So much average

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Excellent movie with a great plot twist. They should make this a trilogy!

"Inside Man" is a routine bank heist movie that's been made more interesting by the inclusion of a succession of entertaining twists, a collection of colourful characters and a surprising motive for the crime. Predictably, for a Spike Lee "joint", it also makes some political points about racial profiling, disrespecting religious beliefs and the damaging influences that violent video games can have on impressionable children. These issues are all touched on with great clarity but also without ever getting heavy-handed, disrupting the pace of the action or jarring with the regular moments of humour that add greatly to the enjoyment of watching this fine film.After a gang of four masked men wearing shades and dressed in painters' overalls invade a Wall Street bank and take its customers and staff as hostages, NYPD Detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) is given responsibility for dealing with the crisis. The highly experienced hostage negotiator immediately bases himself in a Mobile Command Vehicle outside the Manhattan Trust and takes charge of communicating with gang-leader, Dalton Russell (Clive Owen) and listening to his demands.The bank's founder, Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer) is soon informed about the on-going heist and calls in a power broker called Madeleine White (Jodie Foster) because he's anxious to avoid the contents of his safe deposit box being stolen or becoming known to anybody else. White, who's well-recognised for her efficiency and discretion, uses her considerable power to go over Frazier's head and arrange a meeting with Russell in what turns out to be just one of a number of instances that wrong-foot the increasingly frustrated negotiator.When a point is reached where it appears that the only option left is to storm the bank, Russell, who'd listened-in to the planning of the action by courtesy of some strategically-placed listening devices, arranges for all the hostages to be released. However, as he'd compelled them all to wear overalls, shades and masks that were identical to those worn by the robbers, Frazier and his colleagues are left with the huge and difficult job of interviewing more than fifty people to try to determine which of them were genuine and which were not. The events that follow, then illustrate Russell's considerable skill as a criminal mastermind and Frazier's determination to pursue his investigations to their conclusion despite being ordered not to by his superiors.The high quality cast does a great job of making "Inside Man" a riveting thriller with Denzel Washington and Clive Owen both outstanding in their roles. Interestingly, the actions of the main characters (played by Washington, Owen, Plummer and Foster) all involve dark secrets and dubious actions which play neatly into the movie's theme about the ubiquity of corruption and its key role in the acquisition of wealth and power.

While I am not a sophisticated movie reviewer, I do watch a lot of movies. I cannot recommend this one. The biggest reason is because we don't know the robbers motive and backstory - this really harms the movie. It was so disappointing for me. I didn't root for anyone and I'm left without knowing the point of the movie. Additionally, unless I dozed off, I didn't understand why they were digging a hole into the concrete floor - what was the objective of this and why didn't the police find the hole in the floor? I personally didn't like the mood of the movie, nor did I feel that it was well casted - William Defoe and Denzel Washington just didn't sell for me. Finally, I feel a little obtuse here, but I didn't understand Jodie Fosters character in this movie at all.On the upside, I did enjoy the plot twists. It had potential.

Only directors like Spike Lee can tell a story in such a way that there aren't words to describe the way he can draw you into the story and mesmerize you with his style. I only wish he'd make more and show these idiots how to make a work of art without looking like you're just trying too hard. The directors these days need to first find themselves some REAL quality actors. What they have going on these days is just people trying to look good instead of committing any actual acting.