Vlad W.

Michael Mann's 'The Insider' is an almost perfect film.

It displays wonderful characters who speak and act like real human beings. This realism is heightened by the lack of prominent music which gives the film the feeling of a live program. The acting is truely top notch. After watching this film I had to re-evaluate my feelings on Kevin Spacey's winning of the best actor academy award. Russel Crowe proves to be an exceptional actor in a very difficult role. Crowe has a brilliant, subtle, style which is reminiscent of DeNiro's early work.

Cinematography: I think I comment on cinematography in almost every movie I see, and perhaps I'm a bit too generous with the praise I give but the camera work and lighting of 'The Insider' are magnificent. Martin Scorsese once said that "Cinema is a matter of what's in the frame and what's out." This is no more apparent than in 'The Insider'. The extreme close-ups, the unsteady hand held shots, the unsettling shadows...Spinotti is a genius.

Lastly I must mention that the film achieves more than artistic brilliance. It gives a clear message about a subject too often ignored. It critiscizes the tobacco companies for lying to America and it also critiscizes the media for being more interested in money than journalistic integrity. Worst of all this whole story is true. This film needs to be seen

I find it a tremendous oversight that this film gets so little recognition. The American film institute couldn't find one place in one hundered American films for this cinematic masterpiece that pulls no punches . It got no academy award and most importantly I could not find one friend who had heard of it. I call this a tremendous oversight because the film is wonderful. I know that Spike Lee is a rather eccentric personality and is not well liked by everyone, but his films are brilliant and this is no exception.

For about the first two thirds of the movie the plot meanders around a section of New York City as the characters awaken and start their days. For this first two thirds we have a comedy that is funny because of the eccentric and wonderfully developed characters. The audience is pulled into the story by the rich dialogue and inventive cinematography. There is just some quality about this film that makes it seem so real. This all sets up for the imminent tragedy to be all the worse as a result of the connection the audience has with the movie.

Then the film explodes. Those who have seen it know what I mean and those who have not should see it. This last third of the film should not be explained, it must be experianced. In fact this whole film should be experianced. I can't say enough.

In my opinion The World is Not Enough is easily Pierce Brosnan's finest outing as James Bond. I would even be tempted to call this the greatest Bond since say The Spy Who Loved Me if not for The Living Daylights.

To begin with we (the audience) get more action packed into the first 15 minutes than most full length movies provide. Some have complained of the boat chase's length but I found every minute of it pulse pounding.

The story is too involved to explain here and I find this another good point. The plot is intricate and believeable and the film is populated with wonderful actors, with the sad exception of Denise Richards. All the same Sophie Marceau, both beautiful and talented, more than makes up for Ms. Richards. Robert Carlyle is chilling without going over the top. Judy Dench's increased screen time is quite interesting despite my misgivings about bringing M into the fray. And Brosnan shines. He is both cruel and unforgiving as well as witty and nonchalant, something that only Connery had achieved before this.

But for all this it is also a great 007 adventure. There are plenty of explosions, fast vehichles, beautiful women, gambling, vodka martinis, skiing, guns, Q gadgets(sadly the last from Q), and the world's most style consious secret agent in the middle of it all. Above all else this film is exciting entertainment, and for that there is only one name...Bond, James Bond.