MOVIE REVIEW - Inside Man (2006)

Director: Spike Lee
Starring: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe

A bank heist led by Dalton Russell (Owen) seems to be going out of control as they take hostages. Detective Frazier (Washington), a cop under investigation, is brought in as negotiator. As there cat and mouse game unfolds a woman (Foster) with a hidden agenda forces herself into the mix.

Avoiding most of the trappings that are usually associated with 'a Spike Lee joint' this taut heist thriller comes across as Lee most mainstream movie to date and also one of his best. Sure that is a biting social commentary at the heart of the film but it is more subtle than his past efforts, the only out of place moment throughout it when Clive Owen sits down and talks to a child hostage about his violent and stereotyped video game.

Everything about this film oozes quality. Lee's tight and intelligent script shows New York in all its ethnic diversity from Albanians to Seikhs. The performances are all top notch, again Washingston fails to disappoint and is strong in the lead escpecially in the moments when he is matching wits with Clive Owen. Owen himself is great and agains proves himself as one of the finest actors working today. Plummer is superb as the bank owner with something to hide and Foster aquites herself well as the bitch in a predominately male cast.

Overall: Right up there with Heat and Dog Day Afternoon as one of the best and smartest heist movies of all time. 9.5/10