Conclusion

By Cristina Johnson

By evaluating the events shown in the film The Insider with real accounts, we have found the movie to be relatively accurate. Some scenes were distorted by Hollywood in order to fit the film into the allotted time, make the movie more exciting, or frame sequences in a specific way. Dominant ideologies such as capitalism and materialism were upheld, while the stories of Caucasians and men were privileged.

Micheal Mann set out to portray the characters as real people, doing what they believed to be right. He used factual information and events to give the film accuracy. The film has been nominated for countless awards, and won many others.

Many ideologies are reinforced in The Insider, such as white privilege, justice, and romance. This film in particular makes it clear that white, educated males are heroes. Most of the ideologies in the film are buried, not easily realized by the average viewer. The director, Mann, has a pivotal role in what the audience subconsciously sees in the film.

Without the help of major news media sources, the information Jeffrey Wigand shared would not have had a chance of reaching the public as it did. The Wall Street Journal was influential in upholding Wigand's trustworthiness, making his story believable.

The journalistic events in this story were consistently ethical. Bergman shows integrity while procuring Wigand's story, then retires honorably. Major news sources corrected the mistakes they made, and the truthful story was eventually reported.

Today, Dr. Wigand is a successful proponent for a smoke-free nation and world. His non-profit organization, Smoke-Free Kids provides educational seminars for people of all ages, informing them on the harms of tobacco. He is using his teaching skills and first-hand knowledge of the dangers of tobacco to educate the young and old, one group at a time.

Watching The Insider has provided us with new insights into the inner workings of how people in the professional world interact. Also, we were given an example of ordinary people dealing with world-changing issues, and emerging victorious. We realize that the entire film has a glaring frame attached to it: tobacco is evil, "whistleblowers" are righteous. Through this frame, Mann shows us how difficult it can be to speak the truth.