Inside Man (2006)

Directed By: Spike Lee
Written By: Russell Gewirtz
Starring: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe, Chiwetel Ejiofor Christopher Plummer, Kim Director and James Ransone

Watching the trailer for The Inside Man, I knew I had to see it in the theater. Not only was it a heist movie starring Denzel Washington and Clive Owen, it was also directed by Spike Lee.

I did notice though, that the trailer didn't go out of the way to advertise Lee as the director, and I am sure it is because the studios were worried about what people perceive as a Spike Lee movie. And though, like The 25th Hour, it did appear to be a departure from Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X, it does aim at making provocative social commentary and its dialogue still portrayed lots of racial tension.

Clive Owen plays Dalton Russell, the leader of a gang that enters a bank disguised as painters and after they have taken all of the employees and customers hostage they make them dress up in identical painter's outfits, presumably to confuse the police if they choose to raid the bank.

Denzel Washington plays Keith Frazier, the detective assigned to the case, despite a corruption investigation, takes charge of the situation but soon realizes that Russell's demand for a 747 is nothing more than a way to buy time. But he can't figure out for what.

Further complicating his job is Madeline White, a freelance problem-solver played by Jodie Foster who is seen at the beginning of the film helping one of Bin Laden's nephew buy a condo in Manhattan. The bank's president and founder (Christopher Plummer) hires White to surreptitiously recover the contents of one of the safe deposit boxes without letting it get into the wrong hands. This requires her to work against Frazier's interests while appearing to work with them.

I know Spike Lee has been hit or miss, but so far I've only seen his good ones. Do the Right Thing, Malcom X and The 25th Hour. But no one does New York movies these days like Lee. Watching The 25th Hour made me nostalgic for New York, even though I watched it in a theater in the East Village. At one point in Inside Man, a few cops begin arguing about whether any train lines pass through Grand Central Terminal (which is the train station, Grand Central Station, they know, is a Post Office) or if all of the train lines stop there. It's an argument only New Yorkers could have. In New York knowing the infrastructure is a credibility issue.

All of the performances in Inside Man are excellent. Washington plays his usual cocksure character. And although he doesn't have the reputation that his costar has, Owen is a great actor. I remember first seeing him in the BMW films and then later in a great modern noir film called The Croupier, which like Double Indemnity reminds you that you don't have a detective to make a good film noir.

But in the end, Inside Man reminded me of Gosford Park, the seemingly typical 1930s-era English manor whodunnit (think Clue and Colonel Mustard in the Parlor with the Candelabra) where by the end of the film what is most interesting is not whodunnit but why did they do it. The same is true here, it is not as important whether or not Russell will get away with the money (the important question in a Heist film) but why is he doing it.

I won't say the payoff was completely worth the set up, I was a little disappointed, but the idea was ambitious and of course as is typical with Spike Lee movies (or should I call them joints?) is that it leaves you with more questions than answers after the credits start rolling. However, this time I think that you can guess what Lee wants you to think. That all money, if traced back far enough, is to a certain extent blood money and that we all have blood on our hands. Even Frazier, is implicated, not only in the corruption investigation but also using White's connection to the Mayor to get him a promotion and finally in a decision he will make shortly after the last scene.

Whether or not you agree with Lee's conclusion, the impressive performances, the atmosphere and the twist on the heist genre make it worth seeing . . . at least on DVD.