‘The Insider’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
January 30, 2024 · The Insider (1999) · Biography · Drama · History · 1:29:55
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsEndorses the car scene as representing Michael Mann's talent for chess match feeling-out scenes between good actors, and appreciates the exposition scene's handling of multiple characters and agendas▶ 35:15
Chris RyanLowell and Jeffrey in the car feeling each other out while it's raining, and the exposition scene where the 60 Minutes staff discusses legal strategy over lunch▶ 34:33
Sean FennesseyAgrees with the exposition scene where the 60 Minutes staff discusses the legal defense strategy, praising Eric Roth's ability to clarify the movie's problem in one scene▶ 37:07
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsPacino's performance (specifically his ability to play conversations with ulterior motives) and Christopher Plummer's interpretation of Mike Wallace (now that Wallace isn't on TV anymore)▶ 44:56
Chris RyanPacino's performance, the cinematography and visual style, the golf scenes, and the inner workings of 60 Minutes/CBS News▶ 44:54
Sean FennesseyAgreed with the discussion about Pacino and Plummer's performances, noting Pacino's skill as a screen partner and Plummer's authentic portrayal of Wallace without doing an impression▶ 46:30
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsThe slow motion ending with Pacino leaving on the street (feels like a 1981 movie and is tacky), and Wings Hauser's casting given his career trajectory from B-movies to 90210▶ 53:32
Chris RyanThe inner workings of 60 Minutes and the chauvinistic behavior suggested in interactions with Gina Gershon's lawyer character▶ 52:59
Sean FennesseyThe score and Michael Mann's attempts to be singular that sometimes age his movies, straining for individuality in ways that don't work▶ 54:14
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsWings Hauser — What if somebody had never said, hey, we should get Wings Houser▶ 1:03:54
Sean FennesseyWings Hauser — Defends Wings Houser casting, saying he's good in the movie despite it being weird▶ 1:04:05
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsJeffrey Wigand didn't want any cigarettes shown in the movie, which SPEAKER_00 thought was a mistake since it would have been thematically appropriate▶ 1:07:06
Chris RyanOriginally called 'Man of the People'; Roth and Mann wrote first draft at Broadway Deli bar; Russell Crowe couldn't talk to Jeffrey Wigand due to confidentiality agreement; Mike Wallace detested the movie; Michael Mann lived in same building as Don Hewitt who criticized the film; Pete Hamill plays the New York Times writer▶ 1:04:20
Sean FennesseyEngaged in discussion about the research findings and added personal context about Pete Hamill being his grandmother's favorite columnist▶ 1:07:01
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Chris RyanHow would this have played in the internet era? - believes people would dismiss it as 'no duh, everybody knows this' and the story would get lost in the noise▶ 1:16:07
Sean FennesseyWonders how news/social media polarization would affect reception - would there be people defending cigarettes vs. condemning Jeffrey Wigand for breaking his agreement▶ 1:16:26
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsWigand's wife turned on him too quickly after he lost his job - she wasn't supportive when he came home saying he got laid off▶ 1:17:21
Bill SimmonsThe movie uses 'semi-finals' when referring to NBA playoffs - nobody ever says semi-finals in the NBA, it should be conference finals▶ 1:19:10
Chris RyanJeffrey Wigand would be a tough hang because he'd respond to everything with 'I can't talk about that, it's my confidentiality agreement'▶ 1:18:54
Sean FennesseySuggested the marriage may have been bad from the start, noting that Jeffrey Wigand appears to have social struggles and anger issues▶ 1:18:38
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsMike Wallace's 'We work in the same corporation doesn't mean we work in the same profession' and 'Ordinary people under extraordinary pressure' exchange▶ 1:21:37
Chris RyanMultiple quotes including 'Fuck it. Let's go to court', 'Get on the fucking phone' exchange, 'You fucked you', and Bergman's monologue about corporate malfeasance▶ 1:20:36
Sean Fennessey'You better take a good look because I'm getting two things. Pissed off and curious' and 'Fame has a 15 minute half life. Infamy lasts a little longer'▶ 1:22:37
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsBruce McGill — Not Pacino or Crowe (Crowe's is Gladiator). Bruce McGill definitely. Lindsay Crouse as a strong candidate alongside McGill.▶ 1:24:43
Chris RyanBruce McGill — Bruce McGill definitely. Not Christopher Plummer (Sound of Music). Calls it 'nobody's Apex Mountain' but agrees on McGill or Lindsay Crouse.▶ 1:24:40
Sean FennesseyBriefly mentions Michael Mann's achievement in getting the movie made but doesn't give a clear pick▶ 1:25:17
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsAl Pacino — Pacino - calls his performance in this movie so good and iconic, especially combined with Any Given Sunday in the same year▶ 1:29:09
Movies Referenced (58)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proof of Life (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 17:23 |
| Any Given Sunday (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 10:17 |
| Scarface (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:53 |
| All the President's Men (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 22:12 |
| Donnie Brasco (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 10:14 |
| Forrest Gump (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:48 |
| Gladiator (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 17:23 |
| Insomnia (2002) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 5:19 |
| Miami Vice (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 8:15 |
| Spotlight (2015) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 31:31 |
| The Godfather (1972) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 10:19 |
| The Sound of Music (1965) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 7:56 |
Directors Referenced (8)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Mann | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 35 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans | ▶ 2:37 |
| Lowell Bergman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 27 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | The Insider | ▶ 8:49 |
| Joe Roth | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan | Maleficent | ▶ 6:32 |
| Luciano Pavarotti | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | Man on Fire | ▶ 1:28:17 |
| Jason Reitman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Up in the Air, Thank You for Smoking | ▶ 1:05:04 |
| Quentin Tarantino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, From Dusk Till Dawn | ▶ 19:21 |
| Sean Penn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Mystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking | ▶ 51:46 |
| Sofia Coppola | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Godfather Part III, The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation | ▶ 14:26 |
Actors Referenced (52)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Pacino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 59 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather | ▶ 3:59 |
| Christopher Plummer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 24 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | The Insider | ▶ 7:13 |
| Bruce McGill | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Law Abiding Citizen, National Lampoon's Animal House, My Cousin Vinny | ▶ 38:08 |
| Russell Crowe | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind | ▶ 4:03 |
| Don Hewitt | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Next Three Days | ▶ 24:36 |
| Val Kilmer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Doors, The Saint, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang | ▶ 16:09 |
| Diane Venora | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Heat | ▶ 57:23 |
| Johnny Depp | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 10:10 | |
| Philip Baker Hall | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Magnolia, Boogie Nights | ▶ 10:13 |
| Tom Cruise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Top Gun, Minority Report | ▶ 50:28 |
| Daniel Sea | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 10:53 | |
| Gina Gershon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 38:06 |
Writers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Roth | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Forrest Gump, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | ▶ 8:32 |
| Andy Greenwald | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 0:13 | |
| Marie Brenner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Insider, Richard Jewell | ▶ 8:34 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlo Molinari | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:28:53 |