I am re-writing this review on May 30 which is world No-Tobacco Day. Anyone who has seen this movie or have heard of it will know why.
Psst - This section will contain some inside trivia about the film.
Quotes - Good one liners from the movie.
Oops - Goofs From the movie.
Director - Micheal Mann
Screenplay - Micheal Mann, Eric Roth and Marie Brenner.
Intense Hard Hitting true Life story about a Senior Scientist of a Large Tobacco firm, Brown and Williamsons, Dr. Jeffrey Wigand (Russel Crowe) who has been fired by his seniors. Brown and Williamsons were supposed to make a nicotine free cigarrte which could prove benificiary to smoking addicts but this could prove as a liability to the firm. While Brown and Williamsons wants to scrap the deal and continue promoting tobacco products, Dr Wigand suddenly gets a conscience call and is against it which leads to him Getting fired. Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino) is a Investigative Journalist from CBS who one fine day gets a manuscript from an unknown source about tobacco products. He hires Dr. Wigand to explain the stuff to him. Lowell hears about Dr Wigand’s Story and dedcides to interview him in CBS’s most watched program 60 minutes. The biggest glitch is that Dr Wigand has signed a confidentiality agrement with his former company which forbids him to speak about his previous job to anyone. Now since this is a big public reform health issue, Lowell decides to go ahead with the interview and seeks legal representation for Dr Wigand. The State of Kentucky along with Dr Wigand files a case against Brown and Williamsons for actively promoting tobacco products without letting people know how harmful it could be. In between Dr Wigand gets a job as a Chemistry Professor in a univeristy. Meanwhile Senior Executives decide not to broadcast the interview as CBS is being taken over by Electric Giant Westinghouse Co-oparation and if the interview is telecasted, Brown and Williamsons could sue CBS and this could affect the sale of CBS. Lowell along with partner and senior Journalist Mike Wallace (Christopher Plummer) decide to sell the story to any other Newaspaper or News Channel. Meanwhile Dr Wigand starts getting threatning calls and emails which mentally frustrates his wife Liane (Diane Venora) who then files for divorce. In the end after all the drama, CBS finally goes ahead and airs the controversial interview. Very Hard Hitting and intense movie with well researched story, Superb Acting by everyone. Superb background score by Pieter Bourke
and Lisa Gerrard. Superb Cinematography by Dante Spinotti and Crisp editing by William Goldenberg , David Rosenbloom and Paul Rubell. Excellent performances by Al Pacino, Russel Crowe and Christopher Plummer. Doesnt let the viewer move for a second. In my list this is the Second Best English Movie ever made in the 20th century. Why this film didnt win any oscars (It definately deserved the best film, direction and Editing oscar. Much better then the crap American Beauty which beat everyone that year.) is still a mystrey. Better to be watched on the large screen and without any disturbances.
Psst -
1) Scenes at the high school where Dr Wigand Teached and the courtroom where he fought the case were actual locations.
2) The real Jeffrey Wigand asked for two concessions from the filmmakers. That they change the names of his daughters, and that there be no smoking anywhere in the film. Both requests were granted (except for one shot of smoking by a Hezbollah guard).
3) Michael Moore, the attorney general of Mississippi, plays himself for the court room scenes.
4) The Tobacco industry in 1998 Settled the lawsuits filed against them for 246 billion dollars.
5) In 1996 after the interview was Shown Dr Wigand was presented with the Teacher Of The Year Award by the State of Kentucky.
6) Lowell Bergman on the faculty in Univeristy of Southern California in Berkley in the Graduate School of Journalism.
7) Lowell Bergmand and Dr Wigand till date have remained very close friends.
8) Dr Wigand still heads many anti tobacco campaign and often gives lectures and Seminars through out the world on this topic.
9) His Official website is https://jeffreywigand.com
Due to space constraints I have written the quotes and the oops section in the comment sections. Please take a look.