Inside Man (2006)

I don't know how many Spike Lee movies I've seen, but based off of the two I know I have, not enough. Previous to "The Inside Man," the last Lee movie I viewed was "25th Hour," an excellent day in the life take of the last day of a man before he had to go to prison for a number of years. It was great, centered around another fine performance by Ed Norton (does he do anything but?) That review will be for a different day, but if I never get around to getting to the review, take my word, rent it. Powerful stuff. With "Inside Man" Lee comes this time with a movie which on its surface seems like a typical bank heist gone wrong/hostage-negotiation movie. Which it is, but the acting and directing is top notch and the plot is tight with a number of surprises that elevates the movie above what might be expected upon seeing the trailer or poster.

"Inside Man" stars the always solid Denzel Washington, playing a typical Denzel Washington role, but once again doing it better than anybody else could, (so why get anyone else to do it?) as Detective Frazier. We quickly learn that Frazier is in a bit of trouble with the law himself, but has an opportunity to redeem himself when a bank heist becomes a hostage situation and he is responsible for the negotiation because his superior is gone on vacation. Clive Owen is the organizer and head of the heist team attempting to rob the bank (or are they?) and he believes he has the perfect plan to pull of his crime. Although there are a few scenes in which he shows his face, similar to Hugo Weaving as V in "V for Vendetta," Owen is required to do much of his acting behind a mask, leaving him to establish a strong presence on screen with only his voice and body work, and he does an admirable job. His villain is multi-dimensional and often a sympathetic character. Jodie Foster's role is very ambiguous. She plays a mysterious, strong-arm woman who is called in by the very rich, in this case the owner of the bank being robbed, to help 'fix' problems (and just why is she called in by the bank owner... what is he trying to hide?) She is strong-willed, direct, and persuasive, and Foster does a solid job of portraying this mysterious power woman.

The directing is solid and interesting, even though it is a long movie, clocking in at over 2 hours, there does not seem to be a wasted scene. There are flashforward scenes of testimony given by the hostages intercut throughout the narrative of the film, at first creating a sense of confusion in the viewer - intentionally - then slowly revealing, bit by bit,exactly what it going on and why. I found this to be interesting because it gave the viewer a chance to feel like the detectives must have trying to figure out exactly what happened and how. It is one of those movies where you find yourself pausing occasionally, especially if you're watching it with someone else, to discuss what you think is going on. And it definitely keeps you guessing right up until the very end. The conclusion makes perfect sense to the, by then, stacks of information we have been given bit by bit throughout the movie. It in no way feels cheap or added on, but a natural answer to the questions we have had viewing the movie.

I like movies like this, "12 Monkeys," "The Usual Suspects," and "Memento" are just a few examples, in which your brain gets a work out trying to figure the damn thing out as you watch it. "Inside Man," while maybe not quite as good as those, is a good mystery right up until the very end. This is due in large part to a tight screen-play, solid directing, and strong acting, making the movie a very enjoyable view.

3.5 out of 5 stars.