Inside Man

Directed by Spike Lee, Inside Man follows Denzel Washington’s Detective Keith Frazier as he attempts to thwart an ongoing robbery within a New York City bank – with the film also focused on the exploits of the crew inside (led by Clive Owen’s Dalton Russell) and the bank’s wealthy president (Christopher Plummer’s Arthur Case). It’s relatively familiar subject matter that’s employed to above-average and periodically electrifying effect by Lee, as the filmmaker, armed with a screenplay by Russell Gewirtz, delivers a propulsive thriller that captures the viewer’s interest and attention right from the get-go – with the compulsively watchable vibe perpetuated (and heightened) by the top-notch performances and almost inherently compelling premise. (It doesn’t hurt, either, that Lee has blanketed the proceedings with captivating digressions and set-pieces, and there’s little doubt, as well, that the subplot involving Plummer’s mysterious figure, as well as Jodie Foster’s solid turn as an icy fixer, packs more of a punch than one might’ve initially anticipated.) And while the picture’s 129 minute runtime admittedly does result in a very small handful of lulls, Inside Man builds towards a satisfying (and exciting) climax that ensures it ends on a seriously positive note – thus confirming its place as a top-tier heist movie and one of Lee’s very best films.

***1/2 out of ****