106: Michael Mann: The Insider (with James Slaymaker) (Patreon)

James Slaymaker, a film writer and the author of Time is Luck: The Cinema of Michael Mann returns to the show from Southampton, England to discuss one of Mann’s finest films, 1999’s The Insider.

One of the great films about journalism, The Insider is based on the true story of Dr. Jeffrey Wigand, a former tobacco company vice president who dares to go on the record about Big Tobacco and the product tampering that posed a public health risk. Wigand agrees to appear on 60 Minutes thanks to their tenacious producer Lowell Bergman. But in a shocking turn of events, CBS tampers with the story; fearing a massive lawsuit from Brown & Williamson for “tortious interference” that could destroy the network, they force a sanitized version on the air, putting Wigand in further jeopardy when a smear campaign is concocted by B&W to further discredit and destroy him. Critics loved the film but it was beset by media controversy upon release and never found an audience.

We talk about The Insider as one of Mann’s most radical works, a big budget drama (released by Disney!) about corporate malfeasance and heroic individuals fighting against overwhelming systems. Along the way we discuss the fantastic performances, Mann’s visual approach that borders on abstract expressionism, pointing the way to his 21st century digital filmwork, and why this film is a Dudes Rock classic.

Follow James Slaymaker on Twitter.

James’ book Time is Luck, The Cinema of Michael Mann, is now available in paperback and Kindle.

The full version of Jeffrey Wigand’s interview with 60 Minutes, aired February 4, 1996

“Jeffrey Wigand: The Man Who Knew Too Much” - the Vanity Fair article by Marie Brenner that The Insider was adapted from, May 1996

Trailer for The Insider (Mann, 1999)