How It Rates: **1/2
Starring: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster
Rated: R
Red Flags: Strong Language, Strong Violence
When I heard Spike Lee was directing this bank-heist film, my first reaction was, "He needs to top off his bank account." His last few major films, including 25th Hour, She Hate Me, and Bamboozled won some crix picks but didn't sell tix.
But if you're gonna sell out, do it with some talented company: Denzel and Jodie are good enough excuses. Together, they make a messy action flick work, even though it's still a mess.
Denzel plays New York city detective Keith Frazier, a cop doing his best under that good 'ol worn-out plot device: the cloud of corruption. It's his lucky day as he's called in to work negotiations on a bank robbery hostage situation. Clever-minded thug Dalton Russell (Owen) is demanding the Dog Day Afternoon special: buses and planes to escape. Some food would be nice. How about pizza?
We know almost from the start Dalton isn't after money. We get reassurances it isn't halfway through the picture, largely because of Madeline White (Foster), an icy woman who works part-time in the blackmail and bribery trade when she isn't hawking real estate. Turns out Dalton is after something in a safe deposit box. And that something could be potentially embarassing to the owner if it sees the light of day. White comes in to cut a deal with Dalton.
Inside Man emits a cool, intelligent aura, largely because of Washington's and Foster's performances. Cool and intelligent don't get you everywhere, though. The movie's problem is it telegraphs its moves two and three reels away. By nature of the picture's structuring and flashback sequences, you're constantly on guard for the big plot twist. When it comes, you're not taking a hard left turn but simply merging into traffic.
Maybe Lee knew that when he read the script. And if so, he should be glad he's got Denzel and Jodie working for him.
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