{"id":2929,"date":"2008-11-06T00:02:29","date_gmt":"2008-11-05T14:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fernbyfilms.com\/?p=2929"},"modified":"2018-03-15T22:14:23","modified_gmt":"2018-03-15T11:44:23","slug":"movie-review-inside-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fernbyfilms.com\/2008\/11\/06\/movie-review-inside-man\/","title":{"rendered":"Movie Review – Inside Man"},"content":{"rendered":"

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– Summary –<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Director :<\/strong>\u00a0 Spike Lee
\nYear Of Release :<\/strong>\u00a0 2006
\nPrincipal Cast :<\/strong>\u00a0 Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe, Chiwetel Ejiofor.
\nApprox Running Time :<\/strong>\u00a0 129 Minutes
\nSynopsis:<\/strong>\u00a0 As an elaborate bank heist gets underway in the center of New York City, one police detective must come up with a plan to get the criminals out, the hostages safe, and all concerned parties out of the line of fire.
\nWhat we think :\u00a0 <\/strong>Spike Lee’s most mainstream film, is also one of his most accomplished. Led by Washington and a solid Clive Owen, Inside Man<\/em> twists, turns and comes out on top as a sure-fire thriller that delivers plenty of head-scratchers.
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Most people know of director Spike Lee as a purveyor of independent, low budget drama films, usually either violent, drug fueled, and full of coarse language. Inside Man isn\u2019t one of those films. In fact, it\u2019s about as mainstream a film from Lee as you\u2019re likely to see. Somebody offered him a large budget, and he went to town with this conventionally shot, unconventionally scripted heist film. While perhaps not coming in as a \u201ccaper\u201d film, like so many back in the 50\u2019s & 60\u2019s (you know, like the original Thomas Crown Affair<\/em> genre), Inside Man<\/em> is a harsher, more stylish caper film set in today’s more cynical age.<\/p>\n

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\"inside_man01\"Opening with narration from Clive Owen\u2019s thief, as he bunkers down to prepare for the crime, and developing into a puzzling, clue-ridden flick with plenty of pizzazz, starring a strangely depressing (world weary, perhaps) Denzel Washington, this film will keep you guessing until the very end.<\/p>\n

The cast are uniformly excellent, as Owens gang hold up a bank, in order to obtain something very precious, whilst outside forces conspire to throw a spanner in the works of the police, who are trying to negotiate a release with minimal bloodshed. Jodie Foster, particularly good as an icy \u201cproblem solver\u201d hired by rich people, uses her influence to integrate into the police operation and bring her own agenda to the table. Christopher Plummer, again cast as the powerful, aging tycoon\/philanthropist with a hidden motive, seems to be sleepwalking through his lines here, almost as if he\u2019s bored with the whole thing. Perhaps he is, but he\u2019s outshone in all respects by the rest of the cast.<\/p>\n

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As the heist plays out, and the hostages inside the bank are let go, we get to hear their points of view in interviews taking place after the events we are witnessing unfold. This crosscutting of time and playing with \u201cdid you see what you think you see\u201d film-making can often verge on belligerent in the hands of a lesser director. Lee has masterfully crafted a more subtle approach, refusing to pander to audience expectations and developing his characters as the film progresses. The unfurling of the \u201ctwist\u201d at the end, standard in films of this genre, is relatively low key, although still entertaining for the audience to see how it was all accomplished.<\/p>\n

The language is a little coarse in places, so beware: however, the film overall is relatively restrained with depictions of violence and profanity: only occasionally is any kind of graphic bloodshed show, and then, it\u2019s reasonably quick. Clive Owen is a little wasted, it must be said, as he spends a large portion of his screen time hidden behind a mask, so I would question the inclusion of his name in the credits just for that. Generally, though, the film is a fun ride through a bank heist. It\u2019s a little forgettable, after all, there is no real set-piece to remember specifically; Lee manages a decent job behind the camera and has made a film that\u2019s good while it\u2019s on, and pretty harmless overall. It\u2019s fun, and wraps up neatly in the end. And isn\u2019t that what we all want in a film\u2026. Not to be left wondering?<\/p>\n

Inside Man<\/em> is one of the films you skip over on the shelf to start with, but then come back to when there\u2019s nothing else to watch, and then kick yourself for not watching it sooner. Hopefully, Lee gets to make more films like this.<\/p>\n

\"8-Star\"
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