Not quite literal

Rating: Null/10 (19 March 2016)

OK, the beginning title starts off with AR Rahman's music (a foreground track, called 'Chaiyyan Chaiyyan') being used for the first time in a mainstream Hollywood flick, the signature track of the Mani Ratnam musical, 'Dil Se', reused here.
The kinetic camera style in the initial titles sequence, and various other action set-pieces and heist sequences are consistent with that style (harkens back to Guy Ritchie moviespeak, or even Tarantino), and I don't think I have seen director Spike Lee use that earlier, or since. Our loss, perhaps, since he really does know how make a flick engaging.
Since this one came out, though its box-office wasn't that great, it has become something of a cult classic, and spawned movies like 'The town' and more recently, 'Triple 9'.
One of those movies in which we're rooting for the criminal to get away with it.
But this one was fresh for its time, and peeling each layer brought forth something unseen in the earlier sequences, and the mystery builds up slowly/surely, especially when we're in close proximity to characters played by Foster and Plummer.
Washington goes 'Devil in a blue dress' for this, and him being just one step behind the antagonist hasn't just been used for effect.
Foster's role in this perhaps also inspired Blomkamp to cast her in a similar role (acting as a bridge of sorts, between multiple parties, broking thing, as it were) for his 'Elysium'.
One of the earlier roles from Chiwetel Ejiofor, and he proves to be a good Watson to Washington's Sherlock, though his lack of involvement in the final sequences does raise a few eyebrows, in terms of incomplete characterization and whatnot.
Clive Owen, great in every role he does, owns every frame he's in, in spite of the low runtime his character gets (and that's not to say his character got short shrift or something - it's just right). Was also interesting to note that Ejiofor and Owen did get together in Cuaron's 'Children of men' as well.
But yeah, this movie belongs to the large ensemble both in-front-of and behind-the-camera, its makers, the writers, the director, the actors and the techs involved in bringing this to life.
It's got some great action, spectacular framing, a mystery at its heart that you're genuinely curious about, and the revelations that keep coming one after the other never disappoint, or make you question what came before, i.e., they hold up to close scrutiny as well, and how many movies can say that.
The world has been waiting on a sequel, but perhaps wisely, the powers-that-be have not got rolling on it yet. This is perfect the way it is, and I don't know if anything that comes after could prove better.
Not to be missed.