Take a lesson from a teacher

Rating: 9/10 (24 March 2006)

Who else but the brilliant director Spike Lee could take a fairly routine bank heist flick with a few innovative twists and turn it into a two-hour-plus action marathon which is also a vestibule for entertainment? Spike Lee uses fantastic camera shots, film editing, and flash forwards to deliver the goods. He also extracts excellent performances from the entire cast, especially Jodie Foster and Christopher Plummer. Foster plays the unusual part of a confidential agent for the bank owner played by Plummer. Kudos also to the actress who plays the Albanian interpreter.
The story involves the robbing of a bank in New York City (some of the same street locations were used in 16 Blocks). Listen attentively to the mastermind Dalton Russell (Clive Owen) as he addresses the audience at the beginning of the film. What he says takes on new meaning when he repeats it at the end of the movie. Hostage negotiator Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) is assigned the difficult task of talking the gunmen down and rescuing those being held captive. He desires to make a good showing since his job is on the line because of misappropriated drug money. The negotiation process turns out to be a ball of confusion. Before the ending, the viewer is taken on an exciting journey with all types of convolutions and U-turns.
The music is some of the best used in recent Hollywood films. "Chaiyya Chaiyya" adds much to the beginning of the movie to set the proper atmosphere and to grab the audience's attention.
Too bad Spike Lee is not available to direct more action flicks. Others who imitate and try to be artsy should take a lesson from the teacher.