Good thriller/heist movie

Rating: 8/10 (18 December 2006)

Spike Lee has realized that he's getting a bit too old to pull an Orson Welles in his films, starring/directing/writing etc. This is a bit too much to pull off without sacrificing some quality (compare Woody Allen's last two efforts, and figure out which one was the lesser). Like "clockers" or "the 25th hour", Lee is able to work with some great actors on someone else's screenplay, leaving him to direct a film that rings true in all the details and textures of New York, and New Yorkers. Denzel Washington seemingly can't deliver a bad performance - he's great fun to watch in this movie, along with excellent supporting performances from Christopher Plummer and Clive Owen (who is also always good).