Inside Man -movie review

To say that Inside Man is a brilliant is not an understatement. But it is an understated brilliance. Bringing the talents of Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer and Willem Dafoe together, Spike Lee puts a meaty stew on the element and then lets it simmer. By taking the anti-Bruckheimer route, Lee gives us one of his best offerings in years. Sprinkled with race-tinged Spike-isms, eclectic music, creative images and intertwining stories, Inside manages to be both a satisfying heist flick and a solid commentary on post-terrorism NYC.

The script by first-timer Russell Gerwitz offers plenty of ingredients that in lesser hands could have spelled disaster. The film is rife with red herrings and smoking guns and keeps even an avid movie watcher (or thriller reader) behind the action. A further upside of this development is that it offers great post-viewing conversation about what you saw coming and what you didn't. I guarantee there is something each viewer won't get. This on-your-toes status is an engaging change in cinema these days and elevates Inside Man above average fare.

The final touch is the acting. Inside this film are some serious acting chops. The three leads have all won acting Oscars - and all deservedly so! In fact, I would argue that much of the film's strength is in watching these performers go toe-to-toe as their characters mark out turf. One scene in particular when Jodie Foster and Denzel Washington confront each other illustrates this point. Would a lesser actress be able to face Denzel with such steely conviction? Would a weaker actor be able to stand up to Foster with similar personality? And although Owen spends much of the film behind a mask, he still manages to be dark and powerful. In the end, everything inside Inside works and makes it a movie meal worth consuming.