smart, gripping thriller

Rating: Null/10 (12 September 2006)

From director Spike Lee comes this taut, skillful thriller about a complex N.Y.C. bank heist that evolves into a test of wills between a brilliant robber and a veteran police officer. Owen plays a bold criminal mastermind who unveils a daring scheme to pull off what he views as the perfect bank robbery; Washington is the seasoned hostage negotiator trying to diffuse the situation, all the while suspecting that there's more to the story especially after the intervention of a shady power broker who may be playing both sides (Foster). Effective crime caper is crafty, suspenseful, and well-acted, with diverse characterizations and the added bonus of a script that throws out unique twists at just the right moments. A solid effort from director Lee, and a surprisingly unconventional addition to the heist genre. ***