Review of Inside Man (2006) by Sirshelby — 26 Mar 2006

This movie is an insult to intelligent movie making in every imaginable sense. The story is flat out lame, with the super "surprise" ending being nothing more than a tired joke. Now it seems that everyone from critics to casual movie goers have been willing to excuse this movie solely based on the great cast.

Which would have been understandable, had the acting itself not been the greatest weakness of this pretentious mess. Washington gives one of the worst performances of his career here, playing a sarcastic know-it-all cop who is annoyingly juvenile and devoid of any compelling thoughts or emotions.

I.e., he and his partner stare at a female victim's large chest while interogating her, making light of her emotions. (this is supposed to be funny) Foster is also terrible playing a mysterious liason with her own agenda.

Dafoe is miscast as a clueless police captain. Owen is the only exception here, suffering through an under-developed role. The movie is ruined by random attempts at comedy, both intentional and unintentional, which ruins any suspense or tension that might have helped it.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A pretentious hollywood film that trys to pass itself off as an updated Dog Day Afternoon, but instead feels more like a failed comedy with an A-list cast.