Review of Inside Man (2006) by James B — 05 Feb 2010

Spike Lee isn't exactly known for his massive mainstream accessibility as a director but Inside Man proves that he can turn out an action flavoured cop thriller with the best of the McTiernans and Donners. Inside Man was made well before Lost hit our television screens and made the use of flashbacks seem common and it's a trick Inside Man uses very well.

Immediately we know that Clive Owen and his gang of masked bank robbers get away with their heist, the drama comes from finding out not only how they did but who they actually are too as in flash forwards Denzel Washington interrogates the suspects.

Washington and Owen are both fine leading men. Washington does his usual thing, playing cops is no great shakes to him but Owen is effortlessly cool as the mastermind behind the robbery. His ruthless monotone disguising the fact that a cold, calculating genius lies underneath, one who never breaks a sweat.

Inside Man is a film which really keeps it's audience guessing. All too often the twist in these cases can be something of a let down but not here. It is every bit as jaw dropping and genius as the script and the relentless pace of the movie.

Inside Mans sticking point is the role Jodie Foster plays. Although she does give a good performance as the bank managers corporate trouble shooter, her involvement seems a little redundant and the character slightly less filled out than the others.

That aside though, Inside Man is a great crime movie and fully deserving of a place in the greatest twists of all time lists.