Inside Man

            This is a tremendous and subtle caper flick, and probably the best turn around movie since the Usual Suspects. Directed by Spike Lee (Dir. Do the Right Thing), it features an all star cast and really really surprised me actually. I am usually disappointed by my expectations of high brow movies, and this one blew me away. Spike’s style and artistry came through loud and clear through out the flick, and it was very very relieving to see Clive Owen (Closer) have a good movie, after flops in Closer and King Arthur, the BMW Films actor has found his strength.

            Clive’s face is the first thing we actually see, introducing himself as Daulton Russell, a man who never repeats himself and is encased in a small prison-like cell. His speech is mesmerizing as he chooses his words very carefully and he never repeats himself. Apparently, Daulton has just initiated the perfect crime, and now retells it, through flashbacks and flashforwards within the flashback.

            He and three others rob a bank, and stage a hostage crisis. Within minutes, hostage negotiater Detective Frazier, that’s Frazier with a Z, (Denzel Washington, Virtuosity) to diffuse the situation with the help of Captain Damion (Willem Defoe, Spider-man). Soon however, Frazier realizes that the situation is much more bizarre than he thinks. Everytime he thinks he has a lead, or that he is in control, Daulton fires a new cylinder and puts the situation on a brand new step.

            To complicate matters, the Banks owner, Mr. Case (Christopher Plummer) is fearful of his private safe deposit box being robbed, and hires the beautiful and ruthless Madelyn White (Jody Foster, Nell) to negotiate his own personal salvation. In another stunning Hollywood, triumph, it’s the bad guys in the lead, followed closely by the other bad guys, and in last place are the good guys, who might not be as good as we think.

            It’s a terrific con, and a tremendous caper, and it just goes to show you, like in all doubled over type things, that expectation determines perception, and hindsight always reveals what we weren’t expecting. Also, the psychology of terrorism, and the messages of other Spike Lee joints come through loud and clear, like civil rights, and their abuse, and brazen black sexuality, mixed with a resentment of black stereotypes. Lighthearted humor amidst the chemistry of desperation and the cold hearted Owen make this a dynamic and thrilling, though, not extremely hard to figure out, action drama. In case you can’t tell, I think it’s a 2, and I actually want to buy it.