The Movie we will discuss is “The Insider” 1999 by Michael Mann in 5th November 1999.
It is based on corporate law and how the corporate negotiates and hides stories to save corporate from public viewing, how confidentiality agreements protect the organizations and how they misuse power over employees.
The focuses on the 60-minute interview given by a Tobacco company insider Mr. Wigand who knew how cigarette manufacturing companies made the consumers addicted by adding certain ingredients (This is unethical practice and is done without consumers information). All tobacco companies have made a pact to follow certain practices which are there for their common good and against the law of monopolistic activities.
The entire episode he had discussed in an Interview with Mr. Bergman of CBS channel.
Here the correspondent Mr. Bergman anticipates the problem with CBS airing the interview as Mr. Wigand has a confidentiality agreement with its old company which restricts him to sharing the inside details of the tobacco company. Again law helps to protect the confidentiality of the organizations. Though they have unethical practices and are not following laws of product conformance. He was also sacked because he discussed the addictive ingredients of the cigarette.
The channel turns its back on the interview and Mr. Wigand is left alone to face threats, legal battles a marital dispute. He goes to FBI but gets no support from them and they treat him with hostility it clearly indicates how the corporate world is closely knit. The organization and TV channels are hands in glove to promote their business at large. Tobacco companies might be funding and sponsoring many of their shows and events. Also, the fear of legal battle with a large Tobacco company which CBS does not want. Again indicates how the law is retarding overall justice to the consumers.
He has to face a legal battle against his former company but he goes and deposes the entire matter in court. His interview now is taken with a big question mark and entire law and attorneys have gone on record asking him to prove its validity. Bergman the interviewer is asked to take a vacation from his job as he has shown as going against CBS rules. Later Bergman discloses full story to a newspaper. CBS calls him a betrayer but later on air the interview but it’s too late as its already a lot of negativity due to legal pressures. This clearly indicates how the corporate law of protection can be used by moneyed against the employees and to keep on selling a product which has lethal ingredients. Entire setup has lost its ethical stand in some ways and bowed down to corporate pressures.
The Question is: What does the movie show about the law and legal procedure? (500 words or more)