Inside Man Entertains
Inside Man is the least Spike Lee-ish of this director’s movies – or is it? In between the slick action, the fast-paced plot and the entertaining performances by three A list actors, there exists the sly dialogue, the subtle racist notations, the hit-em-quick-and-move-on morality lessons. It’s just all wrapped in a more commercial package this time. And you wonder if this is evolution or survival for one of Hollywood’s more creative directors?
Either way the movie entertains. Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster and Clive Owens all give as good as they get.
The plot takes us a through what seems to be a very well planned, well thought out, bank heist, complete with hostages, masks, and accomplices all named the same…Clive Owen is the heist mastermind, Denzel Washington is the police officer calling the shots and Jodie Foster is a public relations mastermind representing the bank owner, who wishes the whole matter to end quickly and quietly (as this branch contains some of his own personal effects). Christopher Plummer plays the big-cheese bank owner, but frankly I felt his character needed more bite than regret. He seems little more than an attractive placeholder here.
Foster gives an outstanding, pitch-perfect performance as the high maintenance PR operative to the wealthy and powerful. Her interactions with actor Peter Kybart who plays the NY city mayor (and has an unfortunate physical resemblance to Ed Koch) are delightful to behold, as these two allies/enemies spar and poke at each other, to get what they both desperately need.
Foster is a child of Hollywood and has, I am sure, seen both the best and worst of what the PR and publicity field has to offer: she channels both sides of the coin here with wicked results. For me it was the best part of this movie.
Three out of four stars. Good story; solid execution. Not much violence. Some rough language (watch for the biting verbal interchange between Foster and Kybart and how Foster turns the ultimate of insults into an accepted compliment.) Rated R for language and some violent images. Okay for most teenagers (13 and up) and even grandma if she likes a good mystery. Solid date movie.
