Fadlallah, the enigmatic founder of the militant group. The producer’s persistence pays off as he convinces the Sheikh to sit down with Mike Wallace (Plummer) for an explosive interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes.

Meanwhile, in Louisville, Kentucky, Jeffrey Wigand (Crowe) is quietly wrapping up his life at Brown and Williamson. His departure from the office is marked by a sense of unease, as he reveals to his wife Liane (Venora) that he was abruptly terminated that morning. Little does Wigand know, his life is about to take a dramatic turn.

Back in Berkeley, California, Bergman receives an anonymous package containing incriminating documents related to Philip Morris, one of the giants of the tobacco industry. His curiosity piqued, Bergman reaches out to a friend at the FDA for guidance on deciphering the contents. The path leads him to Wigand, and a chance encounter sets the stage for a thrilling tale of deception and betrayal.

As Bergman attempts to connect with Wigand, he’s met with resistance. The former employee is understandably wary, having just been fired from his job at Brown and Williamson. A subsequent meeting at the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville marks a turning point, as Wigand agrees to translate the tobacco documents but remains tight-lipped about any other information.

However, Wigand’s confidence is short-lived. He soon finds himself facing pressure from Brown and Williamson CEO Thomas Sandefur (Gambon), who demands that he sign an expanded confidentiality agreement or risk losing his severance pay, medical coverage, and potentially even facing legal action. Wigand’s anger boils over as he accuses Bergman of betraying their trust, sparking a chain reaction of events that will have far-reaching consequences.

Bergman visits Wigand at home the next day, assuring him that his secrets are safe with him. Wigand, still reeling from the threats, opens up about the seven CEOs of Big Tobacco who perjured themselves before Congress, downplaying nicotine’s addictive nature. Bergman urges Wigand to decide for himself whether to blow the whistle on these powerful executives.

As Bergman returns to CBS Headquarters in New York City, he and Mike Wallace discuss Wigand’s precarious situation and the potential damage he could inflict upon Big Tobacco. A lawyer at the meeting paints a dire picture of Wigand’s chances against an enemy with seemingly endless resources. Bergman proposes that Wigand could find protection through a court-ordered interview for 60 Minutes, one that would allow him to share his story while safeguarding himself from the wrath of Brown and Williamson. The stage is set for a battle royale between truth and power.

As the Wigand family settles into their new home, the patriarch begins to establish himself in his roles as chemistry and Japanese teacher at a Louisville high school. However, beneath the surface of this ordinary life, an air of unease settles in, like a slow-moving fog that refuses to lift. It starts with strange noises outside, which Wigand’s daughter alerts him to one fateful night. His investigation reveals a fresh shoe print in the newly planted garden, and a growing sense of paranoia takes hold. The next evening, Wigand shares dinner with Bergman, who probes into his past, warning that Big Tobacco might use those secrets against him. Wigand reveals several incriminating incidents before confidently declaring they wouldn’t impact his testimony. But Bergman’s words linger, planting seeds of doubt in Wigand’s mind.

Meanwhile, Bergman has been secretly working on a plan with Richard Scruggs (Feore) and Ron Motley (McGill), Mississippi’s attorney general Mike Moore, who are preparing to take on Big Tobacco in a high-stakes lawsuit. They’re seeking reimbursement for the state’s Medicaid funds spent treating people afflicted with smoking-related illnesses. The trio expresses interest in Bergman’s idea and instructs him to have Wigand get in touch.

As Wigand’s paranoia reaches new heights, he begins to receive menacing email threats and finds a bullet in his mailbox, prompting him to report the incidents to the FBI. In a move that seems more like an attempt to discredit than investigate, the agency confiscates Wigand’s computer for evidence, further fueling his sense of unease. Enraged by the threats to his family’s safety, Wigand demands that Bergman fly to New York and record his testimony immediately.

During his interview with Wallace, Wigand reveals the shocking truth about Brown and Williamson’s manipulation of nicotine through ammonia chemistry, allowing it to be rapidly absorbed in the lungs and brain, leading to devastating consequences. He speaks out against the company’s conscious disregard for public health in pursuit of profit. The weight of this revelation settles heavily on Wigand, and he begins to realize that his life will never be the same.

As Wigand navigates his new reality as a whistleblower, he struggles to maintain balance in his personal life. His teaching job takes off, but tensions at home continue to escalate. His wife is overwhelmed by the stress, and Wigand’s world begins to unravel further when Bergman surprises him with security personnel. Just days later, Wigand receives a chilling message: a restraining order has been issued by the State of Kentucky, preventing him from testifying. Though this order was eventually thrown out in Mississippi, Wigand is warned that if he testifies and returns to Kentucky, he risks imprisonment.

After months of introspection and soul-searching, Wigand finally finds the courage to give his deposition, speaking candidly about nicotine’s role as a drug. The emotional toll of his testimony takes its due course, leaving Wigand feeling drained and isolated. Upon returning home, he discovers that his wife and children have vanished, leaving behind only the echoes of their once-happy life.

As the narrative unfolds, the spotlight shifts from Jeff Wigand (John Travolta) to Lowell Bergman, the investigative journalist who has been doggedly pursuing the truth about Big Tobacco’s deceitful practices. Bergman and his colleague, Ed Wallace, meet with CBS Corporate to discuss the impending release of Wigand’s explosive interview. A legal concept emerges that will have far-reaching consequences: Tortious interference. If a third party induces one party to break an agreement, the other party can sue for damages. This revelation sets off alarm bells, as it becomes clear that the more truth Wigand shares, the greater the risk of CBS facing a multi-billion dollar lawsuit from Brown and Williamson.

The pressure mounts as Bergman’s team proposes editing the interview to mitigate potential damages. However, Bergman is resolute in his commitment to airing the unedited truth, convinced that CBS Corporate’s reluctance to broadcast the full interview stems from their fear that it could jeopardize the sale of CBS to Westinghouse. Wallace and Don Hewitt eventually agree to edit the interview, leaving Bergman isolated in his unwavering stance.

Meanwhile, a PR firm hired by Big Tobacco unleashes a vicious smear campaign against Wigand, dredging up details about his personal life and publishing a 500-page dossier replete with distorted and exaggerated claims. Through Wigand, Bergman uncovers the extent of Big Tobacco’s manipulation and convinces a reporter from the Wall Street Journal to delay their story until it can be disproven. Bergman then shares his findings with the journalist and instructs him to push back the deadline.

As Bergman continues to butt heads with CBS management, he is ultimately ordered to take a vacation, his constant battles with the corporation taking a toll on his well-being. The stakes are higher than ever, as Bergman’s determination to expose the truth puts him at odds not only with Big Tobacco but also with his own network.

As the edited interview with Wigand (Jeffrey Wigand) is broadcast to the masses, Bergman attempts to reconnect with his former source, but finds himself met with silence. Undeterred, he reaches out to the hotel manager, who gains entry into Wigand’s room only to find him lost in a reverie of what could have been - a peaceful existence untainted by the weight of his testimony. The hotel manager, under Bergman’s instruction, coaxes Wigand back to reality, and the latter vents his frustration at Bergman for allegedly manipulating him into his precarious position. Bergman, however, emphasizes Wigand’s importance as a champion of truth, reminding him that heroes like him are few and far between.

In the aftermath, Bergman reaches out to The New York Times, revealing the scandalous events that transpired on 60 Minutes, prompting the publication to release a scathing rebuke of CBS for compromising its journalistic integrity. Simultaneously, The Wall Street Journal comes to Wigand’s defense, exposing Big Tobacco’s underhanded tactics in their attempt to discredit him and publishing his deposition from Mississippi. As the dust settles, 60 Minutes finally airs the unedited interview with Wigand.

The film concludes with Bergman having a poignant conversation with Wallace (Mike Wallace), who announces his decision to leave 60 Minutes, citing the irreparable damage done to the program’s reputation and its commitment to protecting sources. The camera pans out as Bergman exits the building, leaving behind a trail of broken trust. A series of title cards then appears, listing the staggering $246 billion settlement reached between Big Tobacco and various states in their lawsuit, as well as Wigand’s surprising triumph - receiving the Sallie Mae First Class Teacher of the Year award in 1996, solidifying his reputation as an exceptional educator. In the years that follow, Bergman finds a new home at PBS’s esteemed documentary program, Frontline (1983), and continues to teach journalism at the University of California, Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism.