Inside Man
(2006)THE SETUP Mastermind Dalton Russell (Clive Owen) and his band of painter's-jumpsuit-clad thieves plan a seemingly foolproof bank heist scheme, one that involves dressing hostages in the same jumpsuits to confuse the police. But what is Russell really after, and who does he work for?
THE JOB Knock over a bank vault in lower Manhattan
THE CATCH Pitted against Russell are wily, troublemaking cop Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington); bank founder Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer), who has something in a safe deposit box that he doesn't want anyone to find; and power broker Madeline White (Jodie Foster), whom Case hires to keep both Russell and Frazier from unlocking his secret stash.
DOES CRIME PAY? Well, it certainly pays for first-time screenwriter Russell Gewirtz, who stole from some of the best New York crime thrillers of the 1970s (particularly Dog Day Afternoon and Marathon Man); for director Spike Lee, who enjoyed a career-revitalizing critical and commercial hit; and for viewers who enjoy twisty, puzzling plots and actors at the top of their game.
GRADE B+ (Read the Review)
