Word: bergman
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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DIED. MARY KAY BERGMAN, 38, actress and voice behind Mrs. Cartman and others on South Park; from a self-inflicted gunshot wound; in Los Angeles...
...Although Mann has added certain specifics to the story, like invented dialogue, Lowell Bergman insists that the essence of the story is intact. "The big, broad truths of this are all public record," says Bergman. "In that sense the film is basically accurate." But does "basically accurate" really cut it for a film dealing with such delicate subject matter? The real-life Wigand and Bergman, the two protagonists of the film, have not objected to Mann's portrayals of themselves and their stories. However, Bergman says his character in the film is "too neat" to really be him, and Wigand...
...these differences help to make a better film, without sacrificing the essence of the figures involved, then they should be tolerated. But trying to fit real people into a "protagonist" or "antagonist" mold usually does mean tampering with the facts, and can portray people unfairly. Although Wigand and Bergman do not mind that their characterizations were altered for the film, the crew at "60 Minutes" have had a very different reaction...
...having his reputation damaged by Mann's film or of being made out as the "bad guy" of the story. If Wallace is worried about looking bad in the film, he has little to worry about; although his character does waver, for understandable reasons, he ultimately decides to support Bergman and put the interview on. In the film, Wallace is an intriguing, human, and very sympathetic character; he is not without flaws, but despite this, he's very likeable...
...right to tell a story; it is his decision on how to balance the obligations of fact and fiction, and hopefully he will respect the powers of each. "Wallace and Hewitt have criticized the film because it's Michael Mann's view of my perspective, or Wigand's perspective," Bergman says. Luckily, Mann, even with the dramatic license he takes, is still committed to telling the true story; but what if the next filmmaker who comes along decides to sacrifice fact for fiction's sake...