Disappointing Thriller

Rating: 3/10 (23 September 2006)

As an action thriller, this movie lacks all possible triumphs and proves only that even the best actors cannot hold up a bad movie. My initial sense was that they were under-used, like high paid hookers with no one to do. Willem and Jodie, save for their faces, were positively unrecognizable. Foster's character was so far removed from her norm that it may actually be a tribute to both her ability to act and Lee's to direct. From that perspective, Foster outdid herself.
But as a thriller this is a trying film with no unexpected twists. You will find yourself feeling frustrated at the lack of continuity when suddenly the movie ends. However, unlike most films that leave you with your jaw hanging open, here you will actually wonder if you dozed off and reach for the remote to back track a little.
To be honest, I would bet that Lee himself is disappointed to hear all this far fetched praise for his "coming out as a mainstream director" when dissecting the movie will show that was not his intention. Doing the same old thing with a surreal accent, focusing on trivialities that he obviously feels target the essence of humanity, is what he's much better at. From this view, you can then understand this is not a thriller but an ironic view of life, which may explain the convoy of high powered actors performing out of their league.
The one difference that Lee focuses on is making the criminals appear to have a calling that begs the question: Are they criminals at all. Not to mention the final twist, meant to offer such temptation to the good cop as to leave us suspect of how he will follow through once the credits role.
Who is the Inside Man? Well, is there really a place called "Crooklyn"? I think the title is just part of the irony; a play on words. To really consider Lee's prior work, one might have to ask if he is not referring to each of us on the inside. I still give it 3 stars for the deceptive advertising and write-up.