This Bank Heist Is Surprisingly Entertaining

Rating: 8/10 (11 August 2011)

Inside Man,directed by Spike Lee is a slick,witty and surprisingly well made thriller.Making the most of its worn out and familiar theme,the end result is a satisfying and entertaining watch.
When a group of robbers under Dalton Russel(Clive Owen) successfully manages a local bank heist,its up to Detectives Keith Frazier(Denzel Washington) and Bill Mitchell(Chiwetel Ejiofor) to make matters straight.When the robbery turns out to be a hostage situation,the detectives are forced to agree to the demands of the thieves to avoid possible casualties.
Apart of the engaging thrills that movies of this genre usually offer,what I liked most about Inside Man was its humor.Even though few in number,some hilariously funny moments crop up unexpectedly at several instances that you would be laughing out loud impulsively.The plot twists never appear contrived and the initial Deja Vu is immediately taken care of by the clever and witty writing which ultimately emerges as the real winner.
The intelligent script is further backed up by equally adequate performances.We do not see much of Clive Owen's face but his screen presence is enough to keep you engrossed.Equally good are Denzel Washington as super cool detective Frazier,Chiwetel Ejiofor as his partner Mitchell,Willem Dafoe as Captain Darius,Jodie Foster as the high profile and powerful fixer Madaleine.Christopher Plummer as the bank's founder and chairman deserves a special mention as he shines in the film's best comic scene.
Inside Man is a movie that works tremendously despite its familiar plot.If you are willing to ignore its length which I personally felt was a little bit long(2 hours and 7 minutes),the film remains engaging,witty and entertaining throughout.So if you are yet to watch the movie,go to your local DVD shop,rent the DVD,sit back and enjoy.Satisfaction guaranteed.
VERDICT : 7.5/10