Inside Man

Pros: Great cast. Entertaining plot that kept my interest.
Cons: A few unanswered questions at the end.

In the last several years, there have been several heist movies released. Since I do tend to like that type of movie, I’ve seen most of them. When I first saw the trailer for Inside Man, the plot along with the cast had me interested in ...

Pros: Kept me on the edge of my seat.
Cons: A bit too much on stereotypes.

I just viewed director Spike Lee's film about a bank robbery and ensuing multi-person hostage situation. I went for sheer entertainment yet hoping Lee would add his own brand of film making and perhaps a different edge. I wasn't disappointed. This ...

Pros: Acting, plot, suspense.
Cons: Somewhat slow moving.

I am not a big fan of Spike Lee's movies and I am especially not a fan of him as a person, but he does deliver with The Inside Man. This isn't a great movie, however it is everything that movies should be, it is entertaining, suspenseful, and the acting ...

Pros: Actors.
Cons: Pacing.

I must either really like this movie or I must either really not like this movie. I rented it. Watched it. Returned it. Then a couple of weeks later I rented it again. The second time felt like the first time. Either this is a really good movie or ...

Pros: story line, character well drawn out and performed, action, drama, mystery.
Cons: bad language, violence

Inside Man is a crime thriller that was released on March 2006. This very interesting movie ran for 129 minutes and was rated R for language and violence. Spike Lee directs this movie in a way that lets the actors occasionally to add lib from the script. ...

Pros: Denzel Washington and Clive Owen, plot will keep you guessing
Cons: Spike just can't help himself, can he?

His name is Dalton Russell. He's played by Clive Owen. He's looking right at us in the audience, and he's talking to us. He's telling us to listen very closely because he won't repeat himself, and he's going to rob a bank, and some other stuff. Thus ...

Pros: Some decent acting. Lots of anticipation for a twist.
Cons: Not as smart as it pretends to be. No thrill.

2.5/5 Given that this is a Spike Lee production, it just couldn't be a straight-ahead heist film. And it isn't. The hostages change into the same outfits that the bad guys are wearing, thus making them all look alike. You see flash forward ...

Pros: Many big name actors/actresses.
Cons: Boring. Lacking real suspense. Lackluster soundtrack. Unrealistic.

Just watched Inside Man last night. What a boring movie. Have no idea why it is receiving such good reviews. I'm assuming it's because there are so many big name people involved. Starts out with several would-be painters walking into a large bank ...

Pros: Suspenseful with exceptional acting
Cons: Long rung time

The Manhattan Trust Bank is taken over by Dalton Russell and his crew; they take the patrons and staff hostage and begin the execution of a perfect heist. Detectives Keith Frazier and Bill Mitchell, NYPD hostage negotiators, are assigned to help ...

Pros: Story was intriguing; Denzel Washington; movie looked beautiful
Cons: Most of the acting was flat and lifeless.

I like Denzel Washington; he improves every movie he stars in. His personality and charm are hard to resist, and sometimes it enough to carry a movie; not so with Inside Man (directed by Spike Lee), a mildly entertaining film about a bank robber (Clive Owen) with an eye for something other than money. He plans the perfect robbery or so it seems…

In addition to Denzel and Clive, Jodi Foster joins the cast (briefly) as a hatchet woman hired by the bank owner to retrieve some embarrassing information; she and her perpetual smirk do not work, though I like the longer hair. Ultimately Inside Man is more fitting for a cable movie, rather than a big screen release, despite Denzel’s presence.

Pros: Keeps your attention, keeps you guessing.
Cons: Practicality of some of the procedures taken by the bank robber.

Denzel Washington did an great job again as a cop/hostage negotiator. The Cop/badboy role seem to be Washingtons specialty! Inside Man had an excellent plot and unsuspecting ending. The movie holds your attention to the very end. One of Denzel Washingtons best movies, and one of the better ones I have seen out this year. I give it two thumbs up!

Pros: A tightly wounded, sharply written heist thriller with terrific performances from Denzel, Clive, and Jodie.
Cons: Opening music accomplishes nothing, strangely placed.

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

Inside Man is the best film of 2006, thus far. Working off of a literate, nicely written script by first timer Russell Gerwitz, the film packs a great punch accentuated by the cast's terrific performances and unbelievable cinematography and score.

See this film!