Review of Inside Man (2006) by Fiv - — 22 Aug 2010

From a cell, a man (Clive Owen) tells us he has planned the perfect bank robbery; he invites us to watch. An efficient gang enters a Manhattan bank, locks the doors, and takes hostages. They work deliberately, without haste. A snarky detective (Denzel Washington) facing corruption charges is assigned to negotiate. The bank's president (Christopher Plummer) has something to protect in a safe deposit box, so he brings in a high-powered fixer (Jodie Foster). With an army of police surrounding the bank, the thief, the cop, and the plutocrat's fixer enter high-stakes negotiations....

This film has an intriguing premise for a thriller, but it goes a few steps further than just having an interesting plot. Because while Inside Man does hit all the right notes when it comes to keeping you guessing about what is really going on, it is also very successful in mixing the grittier moments with comedy elements. At times, Inside Man is very funny, but in a way that does not deflate the tension. The dialogue is sharp, with the conversations between Washington and Owen being especially fascinating, and both actors are at the top of their game in this film. Washington is an intense but laconic individual, who has a permanent smirk on his face but who reads the bank robbers intentions better than anybody else, while Owen is charismatic and fascinating as the mastermind behind the bank robbery. I was a little disappointed however with Jodie Foster's archetype role. While her part is potentially fascinating, she does not really get the chance to do anything with it other than look cool and act like a "magnificent cunt". Yes, she nails it, but with a bit more background story, and a bit more screen time, her part could have been even more interesting. Still, she makes good use with her limited time on screen.

Director Spike Lee, showcases an interesting way of directing thrillers. He ignores the usual build up that you see in thrillers, which consists of an introduction, a chronological development of the main intrigue, followed by a final act in which everything is wrapped up neatly (even flashing forward several times, thus revealing some important developments before they have happened), and this only serves to make Inside Man a movie that is more than your regular suspense movie. I enjoyed this original approach very much, even though he does take quite a long time to wrap things up.

In the end, Inside Man is a smart, well written and acted thriller that will keep you guessing till the very end.

Story: B+.

Acting: A-.

Direction: A-.

Visuals: B+.

Overall: B+.

***1/2 out of 4 stars.