Review of Inside Man (2006) by Caress T — 20 Jan 2011

Trailer was very promising and cast also: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Willem Dafoe, Jodie Foster and famous Christopher Plummer. But then....BAM!! Disappointed so much. Don get me wrong, im such a huge fan of Denzel and for the first time I saw his first movie which I think was not good a single bit.

Director Spike Lee is responsible for this movie being wasted, dry and slow.

It was named one of the 10 best films of 2006, how the hell? Year 2006 must have been poor with good movies then.

One big mistake - The police conclude as that no money was taken, "no crime was committed." However, armed robbery is itself a crime, even if nothing is taken. So is taking hostages and controlling the building illegally for several hours, as well as other subtle misuses of bank property. "No crime was committed" is an unrealistic description of what happened.

Who was the Inside Man and how did he (they) know about the safe deposit box?

Why wouldn't the Bank CEO, (Christopher Plummer), just have destroyed the incriminating documents a long time ago? Screw sentimentality! The diamonds also, he could have sold.

By design, the film has no dramatic tension, at all, none!!

We are further informed through "flash forwards," that all hostages survive the bank robbery.

Who was that idiot, (the character, not the actor), with the Jersey accent,builder, that conveniently, volunteered, and said he knew the recording was "100% Albanian", but yet he himself couldn't speak it. You can not be 100% sure then. And also, pathetic acting, kids in pre-school can do better.

Also, the end dragged interminably. The whole movie could have been presented as 15min footage.

It's a waist to indulge such great actors in such a weak and boring movie. Besides what's so difficult about capturing the robbers? Just eliminate the bank workers, see who was at the bank from all the cameras' footage angles-prior to the robbers entry and before (by clothing which left behind and match it) and you have those extra 4 remaining robbers among the hostages.

Albanian recording set to keep police occupied is obvious its just a formal speech not an random conversation, so lame.

Who the hell is Jodie Foster's character, and why is she so important that she has the mayor at her beck and call and she doesn't have to tell Denzel Washington her agenda because "it's above his pay scale?". Not much character background.

The movie is about bank robbers, why put the Haulocast and the Racism (indian guy called arabian by police, making fun of Pablo for speaking mexican, etc.) in there?!

Why, every time, when there is a bank robbery in movies, ordinary street pliceman pulls out his pathetic gun besides already having professional SWAT team there with big guns? Ridiculous!!

Sargent who was first on the scene, was he involved, is his character important, why does director go back to him so many times, is he hiding something or is it just bad acting?

Clive Owen I see as amateur actor, not much quality.

Jodie Foster doesn't know how to walk in high heels, she is twisting her feet. How funny, stupid and not lady like looks.

The ending is being empty and pointless. Still leaves with question - if he came just for collecting evidence to destroy or blackmail bank CEO, why going through all charade of bank robbery, there are other ways to do it. And leaving all the money behind? And more questions, will bank CEO be charged for deeds done in a past based on evidence stolen or just used to blackmail him? Hmm....?

Little boy from Brooklyn is talking like a grown up gangster...no comment.

Felt sorry for Dafoe, very small part.

Denzel always looking cool, even with wearing that hat.

In general - mediocre plot, lousy script and pitiful directing. So much potential, wasted good cast, nice idea but very poorly delivered. Shame on you Spike Lee!!